131 - JELINEK (Jan)

JELINEK (Jan) Illustrated Encyclopedia of Prehistoric Man. Paris, Gründ, n.d. [circa 1975]. Large in-4 volume, publisher’s hardcover with a color-illustrated dust jacket, abundant black-and-white and color illustrations throughout the text and as full-page spreads. A comprehensive overview of human evolution and prehistoric civilizations, from the earliest hominids to Upper Paleolithic cultures. The book successively examines the major stages of human physical evolution, the principal prehistoric sites, stone and bone tool industries, settlement patterns, hunting, burial practices, and the earliest artistic expressions. Extensive illustrative material, including photographs of fossils and archaeological sites, skulls and human remains, tool diagrams and drawings, reconstructions of dwellings, and numerous reproductions of cave art. Notably included are reproductions of the Magdalenian paintings from Niaux, as well as numerous Paleolithic artifacts and archaeological reconstructions from Central Europe. Jan Jelínek (1926–2004), a Czech anthropologist and prehistorian, served notably as director of the Anthropos Museum in Brno and was one of Europe’s leading specialists in prehistoric anthropology during the second half of the 20th century. The interior is in fair condition. The dust jacket is heavily damaged, with significant tears and missing sections, particularly on the headdresses and the upper part of the front cover; it has old repairs with adhesive tape; there is rubbing and minor damage along the edges. The cardboard cover and the book block are in significantly better condition.