Live Auction 17706Valuable Books & Manuscripts
DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication. London: John Murray, 1868.
Lot 327 Other Properties

The following two lots were owned by Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1809-1882), the celebrated Russian physiologist, known mainly for his classic work on conditioning. His life course was determined by his encounter with Darwin’s work. As a young student, his family sent him to a theological seminary to second an apparent religious vocation. It was after reading Darwin, however, that Pavlov discovered a passion for the sciences, and instead joined the University of St Petersburg. There he studied chemistry and physiology, receiving his doctorate in 1879 and eventually being appointed professor of physiology at the Imperial Medical Academy. Pavlov’s views on the inheritance of acquired characteristics held strong for many years, notwithstanding contrary evidence, most likely in the light of the impression that the early acquaintance with Darwin’s theory had made on him as an adolescent (G. Windholz, P. A. Lamal, 1991).

DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication. London: John Murray, 1868.

Closed11 December 2019

Price Realised

GBP 4,375

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DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication. London: John Murray, 1868.

First edition, first issue, Pavlov’s copy, of 'the only section of Darwin's big book on the origin of species which was printed in his lifetime' (Freeman p.122). Along with the ascertainable facts of artificial selection, this work contains Darwin's hypothesis of pangenesis. Francis Darwin recorded that 'about half of the eight years that elapsed between its commencement and completion were spent on it. The book did not escape adverse criticism: it was said, for instance, that [...] after eight years of expectation all [the public] got was a mass of detail about pigeons, rabbits and silk worms. But the true critics welcomed it as an expansion with unrivalled wealth of illustration of a section of the Origin' (The Autobiography of Charles Darwin and Selected Letters, ed. F. Darwin, New York, 1958, p.281). The slow progress towards publication was due not only to the book's size but the author's ill health. The first issue was finally published on 30 January 1868, in a run of 1500 copies. Freeman 877; Norman 217.

2 volumes, octavo (223 x 137mm). First issue with 5-line errata on p.vi of vol. 1 and 7-line errata on p.viii of vol. 2, vol. 2 with 2pp. ads dated February 1868 (vol. 1 without the 32pp. ads dated April 1867 which is ‘usually, but by no means always present’ [Freeman] and with a small hole piercing the last 2 leaves, both volumes with occasional scattered light spotting or staining). Original green cloth, sides filleted in blind, gilt spines (extremities rubbed, foot of spine in vol. 2 chipped, corners bumped, some discolouration). Provenance: Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (his library shelfmark stamps to titles and c1recto).