Fine Books & Manuscripts

James, William. The Principles of Psychology. New York: Henry Holt, 1890. Two volumes, first edition, first state, 3pp ALS from James to previous owner tipped-in to vol. I and dated Dec. 16, 1890. Original dark olive cloth ruled in blind, spine titled in gold, brown endpapers. Numerous tables and diagrams in both volumes. All points for first state present (hyphenated “Psychology” on page opposite title of each volume and the inclusion of misprints on p. 10, vol. I and p. 101 vol. II according to the Harvard definitive edition of 1981). 8vo. xxi, [1]-689; vi, [1]-704, 8 pp. ads. Hinges cracked with mild rubbing to extremities, light penciling throughout, bookplates of James G. Croswell; the owner the ALS is addressed to. In it, James responds to Crosswell’s favorable review of this work. William James is considered the founder of modern American psychology because of his monumental work ‘The Principles of Psychology’ that influenced experimental psychology and introduced the term and concept of “stream of consciousness.”