Rapport fait à son excellence le ministre de l’intérieur sur les nouveaux développements et l’état actuel du sauvage de l’Aveyron; Par E. M. Itard, docteur en médecine, Médecine de l’institution impérial des Sourd-Muets.
Paris: de l’Imprimerie Impériale, 1807. First edition. In publisher’s blue blank wrappers. [4] 85 [1] p. Untrimmed. Wrappers worn, torn at the rear, and partly missing at the spine. Some occasional foxing. Pages chipped and somewhat dog-eared. Otherwise in very good condition.
A rare first edition of Itard’s 1807 Rapport, detailing the educational progress of the "wild boy" of Aveyron and pioneering insights into child development.
This rare first edition pamphlet is the second of two key works by Jean Itard on the "wild boy" of Aveyron, Victor, who was discovered living in isolation in the French countryside at the end of the 18th century. Jean Itard, a pioneering physician, was tasked with educating Victor, who had spent most of his early years outside human society. The Rapport (written in 1806) provides a detailed update on Victor’s development, focusing on advancements in his sensory functions, emotional responses, and intellectual abilities after several years of education. Itard outlines his methods and observations, demonstrating that while Victor's development was slow, significant progress was made, especially in his sensory awareness and emotional interactions.
The work is grounded in Enlightenment ideals, emphasizing reason, human improvement, and the transformative power of education. Itard's approach to Victor reflects the belief that environment and education shape individuals. His methods laid the foundation for modern pedagogy, viewing education not merely as instruction but as a means to unlock an individual’s full potential. Itard’s work also pioneered early psychological insights into child development.
In contrast to Itard’s first pamphlet, De l'éducation d'un homme sauvage, ou Des premiers développements physiques et moraux du jeune sauvage de l'Aveyron (1801), which focused on initial educational strategies and the theoretical aspects of Victor’s case, the Rapport is more empirical, offering concrete evidence of Victor’s development. Itard evaluates his methods, which ranged from sensory stimulation to intellectual tasks, reflecting on the challenges and outcomes of these interventions.
A significant work in the history of psychology and education, building on the foundational ideas of Itard’s first report and offering valuable insights into the development of an isolated child. Itard’s work is now recognized as an early milestone in the study of human development and pedagogy, influencing later developments in both psychology and educational theory. The case of Victor also inspired François Truffaut's 1969 film L’Enfant sauvage, further cementing its cultural significance.
This 1807 Rapport is rarer than the first pamphlet of 1801, with Rare Book Hub reporting only one sale in the last 20 years.
.
Price: €4,000.00