Books

First edition of the author's magnum opus, in which he explained his concept of adaptation through natural selection, which became the foundation of modern evolutionary theory. 1,250 copies were printed. The Origin of Species "ushered in a new era in our thinking about the nature of man. The intellectual revolution it caused and the impact it had on man's concept of himself and the world were greater than those caused by the works of Copernicus, Newton, and the great physicists of more recent times... Every modern discussion of man's future, the population explosion, the struggle for existence, the purpose of man and the universe, and man's place in nature rests on Darwin" (Mayr, pp. vii-xxviii). Octavo (192 x 117 mm). Bound to style in recent black half morocco, spine lettered and elaborately decorated in gilt, raised bands, marbled paper boards, endpapers, and edges. Folding diagram lithographed by W. West. Bound without half-title and advertisements. Engraved armorial bookplate of John Leigh Clare of Liverpool (b. 1824), the cotton merchant and art collector; faint remnants of later pencilled ownership signature on title page; 20th-century bookseller's ticket on front pastedown (E. S. Fowler of Eastbourne) and binder's ticket on rear pastedown (T. A. McDonald of Liverpool). Smartly bound, first and last few gatherings lightly foxed, a handful of extremely subtle paper repairs to five leaves (inner margins of title, first contents leaf, E12, F12, and G1) and to fold of diagram: a very good copy. Dibner 199; Freeman 373; Garrison-Morton 220; Horblit 23b; Norman 593; Printing and the Mind of Man 344b. Ernst Mayr, introduction to the Harvard University facsimile edition, 1964.

"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.