TYSON, Edward (1650-1708). Orang-Outang, sive Homo Sylvestris: or, the Anatomy of a Pygmie Compared with that of a Monkey, an Ape, and a Man. London: Thomas Bennet, Daniel Brown, Mr Hunt, 1699.

TYSON, Edward (1650-1708). Orang-Outang, sive Homo Sylvestris: or, the Anatomy of a Pygmie Compared with that of a Monkey, an Ape, and a Man. London: Thomas Bennet, Daniel Brown, Mr Hunt, 1699.

First edition of ‘the first work to demonstrate scientifically the structural relationships between man and anthropoid ape’ (Norman). Tyson’s work ‘established a new family of anthropoid apes standing between monkey and man, and recognized that man was probably a close relative of certain lower animals’ (PMM). It represents the first formulation of the idea of the ‘missing link’, which was more fully explored by the works of Huxley and Darwin in the 19th century. Norman 2120; PMM 169.

Quarto (269 x 215mm). Engraved folding frontispiece and 7 folding plates after William Cowper (1666-1709) by Michael Vander Gucht (1660-1725) (frontispiece possibly supplied, repaired tears in 3 plates, occasional spotting, wormholes to margins of first 6 leaves). Contemporary panelled calf, spine gilt (rebacked to style). Provenance: bookplate removed from pastedown.