Primitive Man. Louis Figuier, author. Illustrated. Chatto & Windus, 1876. VG

Chatto and Windus, London, 1876. 9" X 6". 1st Thus. Illustrated w/ 30 full-page engraved plates by Emile-Antoine Bayard + 233 figures of objects belonging to pre-historic ages, most found at various archaeological sites. Brick-red cloth, illustrated gilt front cover, embossed illustrated spine, yellow end-papers, deckled pages top & fore-edges, black/red letters. Spine bumping, hd & ft; small frays at bottom corners. There is a small 1/4" split at the top corner of the front gutter & light wear to the bottom of both boards. Previous owner's signature, dated 1879, center of front board. The first few pages have light browning/scuffing in places, with crisp white pages throughout otherwise. The book has slightly rolled, but is still securely bound. Both hinges are sound. 348 pages.


LOUIS FIGUIER (15 February, 1819 – 8 November, 1894) was a noted French author and scientist. He was the author of numerous successful works: 'Great Ancient and Modern Inventions' (1861), 'The Hearth Scholar' (1862), 'The World Before The Deluge' (1863), 'The Land and The Seas' (1864), 'Primitive Man' (1871), and 'The Tomorrow Of Death' (1872). He became a Doctor of Medicine in 1841, was granted advanced degrees in pharmacology, chemistry & physics, and gained his PhD in 1850.
The book was first published in French under the title "L'Homme Primitif", and is divided into two great periods, or ages: (1) The Stone Age, which is separated into three epochs; and (2) The Age of Metals, being split into two epochs.