Home / Browse / Sciences / On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,
DARWIN, Charles.
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,
or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
First edition of the "most influential scientific work of the nineteenth century" (Grolier/Horblit). In this revolutionary statement of his concept of the evolution of species, "Darwin not only drew an entirely new picture of the workings of organic nature; he revolutionized our methods of thinking and our outlook on the natural order of things. The recognition that constant change is the order of the universe had been finally established and a vast step forward in the uniformity of nature had been taken" (PMM). There is only one issue of the first edition (1,250 copies, of which 1,192 were available for sale) though there are small differences in the cases and advertisements. This copy has the 32-page inserted advertisements dated June 1859 in Freeman's third state and binding variant a (no priority).
Octavo, gathered and signed in twelves. Original green cloth, titles to spine gilt, decoration to boards in blind, chocolate brown coated endpapers, all edges untrimmed, Edmonds & Remnants binder's ticket. Housed in a dark green quarter morocco solander box with chemise made by The Chelsea Bindery. Folded lithographic diagram by William West facing page 117. Ownership inscriptions of James Hughes to half-title and title page. Skilful cloth repair at head of spine, spine slightly darkened, extremities a little rubbed, few small marks to sides, front inner hinge skilfully repaired, a very good copy.
