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an old book with a picture of a mountain in the background
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Geology Humboldt, Alexander von Minor Writings. Volume One (no further volumes published): Geognostic and Physical Essays. With an atlas containing outlines of volcanoes from the Cordilleras of Quito and Mexico. Stuttgart and Tübingen, J. G. Cotta Publishers, 1853. With 6 folded tables (atlas) comprising 3 leaves + 12 engraved plates (1 in colour). IV, (8), 474, (2) pp. New half-leather with red title (endpapers replaced, pages partly slightly foxed, plates in the atlas volume only slightly foxed, otherwise in good condition Fiedler/Leitner 5.4. - First edition of the collection of geognostic and physical treatises compiled by Humboldt himself towards the end of his life, with which he intended to bring together his scientific life’s work in a separate series; a planned second volume was never published, so it remained as this single volume. In terms of content, the work brings together several of Humboldt’s studies previously published in scattered form, including his seminal ‘Geognostic and Physical Observations on the Volcanoes of the Quito Highlands’, in which, based on his journey through the Americas (1799–1804) and his own and others’ observations, interprets the volcanic system of the Ecuadorian Andes – comprising volcanoes such as Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Chimborazo, Antisana and Sangay – as a coherent geological phenomenon, thereby playing a decisive role in laying the foundations of modern volcanology. The text volume is supplemented by six fold-out tables and a separate atlas, designed by Humboldt himself based on his travel sketches, comprising twelve engraved plates (one of which is coloured), which depict characteristic contour profiles and silhouettes of South American and Mexican volcanoes – such as those in the Cordilleras of Quito and the volcanic regions of Mexico, including the Jorullo – in a comparative, physiognomic representation. This cartographic and geognostic visual language follows directly in the tradition of Humboldt’s earlier *Vues des Cordillères et Monuments des Peuples Indigènes de l’Amérique* and constitutes the elderly scholar’s last major cartographically illustrated contribution to volcanic research, six years before his death in 1859. As a rare set, complete with both the text volume and the atlas, the work ranks among Humboldt’s most sought-after late works, in which his lifelong study of the volcanoes of the New World culminates in a final, comprehensive synthesis. Geology. – With 6 folding tables, plus (atlas) 3 leaves + 12 engraved plates (1 coloured). New half-calf with spine label (endpapers renewed, pages partly slightly foxed, plates of the atlas volume only minimally foxed, otherwise in good condition). - First edition of the collection of geognostic and physical treatises that Humboldt compiled himself towards the end of his life, intended to bring together his scientific life’s work into a dedicated series; a planned second volume never appeared, so this remained the only one published. In terms of content, the work brings together several of Humboldt’s studies previously published in scattered form, including his seminal ‘Geognostic and Physical Observations on the Volcanoes of the Highlands of Quito’, in which, drawing on his American expedition (1799–1804) as well as his own findings and those of other observers, he interprets the volcanic system of the Ecuadorian Andes – comprising volcanoes such as Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Chimborazo, Antisana, and Sangay – as a coherent geological phenomenon, thereby making a decisive contribution to the founding of modern volcanology. The text volume is complemented by six folding tables as well as a separate atlas, designed by Humboldt himself based on his own travel sketches, containing twelve engraved plates (one of them coloured) that show characteristic outline profiles and silhouettes of South American and Mexican volcanoes – such as those of the Cordilleras of Quito and the volcanic regions of Mexico, including Jorullo – in comparative, physiognomic representation. This cartographic-geognostic visual language stands in direct continuity with Humboldt’s earlier *Vues des Cordillères et Monumens des Peuples Indigènes de l’Amérique* and constitutes the elderly scholar’s last major cartographically illustrated contribution to volcanological research, published six years before his death in 1859. As a rare set in which both the text and atlas volumes are fully preserved together, the work ranks amongst Humboldt’s highly sought-after late works, in which his lifelong engagement with the volcanoes of the New World crystallises into a final, summarising synthesis. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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