Books

London: John Murray, 1872. The Highly Important Sixth Edition, with additions and corrections, (thirteenth thousand), the last edition which Darwin lived to amend and revise. This copy with pleasing provenance, the copy of Anthony Traill, Provost of Trinity College Dublin. Folding lithographed diagram by W. West. 8vo, publisher's original green cloth, gilt lettered on the spine and blocked in blind in a panel design on the covers, original brown coated endpapers, all edges untrimmed. xxi, 458 pp. A very fine, handsome, bright and unmarked copy, very clean and crisp throughout, unusually so. A VERY FINE, BRIGHT AND PLEASING COPY OF THE RARE SIXTH EDITION OF 1872, THE GREATEST BIOLOGICAL WORK EVER WRITTEN. IT IS CONSIDERED RARE AND WAS ISSUED IN A QUANTITY NOT EXCEEDING 2000 COPIES. This edition includes an expanded version of "An Historical Sketch of the Recent Progress of Opinion on the Origin of Species," as well as a table of corrections. The Sixth Edition of 1872…

"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.