Books

Sixth edition, fifth issue. The sixth edition was the first to feature the word "evolution" - a term first used by Darwin in The Descent of Man (1871) - and was the last published in Darwin's lifetime. It also featured a chapter inserted to refute the Catholic zoologist St George Jackson Mivart and a glossary by the entomologist William Sweetland Dallas. Darwin continually made revisions to the Origin of Species. The sixth edition was first published in February 1872 and "was aimed at a wider public and printed in smaller type... giving the general impression of a cheap edition, which at 7s. 6d. it was" (Freeman). The first issue read "eleventh thousand" on the title page, noting the total issue of copies from the first edition of 1859 onwards. Octavo. Original green bead-grain cloth, spine lettered in gilt, decorative frames blocked in blind to covers, brown coated endpapers, binder's ticket of W. Bone & Son to rear pastedown. Folding diagram facing page 91. Gift inscription on the front free endpaper, "Wm. Metcalfe, from R.L.H, In remembrance of many reflections on a Past and a Future". Wear to corners and spine ends, rubbing to joints, cloth bright, gauze occasionally visible, a little foxing to endleaves and plate, else contents clean: a very good copy. Freeman 398.

"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.