Details
DARWIN, Charles. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871.
2 volumes, 8o. Original green cloth, spine gilt-lettered (slightest wear at ends of spine).
FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. With the first appearance of the word "evolution" in Darwin's works, preceding its appearance in the sixth edition of The Origin of Species the following year. "This is really two works. The first demolished the theory that the universe was created for Man, while in the second Darwin presented a mass of evidence in support of his earlier hypothesis regarding sexual selection" (Garrison-Morton). In 1847 Wallace and Bates, friends through their shared interest in entomolgy, set out to "travel to the tropical jungles to collect specimens, ship them home for sale, and gather facts 'towards solving the problem of the origin of species' - a frequent topic of their conversations" (DSB). Wallace's conclusions from this trip so closely mirrored Darwin's researches that in 1858 the two published a joint first announcement of the theory of natural selection. Bates stayed in South America for eleven years, returning the year after Darwin presented his first papers to the Linnean Society. He was an avid supporter of Darwin's arguments, and Darwin showed great interest in his researches into mimicry amongst butterflies, in which Bates saw "a most beautiful proof of natural selection". Darwin described one of his papers on the subject as "one of the most remarkable and admirable papers I have ever read in my life" (DSB). Garrison & Morton 170; Norman 599. (2)
2 volumes, 8o. Original green cloth, spine gilt-lettered (slightest wear at ends of spine).
FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. With the first appearance of the word "evolution" in Darwin's works, preceding its appearance in the sixth edition of The Origin of Species the following year. "This is really two works. The first demolished the theory that the universe was created for Man, while in the second Darwin presented a mass of evidence in support of his earlier hypothesis regarding sexual selection" (Garrison-Morton). In 1847 Wallace and Bates, friends through their shared interest in entomolgy, set out to "travel to the tropical jungles to collect specimens, ship them home for sale, and gather facts 'towards solving the problem of the origin of species' - a frequent topic of their conversations" (DSB). Wallace's conclusions from this trip so closely mirrored Darwin's researches that in 1858 the two published a joint first announcement of the theory of natural selection. Bates stayed in South America for eleven years, returning the year after Darwin presented his first papers to the Linnean Society. He was an avid supporter of Darwin's arguments, and Darwin showed great interest in his researches into mimicry amongst butterflies, in which Bates saw "a most beautiful proof of natural selection". Darwin described one of his papers on the subject as "one of the most remarkable and admirable papers I have ever read in my life" (DSB). Garrison & Morton 170; Norman 599. (2)