DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom. London: John Murray, 1876.
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium. The Property of Sir Martin Wedgwood, from the Library of Caroline Wedgwood, née Darwin (see introduction to lot 1)
DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom. London: John Murray, 1876.

Details
DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882). The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom. London: John Murray, 1876.

8° (183 x 120mm). One diagram, 109 tables, 3 line errata slip. (Spotting to title and a few other leaves, first gathering loose.) Original green cloth, covers with blind frame, gilt spine (lower corners bumped). Provenance: PRESENTATION COPY TO CAROLINE WEDGWOOD (front free endpaper with tipped-in printed slip 'From the author'; initials 'C.S.W.' pencilled on title).

PRESENTATION COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION TO CAROLINE. Published on 10 November, 1876, this work was a sequel to Darwin's earlier Fertilisation of Orchids. He had kept records of thousands of hand-reared plants since 1866, and his 'prodigious, painstaking experiments' made Cross and Self-Fertilisation his most ambitious plant book thus far. Freeman observes that 'it was too technical and too detailed to command a wide sale'. Nevertheless, 1500 copies had been sold before the end of the year, and a second edition appeared in 1878. Freeman 1249.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.

More from Natural History, Plate Books and Cartography

View All
View All