EARLY WORK ON STATISTICS

COURTOIS, RICHARD.

Recherches sur la statistique physique, agricole et médicale de la province de Liége par Richard Courtois, docteur en médecine, sous-directeur du jardin botanique de l´université de Liége.

Verviers, Chez M. -R. Beaufays, 1828. 8vo. Bound in two nice contemporary uniform half calf bindings with black leather title-label with gilt lettering and green leather tome-label. Ex-libris pasted on to pasted down front free end-paper and small stamp of previous owner (same as ex-libris) to verso of title-page. Front hindge on vol. 1 a bit. A very fine and clean set. (2), 254 pp. (4), 281, (1), 23 [supplement], (4) pp.

First edition of Courtois' important and early work on statistics, predating Quetelets groundbreaking work (Sur l'Homme..., 1842) by almost 15 years.
In the present work, Courtois assembled date on various subjects such a climate, agriculture, geology and flora and fauna. There is no direct reference to pure statistical methods but this is a fine example on the usage of statistics in its early period. Courois quickly found himself in the center of the debate between Quetelets and Say's debate on the usefullness of statistical research, a debate which Courtois contributed to with the present work.

Richard Courtois (1806-1835) received his doctorate in medicine in 1825 and at the same time, functioned as the deputy director of the Botanical Garden of the University of Liège.

Order-nr.: 52406