Books

Second edition of "the most important biological book ever written" (Freeman), the issue dated 1860 on the title page. Darwin's Origin was published in 1859. The second edition largely reprinted the text of the first with a few authorial changes, ranging from correcting the misprint "species" to diluting Darwin's "whale-bear" story, where he speculated that a bear scooping insects from the water may evolve into a whale-like creature. The hypothesis was seen as absurd at the time and was seized upon by Darwin's critics to ridicule and criticize both the scientist and his evolutionary theory; Charles Lyell advised him to remove it entirely. "This story is not found again in any printing, except in the American editions of 1860, until the end of copyright" (Freeman, p. 78). All copies of the second edition, save for a handful dated 1859, are marked "fifth thousand" on the title page; the edition is not otherwise indicated as the second. The issue dated 1860 - the form in which the second edition is almost always seen - was published on 7 January 1860 in a print run of 3,000 copies. Octavo in twelves. Original green diagonal-wave-grain cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, covers blocked in blind (Freeman's variant a), light brown coated endpapers. Housed in a dark green quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. Folding diagram facing p. 117. With 32 pp. of publisher's advertisements dated January 1860 at rear. Cloth and gilt bright and unmarked, spine ends and corners bumped, shallow crease at center of spine panel; inner hinges expertly restored, endmatter lightly spotted else contents clean, a handful of nicks at outer edges, upper outer corner of L1 creased resulting in small split. A near-fine copy. Freeman 376.

"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.