Books

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1860. Full Description: DARWIN, Charles. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1860. First American edition, third issue. "Revised Edition" on title-page and three quotations to verso of half-title. Octavo (7 11/16 x 4 7/8 inches; 196 x 125 mm). [1]-432 pp. With folding chart. Original pebbled brown cloth with covers decoratively stamped in blind. Spine lettered in gilt. Green-coated endpapers. A very slight bit of fraying to top and bottom of the spine. Spine lightly sunned. Previous owner's pencil signature on front free endpaper. And an old ink gift inscription dated 1895 on front flyleaf. Some intermittent light foxing. Housed in a custom full black morocco clamshell. Overall a very good unrestored copy. One of the most influential scientific works of the nineteenth century, On the Origin of Species was (and still is) one of…

"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.