Dana, J. Freeman & Samuel L. Dana; Outlines of the Mineralogy And Geology of Boston And Its Vicinity, with a Geological Map. By J. Freeman Dana, M.D. and Samuel L. Dana, M.D. Fellows Of The Linnæan Society Of New England. Boston: Cummings And Hilliard, No. 1 Cornhill. University Press ... Hilliard and Metcalf. 1818. Quarto, pp. 108, large folded hand-colored map titled “A Geological Map of Boston and its Vicinity Engraved for Danas' Outlines of the Mineralogy and Geology of Boston, by Annin & Smith.”
The work is complete with the very rare folded map present, text untrimmed and in the original binder’s stiff boards with penned spine title. The work is housed in a later full calf clam shell box with gilt spine titles. The box is in fine condition, the original binding has wear to the spine, with front hinge a bit loose and with light scuffing or soiling to boards. The text and map with light toning and light foxing, light offsetting on map. Booke plates of Dr. Robert Peter and Lawrence Conklin on paste down. A very good copy of a rare work with the very rare map present.
The brothers James F Dana (1793-1827) and Samuel L. Dana (1795-1868) were American mineralogists, chemists and physicians. They were both educated at Harvard and developed an early interest in mineralogy and especially in the minerals found in the region surrounding Boston. In 1815, Harvard sent James F. Dana to England as a purchasing agent for chemical apparatus and while there, he studied for several months under the British chemist/mineralogist Fredrich Accum.
Despite the long history of habitation in the Boston area, this work represents the first attempt at a geological study of the Boston region:.The Dana brothers found a need to address the lack of knowledge on the geology and mineralogy in the Boston region and address that at the start of their book: "It is a common remark, that the vicinity of Boston is no field for the mineralogist. To this opinion we must ascribe the coldness and indifference, with which mineralogy is here treated. On great object which we have had in view, in preparing the following work, has been, to induce an examination of this opinion. It will be found, that more than forty simple minerals, and several rocks occur within a few miles of Boston; and that, if we cannot boast the fertility and variety of mining districts, we may reap a richer harvest, than can be gathered in many portions of our country.”
This early American topographical mineralogy appeared as a stand alone work and in 1818 in the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The Danas provide a detailed and comprehensive introduction to the geology and mineralogy of the Boston area. They follow in large part the classification system of Parker Cleaveland’s Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy and Geology (1816), Within the work they group the minerals into four classes: earthy fossils, saline fossils, inflammable substances and metallic fossils. Among the species identified were lime, quartz, mica, feldspar, basalt, garnet, epidote, asbestos, chlorite, clay, and ores of copper, lead, iron, manganese. Each mineral is given a concise description and locality. Although it is clear from the text that the Danas understood the difference between rocks and minerals, they followed the practice of the time and included the rocks and soils with in the mineral classification. A section on the geology of the area, which faithfully follows Werner, is accompanied an accurate map of Boston and its vicinity, indicating in color the surface location of various rock types. It depicts the region from near Marblehead to Cohasset and as far west as Weston and Lincoln or just outside present day Route 128. Various colors of light wash are employed to differentiate eight varieties of rock visible at the surface. The map is the first attempt at a geological map of the region and is also one of the earliest geological maps published in the United States preceded only by William MacLure’s geological map of the country which was first issued in 1809.
