Books

Third edition, a lovely and unrestored copy of "the most important biological book ever written" (Freeman). Darwin extensively revised the text for the third edition, also including an historical sketch acknowledging his predecessors in the history of evolutionary theory. The Origin was first published in 1859, the second edition following in 1860. The historical sketch in the third edition had already appeared in shorter form in the first German edition, as well as in the fourth American printing, both in 1860. All copies of the third edition are marked "seventh thousand" on the title page, noting the total issue of copies from the first edition onwards. Octavo. Original green diagonal wave-grain cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt (Freeman's variant a, no priority), covers blocked in blind, brown coated endpapers, Edmond & Remnants binder's ticket on rear pastedown. Folding diagram facing p. 123. 2 pp. publisher's advertisements at rear. February 1865 ownership signature to head of title page. Light bumping and wear, infrequent foxing to upper edge and contents, minor creasing and chipping to outer margins of pp. 7-16, small spot to p. 57, small tear to upper outer corner of sig. Z1: a very good copy. Freeman 381. Ernst Mayr, introduction to the Harvard University facsimile of the first 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.