Macculloch, John; A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, including the Isle of Man: comprising an account of their Geological Structure... London, 1819. 2 volumes and atlas of plates. Text octavo, volume 1, pp. xv, 587. Volume 2, pp. vii, 589, errata. Folio atlas, pp. half title, title page, 91, frontispiece, 33 plates, 10 hand-colored maps.

The set is complete and in a later half calf over cloth with gilt spine titles. Minor scuffing to the bindings. Minor foxing to last text page and index in volume 2. Light toning to some maps. Over all a very good set of the complete work. Complete sets in very good condition are scarce.
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Macculloch (1773-1835), a Scottish chemist and geologist; made major contributions to the geology and petrology of Scotland. He was a major supporter of Hutton's theory. He was from a Scottish family, but was born in Guernsey and raised in Cornwall. It was in Cornwall that he developed an interest in geology and mineralogy. The above three volume set is considered, Macculloch's most important treatise. The many islands described in this work contain rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Tertiary, and include igneous and metamorphic rocks. Prior to Macculloch's study, many of these islands had not been studied. Macculloch's descriptions of the igneous rocks and the sketches and maps in the accompanying atlas provided the first correct understanding of the nature and origin of igneous rocks in general. Prior to this study, the general view was that of the Wernerians who believed the igneous rocks were precipitated from sea water. The work is a milestone in the history of geology.