(Born: 1797; Died: 1878) English physician & geologist.

Biographical references: BBA: I 585, 194. • Boase, Modern English Biography, 1892-1921. • WBI.

Dictionary of Geology and Mineralogy, 1840

1. English, 1840 [First edition].
Dictionary | Of | Geology And Mineralogy, | Comprising Such Terms In | Botany, Chemistry, Comparative Anatomy, | Conchology, Entomology, Palæontology, | Zoology, | And Other Branches Of | Natural History, | As Are Connected With | The Study Of Geology. | [wavy rule] | By William Humble, M.D. | [wavy rule] | London: | Published By Henry Washbourne, | Salisbury Square, Fleet Street. | MDCCCXL.

4°: π⁴ B-Z⁴ 2A-2N⁴; 144l.; [i]-viii, [1]-279, [1] p. Page size: 226 x 140 mm.

Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso "London: | Printed By Stewart And Murray, | Old Bailey."; [iii], Dedication to the Duke of Richmond, Lennox and Aubigy, signed William Humble, 27 February 1840.; [iv], Blank.; [v]-viii, Preface.; [1]-279, Text.; [1 pg], "London: | Printed By Stewart And Murray, | Old Bailey."

Scarce. A comprehensive dictionary in English on the subjects of geology and mineralogy. Included are references to terms in the fields of botany, chemistry, comparative anatomy, conchology, entomology, palaeontology and zoology as they are connected to geology. In the preface, Humble writes that he undertook the compilation of this work because he failed to locate a dictionary containing such technological terms as are peculiar to this branch of science. Since the beginning of the eighteenth century, there had been a great increase in the knowledge of geology, especially in Britain, and these advances had ballooned the nomenclature of the science. Humble's book helped the reading public discover the meaning of these terms. The text is arranged alphabetically, and references are provided for some entries.

Bibliographical references: BL. • BMC: 2, 889. • NUC.

2. English, 1843 [2nd edition].
Dictionary | Of | Geology And Mineralogy, | Comprising Such Terms In | Botany, Chemistry, Comparative Anatomy, | Conchology, Entomology, Palæontology, | Zoology, | And Other Branches Of | Natural History, | As Are Connected With | The Study Of Geology. | [wavy rule] | By William Humble, M.D., F.G.S. | [wavy rule] | Second Edition, With Additions. | [wavy rule] | London: | Published By Henry Washbourne, | Salisbury Square, Fleet Street. | MDCCCXLIII.

8°: [iii]-viii, [1]-294 p. A reprint of the first edition, with the addition of a small appendix. Very scarce.

Contents: [iii-iv], Title page, verso blank.; [v]-viii, Preface.; [1]-279, Text.; 279-294, "Appendix."

Bibliographical references: BL. • BMC: 2, 889. • NUC.

3. English, 1860 [3rd edition].
Dictionary | Of | Geology & Mineralogy: | Comprising Such Terms In | Natural History | As Are Connected With | The Study Of Geology; | By | William Humble, M.D., F.G.S. | [double rule] | London: Richard Griffin And Co.; | Ryde: James Briddon, 7, Cross Street. | [short rule] | MDCCCLX.

8°: [6], [iii]-vii, [1], [1]-470, [2] p. Page size: 218 x 140 mm. Very scarce.

Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [3 pgs], "Names Of Subscribers."; [1 pg], Blank.; [iii]-vii, "Preface."; [1 pg], "Preface To The Third Edition."; [1]-470, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.; [1 pg], Colophon.

Bibliographical references: BL. • NUC. • Wheldon & Wesley, Booksellers: cat. 170, no. 1125.

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