Books

third USA edition revised following the third edition of 1861 and published before the fourth edition of 1866; title page states "A New Edition, Revised And Augmented By The Author"; brown pebbled cloth; three ruled borders stamped in blind on front and rear covers; lettering in gilt on spine; gilt is bright; hinges tight, spine is square; 440 pages including the SUPPLEMENT pp 426-43, Index pp 433-440 plus Publisher's Ads, 2pp; in good condition with spine lightly sunned; mild age toning to preliminary pages; a previous owner's signature and book seller's small stamp on front free blank end paper; contains the Preface by Charles Darwin dated Feb. 1860 as well as the3 paragraphs on the verso of the half title page dated October 1st, 1859; the stars are present beside page numbers 116 to 121 inclusive (which pages are between the pages 116 and 117 that aren't starred); very little shelf rubbing with a small nick at the head of spine; small scuff mark on rear cover; the fold out chart at p.108 is present in excellent condition.

"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.