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Science and Natural History

Rare Science and Natural History Books for Sale Online

Browse rare first edition science and natural history books. Search for books in the fields of biology, medicine, chemistry, physics, and astronomy.  In addition, create your wish list,  and ask any questions about a specific product, or order online today.

Showing items 280-300 of 359

Burney, Capt. James

A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. Illustrated with Charts.

London : Printed by Luke Hansard, 1803.

Rare first edition of “the most important general history of early South Seas discoveries, containing practically everything of importance on the subject; collected from all sources, with the most important remarks concerning them. Many of the early voyages to California would be inaccessible were they not collected herein” (Hill). Quarto, 5 volumes bound in fullContinue reading "A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. Illustrated with Charts."

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$15,000.00
Item Number: RRB-117105

Mead, Margaret. Foreword by Franz Boas

Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth in Western Civilisation.

New York : The New American Library of World Literature, Inc, 1949.

First paperback edition, first printing of Mead’s pioneering work which, upon publication, established her as the most famous anthropologist in the world. Small octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Signed and dated by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “Margaret Meade November 1949.” In near fine condition. Jacket design by RobertContinue reading "Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth in Western Civilisation."

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$950.00
Item Number: RRB-117021

Mead, Margaret. Foreword by Franz Boas

Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth in Western Civilisation.

New York : Blue Ribbon Books, 1932.

Early printing of Mead’s pioneering work which, upon publication, established her as the most famous anthropologist in the world. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, illustrated. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket, which is in good condition. Foreword by Franz Boas.

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$200.00
Item Number: RRB-117912

Darwin, Charles

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.

London : John Murray, 1859.

First edition of “certainly the most important biological book ever written” (Freeman), one of 1250 copies. Octavo, bound in original cloth, half-title, one folding lithographed diagram, without advertisements. In very good condition with cracks to inner hinges and a touch of shelfwear. Housed in a custom clamshell box. A fine example of this landmark work.

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$400,000.00
Item Number: RRB-116380

Schweitzer, Albert

Albert Schweitzer Autograph Letter Signed.

1960.

Rare autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of French physician and Nobel Laureate Albert Schweitzer. One page, text in French. The letter is addressed to Miss Mary Hebe Degler of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and reads in part, “Thank you for very much for the beautiful photographs. The are very natural. All is wellContinue reading "Albert Schweitzer Autograph Letter Signed."

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-116818

Roosevelt, Theodore; William Howard Taft; John Muir; John Burroughs; Bernard Baruch et al. [Olga Roosevelt]

Theodore Roosevelt Signed and Inscribed Autograph Quotation Book.

c. 1903.

Olga Roosevelt’s autograph book, lengthily inscribed and signed by Theodore Roosevelt as President of the United States, William Howard Taft as Vice President of the United States and several other famous figures of the era, including naturalists John Muir and John Burroughs and financier Bernard Baruch. Octavo, bound in full vellum with hand painted decorationsContinue reading "Theodore Roosevelt Signed and Inscribed Autograph Quotation Book."

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$15,000.00
Item Number: RRB-116342

Sagan, Carl. [Shirley Arden]

Carl Sagan Archive.

c. 1974-1985.

Extensive archive of papers, letters, notes, magazines, articles, press kits and portfolios containing the work of Carl Sagan, including twenty letters and notes signed by him and some additionally by his wife Ann Druyan. From the collection of Sagan’s Executive Assistant, Shirley Arden, who was instrumental in Sagan’s success and handled all travel arrangements andContinue reading "Carl Sagan Archive."

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$30,000.00
Item Number: RRB-115521

Hirzebruch, F.; Lars Hormander; John Milnor; Jean-Pierre Serre; I.M. Singer

Annals of Mathematics Studies No. 70: Prospects in Mathematics.

Princeton, New Jersey : Annals of Mathematics Studies Princeton University Press, 1971.

First edition of the papers from the “Prospects in Mathematics” symposium, held in Princeton on March 16-18, 1970 on the occasion of the dedication of Princeton’s Fine Hall. Signed by John Milnor on the half-title page. In fine condition. Ownership name to the front panel. Both uncommon in this condition and signed by Milnor.

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-114348

Muir, John

A Thousand-Mile Walk To the Gulf.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1916.

First edition of this work by Muir. Octavo, original green cloth, color pictorial cover label, lettered in white, top edge gilt. Edited with an introduction by William Frederic Badè. Illustrated with several plates from photographs, including a frontispiece portrait with tissue guard; map. Fine in the rare original dust jacket, which is in near fineContinue reading "A Thousand-Mile Walk To the Gulf."

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$1,850.00
Item Number: RRB-114781

Dawkins, Richard

The Selfish Gene.

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1976.

First British edition of Dawkins’ classic work. Octavo, black cloth. Signed by Richard Dawkins and scientist Desmond Morris on the title page. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket painting by Desmond Morris. Morris is most well-known for the writing the classic work The Naked Ape and The Human Zoo. Foreword byContinue reading "The Selfish Gene."

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$4,200.00
Item Number: RRB-112395

Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them].

Lausanne : J.P. Heubach & Cie, 1784.

First edition of this work, translated as, Of Balloons Aerostatic, the Way to Build Them, Elevate Them. Octavo, bound in contemporary three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine and gilt balloon tooling in 4 compartments, marbled endpapers. This work is often wrongly attributed to Faujas de Saint-Fond, as it reprints his “DiscoursContinue reading "Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them]."

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$5,500.00
Item Number: RRB-111835

Bolton, James

Harmonia Ruralis; or, An Essay Towards A Natural History of British Songbirds.

London : Printed For and Sold By the Author, 1794.

Rare first edition of Bolton’s magnificently illustrated work on British songbirds. First issue with the original plates 7 and 13 which differ in later issues. Quarto, two volumes bound into one in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with eighty copper-plates of life-size maleContinue reading "Harmonia Ruralis; or, An Essay Towards A Natural History of British Songbirds."

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$12,500.00
Item Number: RRB-111071

Menand, Louis

The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2001.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to fellow Pulitzer Prize award winning author Edward O. Wilson, “For Edward with best wishes Louis Menand.” Wilson’s signature to the front free endpaper, near fine in a near dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America."

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$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-111949

Meadowcroft, William H. [Thomas A. Edison]

The Boy’s Life of Edison.

New York and London : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1911.

First edition of Meadowcroft’s biography of Thomas Edison, written for children. Octavo, original cloth with paper label portrait of Edison to the front panel, illustrated with eight photographic portraits of Edison including tissue-guarded frontispiece. With Edison’s autobiographical notes. Boldly signed on the second free endpaper, “Thomas A. Edison.” In very good condition. First printings areContinue reading "The Boy’s Life of Edison."

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$2,750.00
Item Number: RRB-110225
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