Books

8vo., Sixth Edition, Twenty-Fourth Thousand, with folding diagram, neat contemporary signature on front free endpaper, blank preliminaries and half-title lightly spotted; original green cloth, boards with Oxford frame in blind, gilt back, chocolate endpapers, uncut, a remarkably bright, fresh, firm copy. With the trade ticket of Gilbert & Field of London on front paste-down. The sixth edition (first issued in 1872) is the last published in Darwin's lifetime and contains his final major corrections and revisions. It is the first edition with the title The Origin of Species, and includes among many other revisions a new chapter inserted to confute the views of the Catholic biologist St. George Mivart. There is a glossary, and the word 'evolution' is used in the text for the first time. This is the earlier of the two issues of M24, published in June with seventeen titles listed on title verso. SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. Freeman 407.

"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.