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London, sold at various booksellers, quarto, three volumes: [vol. I (1804), xii, 471 p., 4 page index, frontispiece plate, title page vignette and 10 hand-colored plates; vol. II (1808), xiv, [2], 286 p., 5 p. index, 1 p. publisher's ads, colored frontispiece, title page vignette and 19 hand-colored plates with explanatory leaves; vol. III (1811), xv, [1], 479, [1] p., 5 p. index, colored frontispiece, title page vignette and 22 hand-colored plates with explanatory leaves]. ***CONTENT: Best known as the physician who distinguished the palsy disease that now bears his name, Parkinson (1755-1824) was also a well-read amateur paleontologist. This pioneering treatise introduced the ideas of Lamarck, Cuvier, John Farey and William Smith to the educated public, and was one of the earliest systematic attempts to identify and interpret fossils. Many well-known fossil types are superbly described for the first time and illustrated with striking hand-colored engravings. Volume I is devoted to the plant kingdom and describes coal, lignite and peat as well as petrified wood, ferns, stems, leaves and fruits, mainly from Carboniferous and Tertiary strata. A short history of paleontological knowledge is also provided. Volume II treats corals, sponges and crinoids, and introduces the Linnaean system of taxonomic nomenclature. Volume III describes a variety of higher fossil animals: echinoderms, mollusks, trilobites, arthropods, fishes, reptiles and mammals, and includes a splendid frontispiece of an Ohio mastodon tooth. Parkinson's evolving theoretical views were expounded in the third volume; he became increasingly convinced that many fossils belonged to extinct species. He boldly expressed his conviction that the "days" of the Biblical account of Creation actually represented very long periods of Earth history. This work was a monumental contribution to the understanding of British paleontology. ***CONDITION: This is a near Fine set bound in contemporary marbled boards with later calf spines bearing maroon, gilt-lettered leather title labels. The covers are clean and sound, showing only mild rubbing and edgewear. The backstrips are fully complete, as are the labels, with bright, bold lettering. Joints and hinges worn but holding, bindings very firm. Save for some offsetting and occasional very light foxing, the text pages are typically fresh, clean and bright. The colored plates are pristine, with bright, vibrant coloration. The only traces of previous ownership are some interesting penciled quotations from Genesis, inscribed on an endpaper of volume one in a contemporary hand; later scant pencil notes and distinctive bookplates of John W. Wells on the front pastedowns. The first edition of this work has become exceedingly scarce. This is a very handsome, fully complete set. BMNH 1523. Ward and Carozzi 1735. Domestic and international shipping will be extra for this set, but only at my cost. Seller Inventory # OG5219
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