Animals’ Rights – HS Salt – 1894 Signed 1st Edition

Animals’ Rights Considered In Relation To Social Progress, with a Bibliographical Appendix and an Essay On Vivisection In America – Henry Salt, with essay by Albert Leffingwell – 1894. Signed as a presentation copy following brief inscription from Leffingwell to Lt. Col. Hollis Clark, a professor of military science, historian, and service member. A first edition. This an important and seminal 19th century work on animal rights. The author, who has been called “the father of animal rights”, states in the prefactory note, “The object of the following essay is to set the principle of animals’ rights on a consistent, intelligible footing, to show that this principle underlies the various efforts of humanitarian reformers, and to make clearance of the comfortable fallacies which apologists of the present system have .accumulated.” Salt, a vegetarian, was the first to argue for actual animals’ rights rather than just animal welfare. Among the chapters are, “The Principle of Animals’ Rights”, “The Case of Domestic Animals”, “The Case of Wild Animals”, “The Slaughter of Animals for Food”, “Sport or Amateur Butchery”, “Murderous Millinery”, “Experimental Torture”. In the essay appended to this volume, Albert Leffingwell addresses the issue of vivisection in both American medical schools and in American colleges, noting the often cruel nature of the practice and urging significant reform. 

I’ll admit, this may seem an odd fit with the usual sporting titles at Haerer Books, but I argue that it provides important counterpoints to be considered by sportsmen and women. Moreover, I find that those involved in sport are generally at the forefront of conservation, preservation, etc. Dark green cloth boards with gilt lettering. Some general shelf wear, mostly rubbing and some bumping at corners. Internally, light marks to EPs. VG+ or better condition. The book is exactly as pictured. Any questions, please ask.