Books

NEW YORK NY: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. VERY GOOD+. PUB 1864. DARWIN ON-LINE INDICATES THE FOLLOWING PRINTINGS 1860 (4 ISSUES),1861,1864,1865,1867,1868,1869,1870,1870 (5TH ED) . PUBLISHER'S ORIGINAL BROWN MUSLIN CLOTH COVERED BOARDS WITH GILT SPINE TITLES, LIGHT YELLOW (BUFF) COATED ENDPAPERS. VERY SLIGHT RUB WEAR TO THE CORNERS AND SPINE ENDS WITH A FAINT DAMP MARK AT THE BOTTOM FORE-EDGE CORNERS OF THE PRELIMINARY LEAVES AND SOME LIGHT SCATTERED FOXING TO THE TEXT. A VERY NICE CLEAN TIGHT WELL PRESERVED AND COMPLETE COPY OF THIS RARE CIVIL WAR ERA PRINTING. This copy has the 3 quotes on the page facing title, the " A NEW EDITION, REVISED AND AUGMENTED BY THE AUTHOR" on title page, the 6 starred repeated numbered pages 116-121 between 116 and 117, the 6 page Supplement pp 426-432 following p 425, and Darwin's 7 page preface (v-x1) dated Feb 1860. .

"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.