Books

1905. Vidin, Pechatnitsa na Diukmedzhiev, 1905. 8vo. Uncut, unopened, in the original printed wrappers. The present volume includes includes "Autobiography" and first half of the "Origin". The second half was published shortly after. Spine lacking upper 5 cm and front wrapper with several nicks. Internally very fine and clean. (Autobiography:) 67, (2), [Origin of Speicies:] 236 pp. + frontiespiece of Darwin. Genealogical tree included in the pagination on p. 133. Exceedingly rare first Bulgarian translation of Darwin's Origin of Species prefixed by his Autobiography, translated from the sixth London edition by M. Fiampova and I. H. A Timiryazova. Freeman lists the first Bulgarian translation of Origin of Species to be published in 1946. Darwin-Online states that: "I have found very little information on this translation or the associated names. It is a rare book, with no copies located in OCLC, KVK, or EL; however NALIS finds two, at the Bulgarian Central Medical Library and…

"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.