There is grandeur in this view of life .... from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.
Here
we offer a very early and rare US edition of of Charles Darwin's classic, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, published by D. Appleton and Company, New York, in 1872. This is the 5th edition,
prior to the final 6th. Very rare. Except for the added chapter in the
sixth edition, the fifth edition is the most important revision. This is
where Spencer’s expression “the survival of the fittest,” synonymous to
“natural selection” is introduced. This is the original form the book took, including gilt and ink-impressed silk nutmeg boards and fold-out diagram.
Boards are well-worn and chipped at edges, and original spine remnants have been reapplied atop new spine cloth (please see pics). Intact, uninscribed endpapers with a beginning tear and puncture on the first flyleaf repaired with ph-neutral binder's tissue. Minor foxing and an occasional very light moisture stain within. Very tight and square binding; very clean, bright and crisp text and intact fold-out page. Book measures approximately 8 x 5.25-inches; 447 indexed pages, plus several pages of ads.
This relic of scientific history will make a remarkable centerpiece to any rare books collection or a very thoughtful gift.
Please click HERE to peruse our other Darwin offerings.
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overpayment, so please check out our other items! -- other auctions of classic antiquarian literature and special gifts!**
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