Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1886. Very Good. Item #45683
New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1886. Later Printing. Octavo (20 cm); [1],vi,374pp+2ads; illus. with seven (7) plates, collated complete. Boards in publisher's maroon cloth with black decoration and gilt stamping to spine. Dark top stain. Board margins and corners rubbed and bumped with shelfwear and minor scratching to spine. Binding slightly cocked but firm. Top stain faded and dust-soiled. Interior clean with brief pencil and minor exposed binding at some signatures. Signature beginning with page 259 detached at all threads except the bottom, so sits slightly proud. Overall a Very Good copy.
While working on Descent of Man, Darwin became interested in emotional expression across species. In animals he believed expressions were a part of their purposeful action and not connected to emotion. Humans, however, were very emotional. He examines reactions and expressions in human subjects to different stimuli like "low spirits" of grief and anxiety and "high spirits" like love. Though for Darwin, the most intriguing and peculiar reaction to emotion was blushing. So much so that he dedicates an entire chapter to it, and comes to the conclusion, "It appears that the mental powers of infants are not as yet sufficiently developed to allow of their blushing. Hence, also, it is that idiots rarely blush."
Price: $125.00