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The Medical and Franklin Library of Dr. William von Valtier
Lot 31

DARWIN, CHARLES. 1809-1882.
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871.

22 June 2023, 12:00 EDT
New York

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DARWIN, CHARLES. 1809-1882.

The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871.
2 volumes. 8vo (195 x 135 mm). Half-titles, engraved illustrations. 16 pp publisher's catalogue dated January 1871 at end of each volume. Publisher's green cloth, blind-stamped, spines gilt-lettered. A handsome copy with just trifling edgewear and rubbing to covers and some foxing to endpapers and catalogues.
Provenance: Frederick Harford (bookplate); R.P. Windisch (ink stamp to flyleaf of vol. II).

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, containing the first appearance of the word "evolution" in Darwin's works (vol I, p 2), preceding its appearance in the sixth edition of Origin of Species published 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-Norman). First issue, with vol I, p 297, beginning "transmitted" and vol II with printer's imprint on half-title verso, errata on title verso and the "Postscript" leaf tipped-in after p viii. Freeman 937; Garrison-Morton-Norman 170; Norman 599.

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