Emigration fields

Inscribed to Social Reformer Thomas Atwood

Matthew, Patrick (1790-1874). Emigration fields. 12mo. xi, [1], 237, [1]pp., adverts. 2 large folding maps engraved by Sidney Hall. Edinburgh: Black. . . , 1839. 198 x 120 mm. Original cloth, gilt, rebacked preserving original backstrip, worn & spotted. Light browning but still very good.

First Edition, Inscribed by Matthew to Thomas Attwood (1783-1856) on endpaper."To Thomas Atwood M.P. Esq from P. Matthew"

This plan for British emigration to North America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand was informed by Matthew's ideas on natural selection, which he first expressed in 1831, fully anticipating Darwin. Matthew speculates on the influence of environmental conditions, for example in southern Africa, where he predicts that the native population, perfectly adapted to the climate, and now governed by a more humane colonial policy, will grow at a faster rate than the colonial population.

Matthew presented this copy to the social reformer and M. P. Thomas Attwood, who presented the Chartists' petition for universal suffrage and other democratic rights to the House of Commons in June of 1839 (see DNB).This is the only book inscribed by Patrick Matthew that we have seen on the market in more than 40 years.During the same period we have never seen an autograph letter by Matthew for sale. Thus is an extremely opportunity to obrtain Patrick Matthew's autograph, etc.