Geology of Ireland--Griffith, Sir Richard John
£3,120
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 5 September 2007 at 12:00 BST
Description
A general map of Ireland to accompany the report of the railway commissioners shewing the principal physical features and geological structure of the country. Constructed in 1836 and engraved in 1837-8. Dublin: Hodges & Smith: London: James Gardner, [1839], first edition, hand-coloured lithographed map on 6 sheets (each sheet 65 x 79.5cm), dissected and backed on linen, edged in red silk, cloth chemise, original diced calf slipcase lettered in gilt on spine
Footnote
Note: A fine copy of the Sir Richard Griffith's geological map of Ireland on the quarter inch scale. In Ireland the map possesses the same pioneer status as is held in England and Wales by William Smith's map (1815) and in Scotland by John Macculoch's map (1836). The Irish geologist Richard Griffith (1784-1878) a child prodigy, was unanimously elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh at 23 years of age, elected a member of the newly established Geological Society of London in 1808 and in 1812 was elected professor of geology and mining engineer to the Royal Dublin Society. In 1827 he started his monumental work on the valuations of Ireland. In his work Sheets of Many Colours: the Mapping of Ireland's Rocks Davies states "In its edition of 1839 Griffith's map represents a fine acheivement; in its edition of 1855 it is on every count - cartographic, aesthetic, and geological - a truly superb map." For his geological map and other services to science Griffith was awarded the Wollaston medal by the Geological Society in 1854. Presentation copy, inscribed on cloth chemise "Sent to me from London by Mr Drummond Under Secretary, July 1840", the recipient's name erased. Thomas Drummond (1835-1840), The Under-Secretary for Ireland, the permanent head of the British administration in Ireland prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Rare: only three copies of the 1839 edition found in the online catalogues of Copac or KVK: N.L.S. (2 sheets only, of 6), Cambridge and Trinity College, Dublin.