Ancient Society or Researches in the Lines of Human Progress - Classic

In this review of Ancient society: or, Researches in the lines of human progress from savagery, through barbarism to civilization, the bottom line is clear: this reissued 19th-century volume is best suited for historians, anthropologists, and readers interested in historical theories of social development. The review highlights that the copy is a scanned reproduction from the Cornell University Library, preserving the original pagination and any marginalia, which makes it valuable for researchers who need primary-source fidelity rather than a modern annotated edition.

Key Features

• Historical edition: A facsimile scan of a circa 1877 printing gives readers direct access to the original layout and phrasing used by the author.
• Library provenance: Scanned from the Cornell University Library collections, the volume preserves institutional markings and marginalia that can be useful for provenance research.
• High-quality scan process: Converted to JPG 2000 and scanned on an APT BookScan, the pages are sharp and suited to close reading or digital archiving.
• Complete coverage: The entire title was scanned cover to cover, so readers get the book in full rather than an excerpt.
• Research-friendly format: The reproduction preserves original page breaks and notes, which benefits scholars comparing editions or citing historical text.

Who It's For

Scholars of 19th-century anthropology, graduate students studying social evolution, and collectors of primary-source works will find this scanned copy especially useful because it retains the original page order and any marginal notations. The preservation of the original physical features makes it a useful reference for citation and comparative textual work.

Casual readers looking for a modern, annotated, or updated interpretation of Lewis Henry Morgan's ideas should look elsewhere, since this edition is a straight scan of an older printing and does not include contemporary commentary, modernized spelling, or editorial updates.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Faithful reproduction of the original 19th-century volume, preserving historical detail for research.
• High-resolution APT BookScan process and JPG 2000 conversion provide readable pages suitable for study.
• Includes institutional marks and marginalia from the Cornell University Library, which can aid provenance research.

Cons

• Does not include modern commentary, annotations, or updated scholarly context, limiting its use for introductory readers.

Specifications

Title	Ancient society: or, Researches in the lines of human progress from savagery, through barbarism to civilization
Author	Lewis Henry Morgan
Original publication	Circa 1877
Source collection	Cornell University Library print collections
Scan method	APT BookScan
File format	Converted to JPG 2000 images
Condition	Full cover-to-cover scan; pages may include original marks and marginalia

Our Verdict

This scanned reissue is a solid choice for researchers and collectors who need an authentic reproduction of Lewis Henry Morgan's work and value original page artifacts. It offers good value for academic use but is not a substitute for modern critical editions with scholarly annotation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a modern annotated edition?
This is a straight scan of an older printing and does not include modern annotations or editorial updates.

Will the scanned copy include library markings?
Yes, pages may include marks, notations, and marginalia present in the original Cornell University Library volume.

What format are the scanned images?
Pages were scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format for preservation.