Description
“THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE WORK IN SCIENCE”: STUNNING FIRST EDITION OF DARWIN’S ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, A BEAUTIFUL COPY WITH EXCEPTIONAL PROVENANCE
DARWIN, Charles. On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, Or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle For Life. London: John Murray, 1859. Octavo, original green cloth, uncut. Housed in custom chemise and morocco slipcase.
Rare first edition, in original cloth, of “certainly the most important biological book ever written” (Freeman), one of only 1250 copies. The copy of Sir George Grey, explorer, amateur naturalist, Governor of New Zealand and Cape Colony, and correspondent of Darwin. A stunning copy, the best we have ever seen.“This, the most important single work in science, brought man to his true place in nature” (Heralds of Science 199). Darwin “revolutionized our methods of thinking and our outlook on the natural order of things. The recognition that constant change is the order of the universe had been finally established and a vast step forward in the uniformity of nature had been taken” (PMM 344). Darwin wrote in his diary that all 1250 copies of the first edition, published on November 24, were sold on the first day. With two printed quotations on verso of half title, 32 pages of publisher’s advertisements dated June, 1859 (Freeman’s third state of three), and a folding lithographic diagram facing page 117. Freeman’s binding variant “a” (no priority established). Freeman 373. Horblit, 23b. Dibner, 199. Bookplate.
The copy of Sir George Grey, Darwin correspondent and governor of New Zealand and Cape Colony, with a gift inscription from his wife Elizabeth: “Some light reading for heavy hours. E.L.G. to G.L.G.” As a young man, Grey had explored Western Australia, arriving there on the Beagle in 1837 (having the same cabin Darwin used one year earlier on his famous voyage). Years later, when Grey was Governor of New Zealand, he corresponded with Darwin after letters of Darwin that were critical of Grey’s account of his exploration were inadvertently (or maliciously) sent to Grey. Grey, who greatly admired Darwin, courteously returned the letters. Darwin responded apologetically on November 10, 1847, writing “though I am not presumptuous enough to suppose that you can care much for my opinion of your work on Australia, it is a satisfaction to me to be enabled to name to myself many individuals to whom I have expressed my strong opinion of the very high qualities shown in your work? permit me to add that I have the most pleasant recollection of our former acquaintance.” Years later, in 1855, Darwin would write to Grey one more time, discussing pigeons and requesting Grey (now Governor of Cape Colony in South Africa) to send him some skins so Darwin could compare European and African pigeons, explaining: “I have during many years been collecting all the facts and reasoning which I could, in regard to the variation and origin of species.” Grey was recalled from his position in 1859, arriving in London only to find that a change of government had occurred and he had been reappointed and was to return. He was, however, still in England on November 24, 1859, when Origin was first published, not returning to Cape Town until early 1860. (See Rees, Life and Times of Sir George Grey, esp. 591-95.)
Interior quite clean, with only stray spots of faint foxing (mostly to preliminaries, as always, far less than usual). Unrestored original cloth fresh and fine, gilt lovely. A beautiful and fine copy, most desirable in such condition.
