Books

London: John Murray, 1860. Second Edition. Very Good+. Second edition, second issue with "fifth thousand" listed on the title page. Bound in publisher's original green cloth decorated in blind and stamped in gilt. Very Good or better with light wear to cloth at extremities, corners softened. Free endsheets are replaces somewhat sympathetically, owner name in pencil to half-title page, pages toned with sporadic foxing, short split to the foot of two folds of the chart, a few light pencil markings and faint cigar smoke odor to pages. Small binder ticket to rear pastedown. An immensely influential work, considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology, in which Darwin postulates that species evolve over the course of generations through natural selection.

"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.