Berlin, S. Calvary, 1876. Two parts in two. 8vo (17.3 x 11.8 cm). General title, two title pages, 965 pp. [ccccxxi; 544]. Uniform contemporary paper-covered boards. Spines with dark blue leather label with gilt ornamental bands and title.

Rare, but rather late contribution by Wilhelm von Humboldt (1769-1859), name-giver to the Humboldt University of Berlin and elder brother of the famous explorer Alexander von Humboldt. He published his famous linguistic study, Ueber die Kawi-Sprache in 1832 and his Philosophy of Human Speech originally in 1836. This is a reworked, enlarged edition by the German linguist August Friedrich Pott (1802-187). See Carter-Muir: "In seiner berühmten Abhandlung "zieht Humboldt den Schluss, dass die Entwicklung der einzelnen Sprachen durch Physiologie, Ethnographie, Geschichte, Geographie sowie politische und religiöse Beziehungen beeinflusst wird und dass kulturelle Entwicklungsphasen der Völker in ihren Sprachen starke Gebrauchsspuren hinterlassen" ["In his famous treatise, Humboldt concludes that the development of individual languages ​​is influenced by physiology, ethnography, history, geography, and political and religious relations, and that phases of cultural development of peoples leave strong traces of usage in their languages"]. Inscribed by a private owner and dated 1945. Boards rubbed, spines with repairs at head and foot; one label partly chipped. Title pages with a square paper cut, repaired with handwritten replacements of a few words. Otherwise good.