Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

DARWIN, CHARLES. 1809-1882. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871. image 1
DARWIN, CHARLES. 1809-1882. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871. image 2
Lot 459

DARWIN, CHARLES. 1809-1882.
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871.

5 December 2018, 14:00 EST
New York

Sold for US$18,750 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our History of Science & Technology specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

DARWIN, CHARLES. 1809-1882.

The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871.
2 volumes. 8vo (184 x 120 mm). viii, 423, [1], 16 [adverts]; viii, [2], 475, [1], 16 [adverts dated January, 1871] pp. Illustrated. Original green cloth, spine stamped in gilt, edges trimmed; custom cloth chemise and green morocco-backed slipcase. A few faint spots mainly to preliminary and final leaves of first volume, ownership signature to second volume, volume 1 with rear hinge partially cracked before endpapers, spines somewhat darkened, head and tail of spine, corners and joints lightly rubbed, excellent copy overall.
Provenance: William Erasmus Darwin, son of Charles Darwin (bookplate in each volume).

FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY TO DARWIN'S SON. Presentation issue with edges trimmed, "transmitted" first word in vol I, p 297, errata on verso of second volume title. Includes the first appearance of the word "evolution" in Darwin's works. William Erasmus Darwin wrote to his father on February 19, 1871 acknowledging receipt of the above work, mentioning: "It is a very neatly got up book, and I like the plain white edges. Please keep all reviews and letters about it till I have seen them. The reviews will be fine fun no doubt." Charles Darwin had favored machine-cut edges as they kept dust from collecting as much as they do as those cut with a paper knife. He wasn't able to convince his conservative publishers to have the edges cut on the regular edition, but was able to convince them to do so on the presentation copies. Garrison & Morton 170; Freeman 937.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

Signed to Spencer Tracy 1952 Hemingway, Ernest. 1899-1961. The Old Man and the Sea, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1952.

A Presentation Copy of Kennedy's First Book to Spencer Tracy. Kennedy, John F. 1917-1963. Why England Slept. New York: Wilfred Funk, Inc., 1940.

ADVERTISING POSTERfor 'The Suffragette' newspaper, [c.1913-1914]

ILLUMINATED ADDRESS – CLARA CODD Illuminated printed address signed by Emmeline Pankhurst, [1909]

MUSIC & RECORDINGS – ETHEL SMYTH Collection of printed music, song sheets and records, [c.1911-1912]