Principles of Geology,

a major influence on darwin

First edition of the founding work of modern geology, the introduction of the concept of uniformitarianism, by which current geological processes can be used to understand those of the past.

Lyell (1797–1875), although he trained as a lawyer and was called to the Bar, always had a keen interest in geology and had attended lectures by William Buckland. His Principles of Geology 'had two major and controversial goals: first, and most important, to establish a strict uniformitarian theory of the earth based upon a knowledge of the existing causes and effects of geologic change; and second, to resolve the terminological and methodological confusion then hampering the progress of geological research by giving a specific meaning to the term "geology", and establishing its proper position relative to the other physical sciences. Unlike many geologists of his day, who believed that the earth had been subjected to events unparalleled in modern times, Lyell argued that the order of nature in the past was uniform with that in the present, and that therefore geological phenomena - even major changes, such as alterations in global climate - should be attributed to the gradual action, over sufficient time, of modern geological processes... Where Hutton had ignored life history, using fossil remains only to identify strata, Lyell saw fossils as the key to the historical elaboration of much of the Earth's geological development. He devoted the whole of his second volume to the changes that had occurred in the biosphere throughout geologic time, demonstrating that both the existence and extinction of species are dependant upon geologic phenomena. Lyell's work had profound influence upon Charles Darwin, who read the Principles aboard the Beagle. Not only did the work shape Darwin's understanding of geology, from which resulted three volumes by Darwin on the geology of the Beagle voyage, but it served Darwin as a guide in scientific method generally, and its thorough discussion of the problems of evolution stimulated Darwin's thinking on the subject' (Hook & Norman, The Norman Library of Science and Medicine 1398).

First edition, one of only 1500 sets printed; 3 volumes, 8vo (21.5 x 13 cm); engraved frontispiece to each volume, 2 of which are hand-coloured, 2 hand-coloured maps (1 folding), 1 uncoloured folding map, 5 uncoloured plates, engravings within the text, separately paginated index in volume 3, integral publisher's ads at the rear of volumes 1 and 3, half titles in volumes I and III only as called for, some spotting and offsetting, particularly to plates and early and late leaves, contemporary brown straight-grain morocco, spines gilt in compartments with Astley crest tools, black morocco labels, marbled endpapers and edges, hinges and joints repaired, some spotting and scuffing of the bindings, a very good set; 511, 330, 398, & 109pp index.

Challinor 125; Grolier, 100 Books Famous in Science, 70; Norman 1398.