DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882)
09.07.2025 10:30UTC +01:00
Classic
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'SAuctioneer | CHRISTIE'S |
---|---|
Event location | United Kingdom, London |
Buyer Premium | see on Website% |
ID 1449857
Lot 123 | DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882)
Estimate value
100000GBP £ 100 000 – 150 000
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. London: John Murray, 1859
First edition of 'the most important single work in science' (Dibner). Darwin’s historic achievement with the Origin lay in making the concept of evolution acceptable to the scientific community by cogently arguing for the existence of a viable mechanism – natural selection – by which new species evolve over vast quantities of time. The gestation of the theory had been slow: Darwin opened his first notebook on transmutation in July 1837 but spent years leading a double life – presenting papers on fossils and earthquakes to Oxford and Cambridge theologians at the Geological Society, elected to the Athenaeum, the Royal Society, and the council of the Royal Geographical Society – all the while secretly compiling notes on the mechanics of organic change. He continued to collate his research on species in the years following the move from London to Down in 1842, and started to discuss his hypotheses with colleagues Lyell, Hooker, Huxley and others. Darwin began writing the Origin – intended as an extended technical treatise aimed at his peers – in May 1856, encouraged by Lyell, who feared for Darwin's priority after reading the work of Alfred Russel Wallace. Two years later he had composed an extended treatise entitled 'Natural Selection', some two thirds complete at 250,000 words. In June 1858, Darwin received a letter about evolution from Wallace, who had independently arrived at similar conclusions, leading to the publication of their joint paper at the Linnean Society on 1 July. Darwin now moved quickly: an abstract of ‘Natural Selection’ first intended as an essay soon turned into a book. Stripped of references and academic paraphernalia – and now aimed not at specialists, but directly at the reading public – it was all, except the index, in corrected proof by 11 September 1858. John Murray agreed to publish it sight unseen on Lyell's recommendation, which proved good: the entire edition of 1,250 copies was sold on the day of publication, 24 November 1859. The Origin of Species, never out of print, was translated into at least thirty-six languages; it expounded a theory of evolution that was recognisably superior and of infinitely greater impact than all previous hypotheses explaining biological diversity. It stands as ‘the most important biological work ever written’ (Freeman) and ‘a turning point, not only in the history of science, but in the history of ideas in general' (DSB). Dibner Heralds of Science 199; Eimas Heirs 1724; Freeman 373; Garrison-Morton (1991) 220; Grolier, Science 23b; Norman 593; PMM 344b; Milestones of Science 49; Waller 10786.
Octavo-in-12s (198 x 125mm). Half-title, folding lithographic diagram, 32 pages of publisher's adverts at end dated June 1859 in Freeman’s variant 3 (no priority; fore-edges lightly pushed on three occasions causing some marginal creasing, e.g. pp. 57-60 and pp.361-368, small chip to lower margin of pp.19-20, tiny hole at base of pp.29-32, small splits at folds of lithographic diagram, occasional faint spotting at beginning and at the final page). Original publisher's green cloth by Edmonds and Remnants with their ticket, Freeman’s variant b (no priority; hinges expertly restored, corners lightly rubbed, spine ends pushed with some minor tears to cloth, a few short splits to cloth along lower joint). Modern case. Provenance: a few modern pencil annotations across the volume.
Artist: | Charles Robert Darwin (1809 - 1882) |
---|---|
Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
Auction house category: | Medicine & science, Books and manuscripts, Printed books |
Artist: | Charles Robert Darwin (1809 - 1882) |
---|---|
Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
Auction house category: | Medicine & science, Books and manuscripts, Printed books |
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
More from Creator
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.