Item #107516 An Essay on the Causes of the Variety of Complexion and Figure in the Human Species. To which are added, Animadversions on certain Remarks made on the first edition of this Essay, by Mr. Charles White, in a series of Discourses delivered before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester in England. Also, Strictures on Lord Kaims’ Discourse on the Original Diversity of Mankind. And an Appendix. Samuel Stanhope Smith.

An Essay on the Causes of the Variety of Complexion and Figure in the Human Species. To which are added, Animadversions on certain Remarks made on the first edition of this Essay, by Mr. Charles White, in a series of Discourses delivered before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester in England. Also, Strictures on Lord Kaims’ Discourse on the Original Diversity of Mankind. And an Appendix.

1810. New Brunswick: J. Simpson and Co., 1810.

8vo., 411 pp. Quarter green calf, orange paper boards with green paper corners, edges speckled. Calf backstrip is dry and chipped, upper board detached, internally bright with minor foxing and damp stain to upper corner of first 20 pages not obscuring text. William Ellery Channing’s copy, with his signature on the title page.

§ Revised second edition. This second edition of Presbyterian minister Samuel Stanhope Smith (1751-1819) was quoted by Noah Webster in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary in the definition of philosophy, “True religion, and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same principle.” His essay became a powerful argument against early 19th century racist ethnology, attempting to explain the variety in human appearances as a result of environment. Smith also describes a concept of sexual selection similar to Charles Darwin’s later popularized theory. Sabin 84106. Item #107516

Price: $225.00

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