Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854.
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Hardcover. First edition. Octavo. Original folding salt print photograph as frontispiece; in-text illustrations. Publisher's blue cloth gilt. A little rubbed at the thin spine ends, else a fine, bright copy. The first scientific book in America to be illustrated with a photograph, the frontispiece salt print of dinosaur footprints (described on p.49 of the text, where the photographer is identified as Silsbee), and only the second book published in the U.S. to be illustrated with a photograph. A wonderful presentation copy Inscribed: "Franklin Bache, M.D. with the regards of his friend The Author." Bache was the Virginia-born great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin. After receiving his medical degree he served in the Navy as a surgeon. He ran the Philadelphia Naval Asylum from 1845 to 1847, and then served as fleet surgeon of the Brazil Squadron, and later still as director of the medical laboratory of the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the Civil War, providing medical supplies to the Union army. Surprisingly, the book does occasionally turn up, but we've never seen another inscribed copy. A nice presentation of an important book. *New York Public Library Checklist* #10; *Truthful Lens* # 81.
Item #400886
