The Travels and Researches of Alexander von Humboldt, W. Macgillivray

£100.00

The Travels and Researches of Alexander von Humboldt, W. Macgillivray

Name: The Travels and Researches of Alexander von Humboldt, W. Macgillivray
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5904
Price: 100.00 GBP
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The Travels and Researches of Alexander von Humboldt, W. Macgillivray — Enlarged Edition

Publication: London and Edinburgh, Thomas Nelson, 1853

Formatting: 12mo, pp. [unknown]. Engraved frontispiece portrait, engraved vignette title page, 4 plates, 2 woodcuts, and a fold-out map.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original publisher’s embossed red cloth remains notably bright and well-preserved, with the gilt laurel wreath and spine lettering exhibiting minimal oxidation. The binding is sound and tight, showing only minor, expected rubbing to the corners and spine ends. Internally, the pages are largely crisp, though there is some light foxing and toning present, primarily affecting the preliminary pages, plates, and fore-edges, which is standard for a volume of this era. The inner hinges are completely intact without any cracking to the endpapers. There is a neat contemporary ownership inscription in ink on the front free endpaper ("Mrs Purdon / From / William Purdon / March 1853"), which provides a factual record of early provenance without detracting from the book's overall structural and aesthetic integrity.

Catalogue Note: This is an "Enlarged Edition" of William Macgillivray’s highly regarded condensed narrative, issued as part of the “Edinburgh Cabinet Library - New Edition” series. It expands upon earlier printings by including a supplementary narrative of Humboldt’s later scientific expeditions to the Ural Mountains, the Altaian Range, and the Caspian Sea, offering a more complete overview of the naturalist's achievements.

The volume is profusely illustrated with an engraved portrait of Humboldt by Horsburgh, a picturesque vignette title page depicting the Dragon-Tree of Orotava, four full-page plates (including the Air Volcanoes of Turbaco), two in-text woodcuts, and a fold-out map.

While Macgillivray’s abridgements were popular throughout the mid-nineteenth century, encountering this specific 1853 Thomas Nelson printing in its original, unrestored publisher's cloth is uncommon on the open market. The contemporary 1853 gift inscription further grounds the volume exactly in its year of publication.

A fascinating mid-nineteenth-century abridgement of Alexander von Humboldt's monumental scientific explorations. Distilling Humboldt's vast geographical, botanical, and geological observations into a widely accessible narrative, W. Macgillivray captures the adventurous spirit of one of history’s greatest scientific minds. This enlarged edition vividly brings to life not only Humboldt’s famous journeys through the equinoctial regions of the Americas but also his later, equally vital travels through the Russian Empire, offering a comprehensive testament to a lifetime of discovery.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: W. Macgillivray; Alexander von Humboldt

Book Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Travel, Exploration & Adventure

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1853

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Horsburgh

Book Series: Edinburgh Cabinet Library

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.