Books

First edition, first issue, of the first of Darwin's works to contain the word "evolution", on page two of the first volume, preceding the term's appearance in the sixth edition of the Origin of Species the following year. In the Descent, Darwin finally applied the Origin's theory of evolution to the development of humanity. Prior to the Descent, Darwin carefully neglected to draw out the implications of his theory when applied to human beings and hoped that one of his supporters, such as Lyell or Huxley, might tackle the thorny question of human evolution. When none did, he set to work writing. Darwin laid out a clear family tree for humans, tracing their affinity with primates, and expounded his views on the evolutionary origins of morality and religion. By doing so, the Descent "brought the full force of evolutionary proposals directly into the heart of ordinary Victorian life" (ODNB) and "caused a furore second only to that raised by the Origin" (Norman). The first issue can be distinguished from the second by a number of textual differences. The first issue of Volume I is identified through the appearance of "transmitted" as the first word of page 297; Volume II has the printer's note on the half-title leaf verso, the errata on the title leaf verso, and a tipped-in "Postscript" (pp. [ix-x]) referring to errors which were entirely reset for the second issue. The second issue begins page 297 with "When" and lists works by the same author on the title leaf. First edition, first issue, of the first of Darwin's works to contain the word "evolution", on page two of the first volume, preceding the term's appearance in the sixth edition of the Origin of Species the following year. In the Descent, Darwin finally applied the Origin's theory of evolution to the development of humanity. Prior to the Descent, Darwin carefully neglected to draw out the implications of his theory when applied to human beings and hoped that one of his supporters, such as Lyell or Huxley, might tackle the thorny question of human evolution. When none did, he set to work writing. Darwin laid out a clear family tree for humans, tracing their affinity with primates, and expounded his views on the evolutionary origins of morality and religion. By doing so, the Descent "brought the full force of evolutionary proposals directly into the heart of ordinary Victorian life" (ODNB) and "caused a furore second only to that raised by the Origin" (Norman). The first issue can be distinguished from the second by a number of textual differences. The first issue of Volume I is identified through the appearance of "transmitted" as the first word of page 297; Volume II has the printer's note on the half-title leaf verso, the errata on the title leaf verso, and a tipped-in "Postscript" (pp. [ix-x]) referring to errors which were entirely reset for the second issue. The second issue begins page 297 with "When" and lists works by the same author on the title leaf verso of Volume II. Norman states that there were 2,500 copies of the first issue and 2,000 copies of the second issue printed. READ MORE 2 volumes, octavo. Original green cloth, spines lettered and decorated in gilt, covers panelled in blind, dark green coated endpapers. Housed in a custom black morocco slipcase. Numerous woodcut illustrations within text. 16 pp. publisher's advertisements dated January 1871 at rear of each volume. Spine ends expertly restored, corners worn, covers a little marked but cloth otherwise bright, light foxing to end leaves and advertisements, inner hinges neatly repaired, remnant of label to front pastedown of vol. I, a handful of nicks and chips to contents, internally clean: a very good copy. Freeman 937; Garrison-Morton 170; Norman 599.

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