Sociologists/Old book experts

[Fnaar]

I have at home a first edition of a book published in 1873 by Henry S King & Co, London, called "The Study of Sociology" by Herbert Spencer. He seems to have been an influential chap, and so was the book, in its time, apparently. But my interest is in whether or not it might be worth more than tuppence ha'penny. It's in good (though not excellent) condition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Spencer#Sociology
It is available online here:
...and there is a Kindle edition for only £1.28

But I was just wondering...

 

[tadpole]

Online search of a couple of rare book sites seem to be saying $40 -$60 for a good copy first edition (first print) or $375 for a very good condition one.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, Spencer was important in his time (he's the chap who came up with the idea of 'survival of the fittest' that's often incorrectly attributed to Darwin), but he was also very popular, so it's quite likely that despite being a first edition, there are a lot of them about. If it's not in top notch condition I wouldn't imagine it would be worth that much. But take it to a proper antiquarian book dealer to get a proper idea.

 

[Archie_tect]

Spencer was important in his time...he's the chap who came up with the idea of 'survival of the fittest' that's often incorrectly attributed to Darwin

No FM, please don't re-write history.... Spencer coined the phrase 'survival of the fittest' in response to Darwin's lifelong work on natural selection. Spencer did not come up with the idea.

Darwin had a tough enough time with the Church and his peers without you spreading untruths!

 

[Archie_tect]

Sorry Fnaar, got distracted.... there used to be an excellent antiquarian bookshop at the bottom of Grey Street [on the right hand side going down, just up from the Moseley Street junction] in Newcastle where a colleague of Mrs A_T goes to have the books, which he collects, valued for insurance. I'll see if they are still there.

 

[Archie_tect]

Got it:

ROBERT D STEEDMAN​

• 9 GREY STREET,
  NE1 6EE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, TYNE AND WEAR
  ​
  Phone: 0191 232 6561
  Fax: -+44(0) 1797 227983