Books

Third edition of "the most influential scientific work of the 19th century" (Horblit) and "certainly the most important biological book ever written" (Freeman), in which Darwin explained his concept of evolutionary adaptation through natural selection. "The publication of the Origin of Species ushered in a new era in our thinking about the nature of man. The intellectual revolution it caused and the impact it had on man's concept of himself and the world were greater than those caused by the works of Copernicus, Newton, and the great physicists of more recent times... Every modern discussion of man's future, the population explosion, the struggle for existence, the purpose of man and the universe, and man's place in nature rests on Darwin" (Mayr, pp. vii-xxviii). Darwin's Origin was first published in 1859, the second edition following in 1860. For the third edition, the text was extensively altered, and a table is given of differences from the second edition, a feature that occurs in each subsequent Murray edition. The third is also notable for the addition of the historical sketch in which Darwin acknowledges his predecessors in the general theory of evolution, which 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. Contemporary ownership signatures on front endpapers and half-title ("J. M. Evans", "M. Evans", and "J. M. Evans 1863" respectively), a few neatly pencilled marginal marks. Spine ends and corners bumped, cloth rubbed with a few spots on front cover, contents evenly toned. A very good copy, the gilt bright. 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.