Natural and Political Observations Mentioned in a Following Index,

the origin of demographics & epidemiology

The very rare first edition of the text that founded demography and medical statistics. Only four copies have appeared at auction since 1998.

'Basing his work primarily on London's Bills of Mortality, which had been published since the end of the sixteenth century, Graunt noted the regularity of certain vital phenomena (such as higher death rates for children under six years of age), constructed the first life expectancy tables, and attempted to use his data to describe various characteristics of populations. Graunt was well aware of the limitations of his data, however, citing such defects as a lack of thoroughness, inadequate disease vocabulary and dishonest reporting of deaths from certain causes such as syphilis' (Hook & Norman, The Norman Library of Science and Medicine 933).

'He was the first to recognize the importance of vital statistics and the need for reducing them to order, which he found to be possible by mathematical calculation, leading to important conclusions on the social and economic conditions of the people... The application of critical scientific methods to medical and vital statistics, which underlies so much of modern government and economics, can be traced back to John Graunt's remarkable book' (Printing and the Mind of Man 144).

First edition; 4to (18.5 x 14 cm); 2 folding letterpress tables, letterpress tables within the text, woodcut headpieces and initials, small, professionally repaired tear to the title, not affecting the text, professionally filled areas of loss to leaves M2 and M3 with some text replaced in manuscript, some toning and occasional light spots to contents; recently rebound to style in panelled calf, title to spine gilt, floral cornerpieces and floral tools to spine compartments in blind, new endpapers, all edges gilt, a very good copy; 85pp.

English Short Title Catalogue R13975; Wing, Short-Title Catalogue G-1599; Printing and the Mind of Man 144; Hook & Norman, The Norman Library of Science and Medicine 933.