Whitehurst, John. 1786. An Inquiry into the Original State and Formation of the Earth; Deduced from the Facts and Laws of Nature. 2nd edition

Whitehurst, John. 1786. An Inquiry into the Original State and Formation of the Earth; Deduced from the Facts and Laws of Nature. 2^nd edition. 283pp + 7plates. Publ W Bent, London. Hardback, 29 x22.5 cm, original publishers boards very worn, recent DIY binding with brown leather which is not flexible enough to open well. It is glued to the original stitched binding which remains intact and sound. Text clean with very occasional foxing, untrimmed wide margins. Signature of early owner, Daniel Whitle (Hollingworth Hall, NE Derbyshire, c.1800), on title page and neat arabic numerals in ball point translating date from roman numerals. Only other annotation, in pencil by an early hand, queries Whitehurst’s statements concerning absence of seasons before the Deluge, on last page. Old tape residue on gutter edge of front free end-paper and on half title. 25 figures on 7 plates; 5 plates fold out; two are dated 1778 , one 1785 and the rest are not dated. The pages are in very good condition; while the cover is in a poor state, the binding is good. Excellent potential for rebinding.