GOETHE Johann Wolfgang von Versuch die Metamorphose der Pflanzen zu erklären.

Sparrow, n° 86 ; Pritzel, 3760 ; Osler, 2767 ; DSB, V, 442-446.

Reissue under the date of the first edition Osler indicates that copies with 86 pp. and the author’s name above the title constitute the first issue, while the copie with the author’s name below the title belong to the second issue, as it is here the case.

Sparrow cites an identical copy to ours, inscribed to Jussieu. “A work of utmost consequence in the development of the theory of evolution… A forerunner of Darwin in many respects, [Goethe] believed in organic evolution. He coined the world morphology” (Sparrow). “With regard both to Linnæus and Wolff it may be said that they anticipated the morphology of plants, but that to Goethe belongs the credit of establishing it” (Osler citing Lewes).

Good copy.