John Caspar Lavater; Johann Kaspar Lavater; Thomas Holcroft — Essays on Physiognomy

London, William Tegg and Co, 1879. Cloth. An English translation of the important essays on physiognomy by Johann Kaspar Lavater, illustrated throughout. A collection of the essays of Johann Kaspar Lavater on physiognomy, writings which helped to popularise the science.Illustrated with eighty plates.Physiognomy is a pseudoscience in which you can read a person's face and, from that, assess their character and personality. The science was popular with the ancient Greeks, falling into disrepute in the centuries after, until Johann Kaspar Lavater popularised it again in the late eighteenth century. The science, alongside phrenology, enjoyed a vogue throughout the nineteenth century. These essays influenced early criminological theory.Translated from German into English by Thomas Holcroft, the sixteenth edition of this translation.Including a life of the author.Collated, bound without the frontispiece. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, a little worn. Tear to the head of the front joint, the spine lifting a little. Fading to the spine and extremities. Minor marks to the boards and spine. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Front hinge is tender. Rear hinge is strained, rear endpaper is working loose. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned and clean. Library stamp to the head of pages from the title to page viii. Good Only . Ill.: Not Stated. Good Only .