Inquiries Concerning the Intellectual Powers and the Investigation of Truth

Dr. John Abercrombie, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, wrote this treatise on the human mind. Chapters on sensation and perception, intellectual reasoning, memory, insanity and dreaming make this an interesting although quite rudimentary early neurocognitive text. In 1828 he had written his first edition of the first major textbook on neuropathology. He is still considered the most important and eminent Scottish physician of his time although his failure to make conclusions about brain function despite the pathology being quite clear relegates him somewhere below the neuroscientists who came to such clinicopathological deductions.

Jacob Abbott added explanations to Abercrombie's treatise such that this book could be adapted for school usage.

Interestingly during the years of publication, this title appeared with or without the Abbott "additions" depending which publisher printed the book.

The first edition of this title was published in Edinburgh by Waugh and Innes in 1830. The first American edition of this book was published in 1832 by J. and J. Harper as #XXXVII in its Family Library. The latter book is distinguished from the (xxxx) Waugh and Innes edition. No Abbott contribution appeared in this or any other later Harper editions.

Here is the 1832 J. and J. Harper title page (Courtesy of Google books - Harvard University copy). Next to it is the 1833 title page from F. J. Huntington. The Jacob Abbott contribution is noted on the title page of the latter book.

As noted above, the Abbott "additions" were first published in the F. J. Huntington books.

Here are the dates and publishers of the books which included the Abbott "additions".

1833 F. J. Huntington, Hartford, Connecticut

1835 John Allen & Co., Boston
1835 John Allen & Co., Boston/ Alexander Tower, Philadelphia

1835 Russell, Odiorne & Co., Boston

1836 Charles J. Hendee, Boston

1838 Otis, Broaders and Company
(Also editions in 1839, 1841, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848)

1847 Kay and Troutman, Philadelphia/ C. H. Kay, Pittsburgh

(For a more detailed summary of the dates and addresses of the "Collins" publishing house go to the bottom of this page)
1849 Collins and Brother, New York
(Also an edition in 1850)

1850 Robert B. Collins, New York
(Also with editions in 1851, 1853 1854, 1855, 1856)

1858 Collins and Brother, New York
(Also with editions in 1859, 1860, 1867, 1870, 1871)

Ca. 1884 Charles Collins

THE BOOKS

1833 F. J. Huntington, Hartford, Connecticut

1835 John Allen & Co., Boston
1835 John Allen & Co., Boston/ Alexander Tower, Philadelphia

1835 Russell, Odiorne & Co., Boston

1836 Charles J. Hendee, Boston

1838 Otis, Broaders and Company, Boston
(Also editions in 1839, 1841, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848)

1839

1841

1847

1847 Kay and Troutman, Philadelphia/ C. H. Kay, Pittsburgh

1849 Collins and Brother, New York

1850 Robert B. Collins, New York
(Also with editions in 1851, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856)

1850

1858 Collins and Brother, New York
(Also with editions in 1859, 1860, 1867, 1870, 1871)

1858

1871 Collins and Brother

ca. 1871-1876

ca. 1884 Charles Collins

Collins Publishing Firm-New York

Working out the publishing history of the Collins' Abbott books can be a challenge. Here is a brief overview.

Isaac Collins founded this house in the 18th century. In 1834 Benjamin and Stacy Collins restarted the bankrupt Collins and Hannay firm as B. and S. Collins. John Keese joined the firm in 1836 and the name was changed to Collins, Keese and Company.

This firm published Abbott books for the first time using the Collins, Keese and Company moniker. Chronologically this house thereafter became Collins, Brother and Company, Collins and Brother, Robert B. Collins and then Collins and Brother again. In 1884 the latter company was succeeded by Charles Collins in 1884 when Robert B. Collins retired.

B. and S. Collins (1834-1836)
Collins, Keese and Company (1836-1842)
Collins, Brother and Company (1842-1847)
Collins and Brother (1847-1850)
Robert B. Collins (1850-1857)
Collins and Brother (1857-1884)
Charles Collins (1884-1890)

1835-1837-230 Pearl Street
1838-1856 254 Pearl Street
1856-1862 82 Warren Street
1863-1866 84 Leonard Street
1867-1870 106 Leonard Street
1871-1876 370 Broadway
1879-1883 414 Broadway