Books

1875. Lwów, Ksiegarnia Polska, 1875-1876. 8vo. In contemporary half cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Previous owner's stamp and another owner's sginature to title-page. Light wear to extremities, otherwise a fine and clean set. 262, (2); 313, (3) pp. Rare first Polish edition of the second and third parts of the Descent of Man, but published separate from the first part, as one work, hence the title 'Sexual Selection', a translation authorised by Darwin in response to Malowski's request to make the translation (Letter 8910, 14 May 1873). Whereas "Origin of Species" established Darwinism as a turning point in nineteenth-century biology "The Descent of Man" helped built a bridge between biology, the social sciences, and the humanities and made Darwinism a broad system of research designs, theoretical principles, and philosophical outlook.The numeration of parts is from Chapter I to Chapter VI (vol. I) and from Chapter VII to Chapter XIV (vol. II). It is generally based on the…

In 'The Descent of Man,' Charles Darwin applies evolutionary theory to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection.