'Über den Zwischenkiefer des Menschen'. 1831

GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832). 'Über den Zwischenkiefer des Menschen und der Thiere von Goethe. Jena: 1786.' Offprint from: Nova acta Physico-Medica Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum, Vol. 15/1, Bonn: E. Weber 1831.

First complete separate edition, an extreme rarity of Goethe's output, and one of his most important contributions to science. Goethe first wrote his paper on the discovery of the intermaxillary (premaxillary) bone in humans in 1784. The text was first published in 1820 in Goethe's Zur Naturwissenschaft uberhaupt, besonders zur Morphologie, but without the accompanying plates, which appear here in print for the first time. 'Goethe discovered the intermaxillary bone; he was one of the pioneers of evolution and the first to use the term "morphology"' (Garrison-Morton). The preliminary drawings to van de Velde's plates were executed by Christian Wilhelm Waitz under Goethe's guidance. Johannes Muller wrote the short introduction, although his name does not appear. Garrison-Morton 200; Waller 3611; Hagen 477. See DSB V, 442.

Quarto (260 x 211mm). 5 folding engraved plates by Kasimir van de Velde (scattered variable spotting). Self-wrappers (spine reinforced with modern marbled-paper backstrip); contained within modern cloth box.

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