Hydrogéologie, ou, Recherches sur l'influence qu'ont les eaux sur la surface du globe terrestre: sur les causes de l'existence du bassin des mers, de son déplacement et de son transport successif sur les différens points de la surface de ce globe; enfin sur les changemens que les corps vivans exercent sur la nature et l'état de cette surface. INSCRIBED BY LAMARCK TO LAGRANGE.

LAMARCK, J. B. [Jean Baptiste] [LAGRANGE, Joseph-Louis]

Published by Paris: Chez l'auteur, au Muséum d'histoire naturelle: (Jardin des plantes); Agasse. . .; Maillard. . ., an X [1802].

About this Item

268 pp. Contemporary full leather. Very Good. First Edition. INSCRIBED BY LAMARCK TO LAGRANGE: "Au Citoyen La Grange/ comme hommage de la haute et respectueuse considération/ de L'auteur." "Although Lamarck's geological views were not original (he was strongly influenced by Buffon and Daubenton, among others), they were an important part of his conception of nature. His preoccupation with marine fossil shells had a decisive influence on his choice of geological theories. Since such shells had to have been laid down in water, he needed a theory to explain how this was possible. As in his meteorology, he used the moon as the main cause, in this case of a constant slow progression of the oceans around the globe. The main geological force was water acting according to uniformitarian principles over millions of years. The substances of the mineral kingdom were produced by the progressive disintegration of organic remains; water operated on these products to produce geological formations such as mountains. Lamarck's uniformitarianism and great geological have led some to say that he was his own Lyell. Some historians have thought that Lamarck's perception of a slowly changing environment and the resulting necessity of organisms to change or become extinct (a possibility he could not accept) led him to his theory of evolution" (D.S.B. 7: 589). "Lamarck's little book did not even find a publisher, and the author printed the first and only edition of 1,025 copies at his own expense" (Albert V. Carozzi, Editor's Introduction, to his English translation of Lamarck's Hydrogeology, p. 1; the bill from the printer Agasse is illustrated on p. 2 as fig. 1). Norman 1263. Seller Inventory # 15942

Bibliographic Details

Title: Hydrogéologie, ou, Recherches sur ...

Publisher: Paris: Chez l'auteur, au Muséum d'histoire naturelle: (Jardin des plantes); Agasse. . .; Maillard. . ., an X [1802].

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition