Books

2 volumes. viii+423+16 publisher's advertisements pages dated January 1871 with figures. viii+475+16 publisher's advertisements pages dated January 1871 with figures and index. Small octavos (7 1/2" x 5 1/4") bound in original publisher's green cloth with gilt lettering to spine and blind stamped borders enclosing panel on boards. Untrimmed edges. (Freeman 939, p. 128-132) First edition, second state. The first issue of The Descent of Man had a print-run of just 2,500 copies. It was published in February 1871, closely followed in March 1871 by the second issue printing of a further 2,000 copies. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex is a book by English naturalist Charles Darwin, first published in 1871, which applies revolutionary theory to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection, a form of biological adaptation distinct from, yet interconnected with, natural selection. The book discusses many related issues, including evolutionary psychology.…

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

Original first editions published by John Murray in 1871 can be identified by green cloth boards with gilt details on the spine and by the presence of advertisements at the end of the volume dated January 1871.