- VOLUME 1 ONLY OF THE FIRST EDITION - RE-BINDING COPY -

LYELL (Charles, Scottish geologist who demonstrated the power of known natural causes in explaining the earth's history, 1797-1875).

Principles of geology : being an attempt to explain the former changes of the earth's surface, by reference to causes now in operation. 

(London): John Murray, 1830. First edition. Volume 1 only [of 2]. Engraved frontispiece [Temple of Serapis], title page, [printer's colophon on rear], [v]-xv, 1-509 [of 511] pp, with two further engraved plates (one fold-out) of Ischia and the Moluccas. Disbound, retaining publisher's buff papered front board. Size: 8vo (22cm x 14cm).

Fair to Poor only condition. Essentially disbound, retaining only the publisher's original buff papered front board. 

Main text and plates complete. However, lacks half-title page and preceeding blank flyleaves, as well as final index leaf at rear, John Murray catalogue, and rear blank flyleaves.

Text block shaken and loose in areas, with splits between pages 160 and 161, and 176 and 177, and a few other places. Engraved frontispiece somewhat foxed and toned, with short closed tear on left side running approx. 2cm into engraved area. Title also rather foxed. Otherwise, foxing to text is intermittent and mainly light, heavier in a few places, with the occasional handling marks here and there.

Last index leaf detached and with wear along fore-edge (text unaffected). Old mark to foot of first text leaf.  Rather ragged fored-edges to leaves 249-252 and 410-12, where rather roughly opened. Plate 1 (Ischia) foxed and toned. A few small patches of foxing and light age-toning to Plate 2 (Molucca). Short closed marginal tear to fore-edge pp363-4, pp449-50. Index leaf pp509-10 torn with loss of top outer corner (lettering unaffected) and closed tear to lower corner, which runs across lettering. Verso of that leaf browned. Please ask if you require a more detailed condition report, or view gallery images closely.

A rare first edition of Volume 1 of Lyell's important work on geology, which is crying out to be rebound. Disbound, amd lacking half-title and final index leaf, but otherwise ostensibly complete. Priced modestly to reflect work required in bringing this volume back to life! See gallery images for a detailed perspective on condition.