THE SWASTIKA: The Earliest Known Symbol, and Its Migrations; with Observations on the Migration of Certain Industries in Pre-Historic Times
Book Details + Condition: Scarce first edition from 1896 of THE SWASTIKA: The Earliest Known Symbol, and Its Migrations; with Observations on the Migration of Certain Industries in Pre-Historic Times. A scarce offprint of Wilson's extensive study of the origin and migration of the symbol of the swastika, excerpted from "The Report of the U.S. National Museum for 1894". Firm paper-covered boards, with designs, swastikas and title in black on front and back boards. Tight binding; bumped and rubbed corners and edges; shelfwear and discoloration to boards; bookbinding tape to spine; text is clean and unmarked. Despite shelfwear, there are still many uncut pages, mainly towards the rear. Also included with the book is a signed letter from 1909, from W.H. Lowdermilk & Company - a seller of "second-hand, choice and rare books". The note refers to a customer's order for this particular book, at the cost of $.16 - a bargain. Appendixes, Errata, and Index. Extensive b&w illustrations: 23 plates & 374 line drawings / engravings in text. The author, Dr. Thomas Wilson (1832 - 1902) was an archaeologist and anthropologist, vice-president of the Anthropological Society of Washington, Curator of Prehistoric Archeology in the National Museum, etc. Contents include: Definitions, Description and Origin of the Swastika; Its Dispersion (throughout the "Extreme Orient", "Classical Orient", Africa, Mediterranean, Europe, United States, Central America, and South America); Forms Allied to the Swastika; Significance of the Swastika; Migration of Symbols; Prehistoric Objects Associated with the Swastika.
