cosmos sketch physical description univerise von humboldt alexander otte (1 Ergebnisse)

Hardcover. Early British Edition. Octavos, Four Volumes. In Good plus condition. Leather half binding with marbled paper boards. Spines are paneled, light brown leather with gilt inlay and lettering on brown and green labels (labels missing on Vol. I). Boards show moderate shelf wear. Rubbing wear on board edges and joints. Fore corners lightly bumped with exposed board. Moderate scuffing visible on spines. Slight splitting near ends of front joints of Vol. III and IV. Text blocks have marbled edges, lightly age toned throughout. Top and fore edges of text blocks mildly faded. Bookplates on front pastedowns of Vol. I, III, and IV. Some light grey and blue pencil writing on verso of front flyleaf of Vol. I. CONTENTS: Vol. I (xvii, ix, 369, [4], 18 pages) -- Vol. II (xxi, 370-742, 16 pages) -- Vol. III ([4], 289, 8 pages) -- Vol. IV (xv, 291-601, 7 pages). Shelved in Room A. Cosmos was Alexander von Humboldt's effort, late in his life, to produce a comprehensive description of the natural world and the history of science. There are five total volumes, the fifth of which was unfinished at the time of Humboldt's death and published posthumously from his notes. This set lacks that fifth, unfinished volume, and contains the first four, which were completed and published during Humboldt's life. Additionally, E. C. Otte's translation was the only English translation of Cosmos at the time not to remove any passages from the original German volumes, and thus represents the only complete contemporary translation of the work. 1400841. Special Collections.