50 - BROOM (Robert)

BROOM (Robert) The Origins of Man. The Evolution from Fish to Man—The Ape-Man—The First Human Types—The Evolution of Modern Man. Foreword by Dr. George Montandon. Paris, Payot, 1934. “Bibliothèque scientifique” series. In-8 paperback, publisher’s illustrated cover depicting an Australopithecus skull. 35 figures, 1 table, and 1 separate plate, including the large photographic portrait of the Australopithecus skull as a frontispiece. Approximately 240 pp. Original French edition, published by Payot in 1934; the BnF catalog entry confirms this edition, its full title, and the preface by George Montandon. A work by the South African paleontologist Robert Broom (1866–1951), one of the leading figures in the early days of African paleoanthropology. Here, he sets forth his views on the evolution of vertebrates and the origin of humankind, from primitive forms to the earliest human species, with a particular focus on mammalian reptiles, primates, and Australopithecines. The book is particularly interesting in terms of its chronology: two years after this publication, in 1936, Broom would discover the first adult Australopithecus at Sterkfontein—a discovery that played a major role in establishing the importance of southern Africa in human history. Foreword by George Montandon, then a professor at the School of Anthropology. This association also serves as a testament to the history of French anthropology during the interwar period; it should be noted, however, that Montandon later developed racial and anti-Semitic theories and was implicated in collaboration with the Nazis. Condition: Copy preserved in its original binding, which is a plus. Cover is very worn: significant signs of wear and rubbing, creases, soiling and stains, small losses and tears along the edges, and a worn spine and corners. Some foxing inside; nevertheless, the copy appears to be complete and still in good condition.