Beytrage Zur Mineralogischen Kenntniss Des Ostlichen Theils Von Nord
Item #72883
SCHOPF, Johann David. Beytrage Zur Mineralogischen Kenntniss Des Ostlichen Theils Von NordAmerika Und Seiner Geburge. Erlangen, Germany: Johann Jacob Palm, 1787. [14],194,[1]pp. Contemporary plain boards, modern paper spine label, edges stained red. Contemporary ownership inscriptions on titlepage and front pastedown. Internally clean. A very good copy. First edition of what Howes calls, "The first consequential work on American geology." Johann David Schopf was a German-trained physician who served as a field surgeon attached to the Ansbach regimen of Hessian mercenaries employed by the British during the American Revolution. After the war ended Schopf stayed an additional two years in America, travelling along the east coast from New York City south to St. Augustine, Florida. He was a careful student of natural history, and was particularly interested in the geology and mineralogy of the region. This very important book is the product of his geological observations along the east coast. Schopf also published an important account of his American travels (REISE DURCH EINIGE DER MITTLERN UND SUDLICHEN...STAATEN NACH OST-FLORIDA, Erlangen, 1788). "Its author, a young German, whom the accident of war brought to our shores, was as well equipped as any of his contemporaries for the scientific appreciation of the natural phenomena of a new country.... Many of the conclusions here set forth are in the main those now generally accepted, and bear witness to the acumen of their author" - Williams. HOWES S175, "b." SABIN 77754. WARD & COROZZI 1991. George Hunting Williams, "Johann David Schoepf and His Contributions to North American Geology" in BULLETIN GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, Vol. 5, 1893.
Price: $7,500.00