DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871.
2 volumes, 8° (190 x 122mm). 76 woodblocks in text. Half-titles. Both vols with 16p. advertisements for John Murray's books dated January, 1871. Original green cloth (rebacked, preserving original backstrips, extremities very lightly rubbed), in a modern green half morocco clamshell box.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST (TRADE) ISSUE, OF DARWIN'S FIRST PUBLICATION TO CONTAIN THE WORD 'EVOLUTION'. Darwin had skirted around the issue of humankind in the Origin, and his readers had to wait for the Descent of Man to state unequivocally that 'man is descended from a hairy quadruped, furnished with a tail and pointed ears, probably arboreal in its habits, and an inhabitant of the Old World' (II, p.389). These two volumes retailed for twenty-four shillings, and although 4,500 copies were published, a second edition was called for within weeks. Freeman 937; Garrison and Morton 170; Norman 599. (2)
DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871.
2 volumes, 8° (190 x 122mm). 76 woodblocks in text. Half-titles. Both vols with 16p. advertisements for John Murray's books dated January, 1871. Original green cloth (rebacked, preserving original backstrips, extremities very lightly rubbed), in a modern green half morocco clamshell box.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST (TRADE) ISSUE, OF DARWIN'S FIRST PUBLICATION TO CONTAIN THE WORD 'EVOLUTION'. Darwin had skirted around the issue of humankind in the Origin, and his readers had to wait for the Descent of Man to state unequivocally that 'man is descended from a hairy quadruped, furnished with a tail and pointed ears, probably arboreal in its habits, and an inhabitant of the Old World' (II, p.389). These two volumes retailed for twenty-four shillings, and although 4,500 copies were published, a second edition was called for within weeks. Freeman 937; Garrison and Morton 170; Norman 599. (2)
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