REFUTATION OF CERTAIN MISREPRESENTATIONS ISSUED AGAINST THE AUTHOR of the “Fauna Americana” in ‘The Philadelphia Franklin Journal,’ No. 1, 1826, and I ‘The North American Review, No. 50.
Philadelphia, (PA): Printed by William Stavely, 1826. First edition. 8vo. 42 pp. Sabin 30393. American Imprints 24794. “The review of Richard Harlan’s Fauna Americana in the Franklin Journal was written by Godman, that in the North American Review was published anonymously; the present Refutation is clearly written by Harlan” (AAS on OCLC). [Bound with:] GODMAN, John D., M.D. A Letter to Dr. Thomas P. Jones, Editor of the ‘Franklin Journal.’ “Facts are Stubborn Things.” Philadelphia, (PA): Printed for the author, 1826. 8vo. 28 pp. Tables. “Dr. Godman’s Letter alleges plagiarism by Harlan in his Fauna Americana from Anselme Gaetan Desmarest’s Mammalogie, and he cites numerous parallels” (OCLC). American Imprints 24699. OCLC locates five copies (New York Historical Society, Yale-Medical, Indiana, American Antiquarian Society, Paris-Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle). Disbound from a pamphlet volume, but the two pamphlets are still bound together. Very good. Item #65401
Godman originally made the charges of plagiarism against Harlan in his Franklin Journal review; Harlan attempted a defense in his Refutation, but Godman doubled down on the charges in his Letter, the second of these two pamphlets. That publication holds more than 30 manuscript annotations, some extensive, being “corrections,” “additions,” denials, and counter-charges to statements in the Letter and most seem to come from the hand of Harlan (there is no signature and several may be in a second hand); in addition the author of the annotations has included 2-page manuscript essay on the controversy and, to Godman’s printed title page epigram, “Facts are stubborn things,” has added a second in manuscript, “A weak defence can only serve to strengthen your opponents.” The reputations of both scientists suffered with the controversy, but Godman’s seem to recover eventually.
Price: $1,250.00