LYELL, Charles (1797-1875). Principles of Geology, Being an Attempt to Explain the Former Changes of the Earth's Surface, by Reference to Causes Now in Operation. London: John Murray, 1830-1833.

LYELL, Charles (1797-1875). Principles of Geology, Being an Attempt to Explain the Former Changes of the Earth's Surface, by Reference to Causes Now in Operation. London: John Murray, 1830-1833.

The first edition of the groundbreaking work by the father of modern geology which argued for the true antiquity of the Earth. Lyell's work had enormous impact on Charles Darwin's thinking with its development of the concept of “deep geological time” through observation of current geological processes; Darwin himself wrote that: “I always feel as if my books came half out of Lyell's brain” (PMM). This copy is in the binding of the banker and antiquarian Hudson Gurney. A page of his notes copied from the opening of the Chapter III describes the geological theories of the Medieval Islamic scientists, in particular Avicenna, whose own theories about geological change over time prefigured Lyell’s. Dibner 96; Horblit 70; Milestones of Science 140; Norman 1398; cf. PMM 344.

3 volumes, octavo (212 x 132mm). 3 aquatint frontispieces, 2 of which handcolored; 5 engraved plates; 3 maps, 2 of which handcolored and 2 of which folding; wood engravings throughout (without half-titles in vols 1 and 3; lacking final leaf of vol. 2; light spotting to plates in vol. 1). Contemporary calf gilt (rebacked with the original spine, edges of boards restored); in modern boxes. Provenance: Hudson Gurney (1775-1864, banker and antiquarian; armorial binding and page of manuscript notes).