Claves Analíticas de Historia, Natural Alejandro de Colomina Cárolo Pontevedra, 1907

An uncommon Spanish scientific handbook devoted to the practical identification and classification of minerals, plants, insects and animals.

Written by Dr. Alejandro de Colomina Cárolo, Professor of Natural History at the Instituto de Pontevedra, the work was published in Pontevedra by Tipografía de A. Landín in 1907.

Bibliographic Details

Author: Alejandro de Colomina Cárolo
Title: Claves Analíticas de Historia Natural
Published: Pontevedra, Tipografía de A. Landín, 1907
Language: Spanish
Pagination: Approximately viii + 315 pages, with errata

Contents

Rather than simply describing the natural world, Colomina provides a series of analytical identification keys through which students could determine unknown specimens by examining their characteristics.

The book covers mineralogy, botany and zoology, including Spanish plant families, animal orders, insects and vertebrates. Extensive scientific and etymological vocabularies are also included.

Colomina states that the work was intended particularly for students of secondary schools, teacher-training colleges and seminaries, as well as those studying medicine, pharmacy and chemistry.

Alejandro de Colomina Cárolo

Colomina was a Spanish naturalist, Doctor of Natural Sciences and Professor of Natural History at the Instituto de Pontevedra.

He was involved with the Institute's scientific collections during an important period in the study of Galician natural history. The institution received a substantial herbarium from the notable Galician botanist Baltasar Merino y Román, and in 1909 Colomina compiled a manuscript catalogue of the Institute's natural-history museum.

This gives the present book an interesting practical context. Its identification keys were produced by a scientist actively involved in teaching from and organising natural-history collections.

Historical Context

Published in 1907, the book belongs to a period when natural history was becoming increasingly systematic and laboratory-based.

Students were encouraged not merely to memorise species, but to observe physical specimens and identify them through characteristics such as structure, colour, hardness and chemical behaviour.

Claves Analíticas is an excellent surviving example of this approach to scientific education in early 20th-century Spain.

Binding & Condition

Bound in an attractive period quarter-leather binding, with green cloth boards, dark green leather spine, gilt lettering and decorative gilt tooling. Decorative blue-and-white patterned endpapers. The initials "P. I." are gilt to the lower spine, possibly representing an early owner or institution.

The binding shows rubbing, fading, marking and general wear consistent with age. Internally there is age toning with scattered foxing and spotting, though the text remains clear and legible. Binding appears sound.

Please examine the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.

Why Buy This Copy?

An unusual piece of Spanish scientific and educational history, combining mineralogy, botany and zoology in a practical identification manual.

Particularly interesting for its connection with Alejandro de Colomina and the scientific collections of the Instituto de Pontevedra, while its attractive green cloth and gilt leather binding gives the volume considerable shelf appeal.

Dimensions:

Weight - 545g

Height - 24.8cm

Width - 16.5cm

Thickness - 2.2cm