The Principles of Psychology. - 1890

New York: Henry Holt and Company,, 1890. The author's magnum opus, in the original cloth First edition, first printing, of the American philosopher and psychologist's most influential work and "the foundation of the American school of experimental psychology" (Garrison-Morton). Influenced by his European counterpart and contemporary Wilhelm Wundt, James viewed psychology as an experimental science based on physiology: this, his masterwork, contains early statements of his main philosophical ideas such as "stream of consciousness". He founded the earliest laboratory for the study of experimental psychology in America and is considered a leader of both the philosophical movement of Pragmatism and of the psychological movement of functionalism. The first printing is distinguished from the second by the original uncorrected "the seat of intellectual power" (vol. 1, p. 10, l. 9-10) and "object of some absent object of sensation" (vol. 2, p. 101, l. 20). Two volumes, octavo. Original cloth. Housed in a brown cloth flat-back box, black morocco label to spine lettered and ruled in gilt. Light rubbing at joints and extremities, rear cover and rear joint of vol. II with small patch of wear, very good copies, spines bright, square and firm. Garrison & Morton 4977.2; Horblit 100b; Norman 1153.