Description

Condition and Features

This edition, while showing signs of its age, remains a valuable resource for collectors and researchers alike. The brown cloth binding, despite its edge, corner, and spine wear, retains a classic, understated elegance through its blind ruling and the once-gilt lettering that has softened with time. The binding’s occasional cracks do not detract from the overall integrity of the volume, as all pages remain firmly attached. The small, discreet water stain at the top of the page block is a minor blemish, carefully contained without affecting the printed content.

Content Overview

The text itself offers an exhaustive exploration of its subject matter, enhanced by numerous black and white illustrations and detailed tables that elucidate key points. The inclusion of a comprehensive Bibliography and Index underscores the work’s scholarly rigor and makes it an indispensable reference tool. Readers will appreciate the clarity and precision of the scientific explanations, which reflect the authors’ commitment to grounding practical knowledge in solid research.

Historical Context

Published originally in the late19th century and reprinted in the early20th century, this volume captures a pivotal moment in the advancement of its field. The advertisement section, dating from April 1916, provides a fascinating glimpse into the commercial and technological context of the period, further enriching the book’s historical value. It stands as a testament to the evolution of scientific understanding and the dissemination of knowledge during a transformative era.

Conclusion

Despite the passage of time and the inevitable signs of wear, this edition remains a testament to the enduring importance of meticulous scholarship. It is well-suited for those who seek a foundational text grounded in the scientific principles that continue to underpin modern advancements. Whether for academic study, historical inquiry, or personal collection, this volume offers a rich and reliable guide to the subject it so thoroughly addresses.

E. & F. N. Spon, London, 1895, reprint. Hard cover, 446 pages including Bibliography and Index, followed by 55 pages of ads, one dated April, 1916. Brown cloth over boards, blind ruled; edge, corner and spine end wear; somewhat faded gilt lettering on spine; some marks on boards; binding cracked in spots but all pages secure; small old water mark at top page block which didn’t leach onto pages. Prior owner’s name on FEP; remainder of interior clean and unmarked; black & white illustrations and tables. ‘Great pains have been taken to incorporate the latest trustworthy results obtained in the various branches of which the text treats … to make the work as complete and reliable a guide as possible to them, and to indicate briefly but clearly the scientific basis upon which alone they can be successfully conducted.’ (from Preface to First Edition)