31 - BERGOUNIOUX (F.-M.) & GLORY (André)

BERGOUNIOUX (F.-M.) & GLORY (André) The First Humans: A Primer on Prehistoric Anthropology. Toulouse-Paris: Didier, 1944. Second edition, 10th thousand. The first edition was published in 1943. A substantial in-8 paperback volume, with a beige cover printed in black and orange, featuring a diagram of a skull on the front cover and a color reproduction of a prehistoric animal on the back cover. A comprehensive overview of anthropology and prehistory, authored by paleontologist Frédéric-Marie Bergounioux and Abbé André Glory, a prehistorian and specialist in cave art. The work examines the origins and evolution of prehistoric humans, the various types of human fossils, stone and bone tool industries, as well as the major cultures of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The volume is richly illustrated with in-text figures and color plates, reproducing skulls and human fossil remains, stone tools, prehistoric objects, and archaeological artifacts. The chapters focus in particular on the Neanderthal period, the Mousterian, the Aurignacian, and Upper Paleolithic humans. The first edition comprised 461 pages, including figures and plates. One of the seminal French works on prehistoric anthropology from the immediate postwar period, it was reprinted several times and extensively revised thereafter; a fourth, completely revised edition was published in the early 1950s. Condition: copy in its original binding. Cover heavily pitted and browned, with foxing, soiling, and signs of wear; spine rubbed with minor damage to the head and foot caps; corners worn. The paper is uniformly yellowed with some foxing and small stains. Nevertheless, the copy is complete and appears to be in sound condition based on the photographs.