On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
"When on board H.M.S. 'Beagle,' as a naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the inhabitants of South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent. These facts seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of species--that mystery of mysteries..."
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." -Charles Darwin
FIRST EDITION IN UNRESTORED ORIGINAL CLOTH of Darwin's masterpiece, "the most important single work in science" (Dibner). One of only 1250 copies printed. A FINE COPY.
The Origin of Species marked "a turning point, not only in the history of science, but in the history of ideas in general" (Dictionary of Scientific Biography).
In the Origin, "Darwin not only drew an entirely new picture of the workings of organic nature; he revolutionized our methods of thinking and our outlook on the natural order of things. The recognition that constant change is the order of the universe had been finally established and a vast step forward in the uniformity of nature had been taken" (Printing and the Mind of Man). Diber 199. Freeman 373. PMM 344b. Norman 593. Garrison-Morton 220.
Complete with 32 pp. publisher's catalogue dated June 1859 at end. With all accepted first edition/first issue points: Half-title with quotations from W. Whewell and Bacon only on verso. Folding lithographic diagram by William West after Darwin bound to face page 117. With "species" mispelled "speceies" on page 20, with the whale-bear story in full on page 184. With the ticket of Edmonds & Remnants of London at rear.
London: John Murray, 1859. Octavo, original green cloth with gilt-decorated spine; custom box. A touch of rubbing to cloth at joints (as usual), tiny spot of soiling on front board, spine gilt extraordinarily bright. Text fine. A stunning copy.
A REMARKABLE SURVIVAL: LIKELY ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF COPIES TO SURVIVE IN SUCH OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL CONDITION.
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