MORE WORLDS THAN ONE: THE CREED OF THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE HOPE OF THE CHRISTIAN. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1854. Octavo, pp. [i-v] vi-vii [viii] [1] 2-259 [260: blank] + 32-page publisher's catalogue dated "January, 1854" inserted at rear, publisher's pictorial blue cloth, front, spine and rear panels stamped in gold and blind, top edge untrimmed, salmon coated endpapers. First edition, first printing. A book-length illustration and defense of cosmic pluralism, specifically Fontenelle's CONVERSATIONS ON THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS (1686) by Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), eminent Scottish scientist, inventor and devout Presbyterian. Brewster's work was no doubt inspired by the publication of William Whewell's OF THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS, a work published anonymously in 1853 that argued that there was no life anywhere else in the universe, thus igniting a bitter Victorian debate on science and religion. Armorial bookplate of Sir Francis Geary affixed to the front paste-down. Cloth worn at spine ends and corner tips, some rubbing to extremities, mostly along outer joints, a very good copy. The first printing of this book is very scarce. (#172999).
Price: $1,000.00
No statement of printing.