This book is unlike any other. Bolle Willum Luxdorph (1716-1788) was a Danish lawyer, civil servant, scientist, and writer. He assembled an extraordinary collection by buying engraved images of
people who had lived beyond 80 years and planned to publish the collection but died before doing so. Authors Lise-Lotte B. Petersen and Bernard Jeune (whose affiliations are not stated, though
they are both based in Denmark) have brought together the collection for publication and offer an extended essay setting the context and articulating the collection's importance. The images are
beautiful apart from any other purpose; elegant engravings depict faces with detail that reflects the era's intense interest in physiognomy. In addition, the collection is representative of the
era's obsession with methodical, scientific collecting for all manner of purposes. This unique publication will draw interest from a wide audience: art, science, and culture historians, as well
as gerontologists and demographers. The format is 9x11.5". Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
