Scientific Papers. Volume I - IV.

Cambridge 1907-1916. Four (of five) volumes in four. Large 8vo (26.0 x 17.4 cm). 2240 pp., numerous figures. Original uniform dark blue buckram. Spines with gilt title. = The works of Darwin's second son, with his own evolution theory, about the origin of the moon! Sir George Howard Darwin (1845-1912) was the fifth child of Charles Darwin. After studying mathematics at Cambridge he read for the Bar, but soon returned to science and to Cambridge, where in 1883 he was appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy. His work was concerned primarily with the effect of the sun and moon on tidal forces on Earth, and with the theoretical cosmogony which evolved from practical observation: he formulated the fission theory of the formation of the moon (that the moon was formed from still-molten matter pulled away from the Earth by solar tides). He also developed a theory of evolution for the Sun-Earth-Moon system based on mathematical analysis in geophysical theory. In total, five volumes were published, of which these are the first four. They are all extremely scarce. Do not confuse this original edition with the inferior (size-reduced) Krauss reprint or modern soft cover reprints. Ex library with stamps, and wear to spine feet, otherwise very good.