On Molecular and Microscopic Science.

London: John Murray,, 1869. The Victorian polymath's final book First edition of this ambitious survey of the latest discoveries made by microscope, written over the course of ten years. Its nearly 200 illustrations include 14 by Charles Darwin, taken with permission from his 1862 book on orchids, and 11 plates, almost astronomical in design, printed in a deep, unfaded blue. Published by Somerville at the age of 88, On Molecular and Microscopic Science comprises three sections: on atoms and molecules, on plant life, and on animal life. "The problems [Somerville] had to face during the work arose not from her age, as she had retained all her mental capacities, or the fact the she could not rely on research libraries, but from the fast and deep advancements that were happening in science all the time... What is absolutely fascinating in these two volumes is that, even though she was dealing with microscopical organisms, she likens certain scenes to constellations of stars" (Strickland, pp. 65-6). Somerville asked Darwin, with whom she shared a publisher, for the use of several of his plates, but "avoided any reference to his controversial evolutionary theory in the belief that it needed further experimental investigation" (Orlando). Somerville (1780-1872) dedicated her life to the popularization of science and mathematics. She established her reputation with an English translation of Laplace's Mécanique céleste (trans. 1831), which was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. Praised for their clarity and accessibility, her works were especially popular as textbooks. William Whewell favourably reviewed Somerville's second book, On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences, in 1834. In his summary, he coined the term "scientist" as a gender-neutral term for those pursuing scientific enquiry. Somerville was also a firm advocate of higher education for women and women's suffrage, being the first to sign John Stuart Mill's petition for suffrage in 1868. "Perhaps no woman of science until Marie Curie was as widely recognized in her own time" (ODNB). Two volumes, octavo. Original blue cloth, spines lettered and decorated in gilt, covers ruled in blind and gilt, front covers with central illustration of an Acanthometra bulbosa stamped in gilt, brown coated endpapers, Edmonds & Remnants of London binder's ticket on rear pastedown of first volume. Lithographic frontispieces printed in blue, each with tissue guard laid in, 9 further chromolithographic plates, 169 engraved illustrations in text. 32 pp. publisher's advertisements dated September 1868 at rear of vol. 2. Later ink numbering and monogram stamp, "FB", on front pastedowns and front free endpapers respectively. Spines darkened, ends and corners gently bumped and rubbed, a few faint marks to cloth, gilt bright; inner hinges cracked but holding, internally crisp and clean bar light foxing to endleaves, chip to lower edge of vol. 2 sig. D4 and short marginal closed tear to R7 of same: a very good copy in the original cloth. Elisabetta Strickland, The Ascent of Mary Somerville in 19th Century Society, 2016.