Urban planning Kohl, Johann Georg Johann Georg Kohl: Traffic and human settlements in their dependence on the organisation of the earth's surface. 2nd edition. With 24 lithograph plates. Leipzig: Arnold (Renner & Ketzschau, Dresden (lithographs) and Teubner (letterpress), 1850. XIV, 602 p., 24 plates. 8°. Lithograph on thick machine paper and letterpress, bound in contemporary cloth with gilt-stamped spine title and marbled endpapers (Bianconcini, Naples). ADB, vol. 16 (1882), pp. 425-28 - Second and last edition of this pioneering work of modern transport and urban geography. - Johann Georg Kohl (1808-78) was a geographer and travel writer (among other things he wrote about North America and Russia), Charles Deane of the renowned Massachusetts Historical Society described Kohl in 1878 as the most remarkable German geographer after Humboldt. This is his most influential work, which "actually establishes the doctrine of the natural condition of urban settlements" (ADB). Using the examples of Madrid, Moscow, Prague and other cities, he formulated a mathematical theory for the development of circular cities and described how these cities would eventually develop skyscrapers and underground shopping centres. - The 24 lithographic plates contain a total of 144 reproductions of ink drawings by the author. They show diagrams, topographical sketches, etc. - The solid, elegant cloth binding was made by the renowned Neapolitan bookbinder Bianconcini; the bookbinder's label is attached to the back cover. - Binding bumped at the edges and slightly rubbed on the spine and cover, paper foxed in places, some of the plates more heavily foxed at the edges, some pages with heavy traces of removed plant leaves. - Very rare on the market for decades. Only one copy each of the first edition (1985) and the present second edition (1992) traceable for us at auctions. With 24 lithographic plates. - {2nd and last edition of this founding text of modern transport and urban geography}. - Johann Georg Kohl (1808-78) was a productive German travel writer (North America and Russia among others) as well as geographer, Charles Deane of the renown Massachusetts Historical Society described Kohl in 1878 as the most remarkable one in Germany after Humboldt. Present is his most influential work, with which he actually created the doctrine of the dependance of urban settlements upon their geological circumstances ("recht eigentlich die Lehre von der Naturbedingtheit der städtischen Ansiedelungen geschaffen", ADB). Using Moscow, Prague, Madrid and other cities as an example, he formulated a mathematical theory for the development of spherical cities, and described how eventually these cities would develop skyscrapers and underground shopping centres. - The 24 lithographic plates are post-bound and contain a total of 144 reproductions of ink drawings by the author. They show diagrams, topographical sketches etc. - The solid, elegant cloth binding was executed by the renown Neapolitan bookbinder Bianconcini, with the bookbinder's plate mounted on the rear paste-down. - Cover bumped at edges and slightly worn at spine and boards, paper in parts with foxing, some of the plates with stronger foxing at margins, some pages with easily visible traces of (removed) plant leaves. - Very scarce in trade. We could only trace 1 copy of the 1841 first edition (1985) and 1 copy of present second edition (1992) at auction.