Photographic Records of Pedigree Stock
[ London ]: [ John Murray ] 1898. First Separate Edition. [1]-6 pages plus one folding plate. 8vo. Self wrappers. The offprint issue (not an extract) INSCRIBED "Prof. H. F. Osborne with the authors kind regards" at the top of the first page. Minor wear to extremities. String stitched with the folding plate tipped in. Printed by Spottiswoode and Co., New Street Square, London. Rear wrapper blank. Originally published in the Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Bristol, 1898, pages 597-603. This is the offprint issue with separate pagination. Creased down the center as if for mailing. Very Good. Wraps. [23321]
Galton begins this paper by noting "It is my purpose shortly to communicate with the Councils of some of the Societies who publish stud or herd books, urging the systematic collection of photographs of pedigree stock and of more information about them than is now procurable." Galton was the originator of and coined the term eugenics, which has often been explained as using selective breeding to improve a population by breeding those in the existing population that have the most desired traits. By not breeding those with undesirable traits, those traits could also be eliminated. The present paper confirms his belief that desirable traits are hereditary, and suggests using an extensive photographic database and comparing that to desirable demonstrable feats to enable more effective future breeding. It explains in brief his "Ancestral Law" or how heredity works, how to use photographic compositing to combine "traits" of animals, and suggests a set of 5 simple rules to be followed. He ends by suggesting why this should be acceptable, even desirable to breeders and owners.
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