Books

116 Pp, 116* - 121*, 117-425; 426-432 [Supplement]; 443-440; 2 Pp Ads At Rear. "A New Edition Revised And Augmented By The Author" Containing The Entire Fourth British Edition, With Additions And Corrections From The 1869 British Fifth Edition Added As Asterisked Pages And In A Supplement At End, Indicating Corrections/Insertions To Be Made Throughout This Fourth Edition To Update It To The Fifth Edition (But Not Including Heading "Survival Of The Fittest" Which Occurred In That Edition). Catalog At End, Beginning With Page 2, No Page One But Apparently As Bound And Issued [Perhaps To Remove A Now Obsolete Listing For The Fourth Edition Of This Work?], Continuing With P. 3. Original Pebbled Brown Cloth Covers With Slight Wear, Fading To Cloth, Evenly Colored And Without The Usual Fading, Gilt Clear, Original Yellow Endpapers With Solid Hinges, Pages Clean, Square And Crisp. A Very Scarce Edition, Apparently Issued For A Short Time Prior To The Regular 1870 American Printing Of The Fifth British Edition; "Darwin On Line" Shows 440 Pp., But States Same As 1863-1868 Editions And Makes No Mention Of The Asterisked Pages Or The Supplement For The Fifth Edition. Folding Plate Present, Facing P. 108.

"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.