Informe sobre la teoria del astronomo Aleman Rodolfo Falb acerca de los temblores y erupciones volcanicas presentado a la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad Mayor de San Marcos de Lima por una comision de su seno, compuesta por los Catedraticos Dr. D. Martin Dulanto y Dr. D. Jose Sebastian Barranca.
Lima: Imp. de “El Nacional,” Melchomalo, 139, 1869. First edition. 8vo (8 x 5.38 inches), original printed peach wrappers, 47, [1] pages. Folding plate bound in the rear. Spine chipped, wrappers somewhat soiled and a bit worn; a very good copy. Item #18117
An uncommon and detailed contemporary review of the Austrian science writer Rudolf Falb’s 1869 lunisolar flood theory of earthquakes (since discredited), issuing from a locale with good reason to test its predictive powers. The relatively recent theory that the influence of the sun and the moon on Earth’s magma creates earthquakes is here given qualified support, “la teoría Geo-Astronomico como hipotesis explicativa tiene un valor indisputable, y con relacion a sus profesias, creemos que solo la experienca puede responder afirmativa o negativamente a este respecto.” Barranca was a leading figure in Peruvian literature and science, perhaps best remembered as a translator of Quechua; Falb himself traveled to Bolivia in 1877 (for further research on earthquakes) and himself became something of a scholar of Quechua, suggesting it as one of the original languages.
Price: $250.00