Books

8vo (small). Fifth edition, with additions and corrections. Orig. russet cloth, gilt title to spine, black stamped borders to front board, stamped in blind to rear board. 447 pp., [1] folding chart, [8] pp. publisher's ads at rear. Cloth is lightly rubbed and stained, scuffed at spine. Rubbing to extremities. Spine darkened and tilted. Wear to corners. Rear hinge starting. Ink ownership inscription to ffep dated 1872. Some staining and foxing to folding chart. A very good copy of the corrected 5th edition, the fifth being the first to include the famous phrase "survival of the fittest," which had appeared in other works by Alfred Russel Wallace and Darwin before this but wasn't added to this seminal work until the 1869 5th edition.

"On the Origin of Species" is a pivotal scientific work by Charles Darwin, published in 1859. In this seminal book, Darwin proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection, reshaping humanity's understanding of the natural world. He presented a comprehensive argument supported by extensive observations and evidence from various fields, discussing the gradual modification of species over time. Darwin's central idea was that all species of organisms evolved from common ancestors and that the mechanism driving this evolution was natural selection. He argued that within populations, organisms exhibit variations, and those better adapted to their environment have a higher chance of surviving and passing on their advantageous traits to future generations. Over successive generations, these advantageous traits accumulate, leading to the divergence of species and the formation of new ones. Darwin drew upon diverse scientific disciplines, including geology, paleontology, embryology, and anatomy, to support his theory. He detailed examples from nature, such as the diversity of finches in the Galápagos Islands and artificial selection in domesticated animals, to illustrate his points. The book triggered widespread debate, challenging prevailing religious and scientific beliefs about the origin and diversity of life. While controversial at the time, "On the Origin of Species" laid the groundwork for modern evolutionary biology. Its profound impact continues to shape scientific inquiry, influencing fields ranging from genetics to ecology and sparking ongoing discussions about life's interconnectedness and the processes that drive biological diversity.