The Philosophy of Sleep (First Amercan edition)
New York: D. Appleton, 1834. First American edition. Hardcover. First American ediiton, so stated on the tile page. From the second Glasgow edition with the Preface to the Second Edition. Original patterned cloth with paper spine label. (1) 287 pp plus index, which is erroneously paginated 290, 391-395, 296; 12 pp. publisher's ads at rear of which only the last four are paginated, (2). The original cloth has some staining and spotting, splitting to the rear gutter and wear and loss to the spine extremities; spine label is rubbed and stained. A previous owner's signature has been excised from the top edge og the title page (not affecting the title) and there is an ink notation on the exposed upper margin of the next page "The Philosophy of Sleep !!!". Scattered foxing to the text block, some old ownership notations on the front free endpaper and a 19th century bookplate affixed to the front pastedown. Not a pretty copy but complete and firm in its binding. Robert Macnish was a Scottish surgeon, from a family of medical men, author and philosopher. He was a frequent contributor to Blackwood's Magazine. This work, whcih in part is an early defense of phrenology, also examines physical as well as psychological properties of sleep; includes sections on dreaming, nightmares, daymares, sleep walking, sleep talking, sleeplessness, drowsiness, protracted sleep, trance, voluntary waking dreams, spectral illusions, and even the sleep of plants. Good. Item #E15337B
Price: $125.00