The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle - photo 1
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle - photo 2
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle - photo 3
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle - photo 4
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle - photo 5

The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle

Lot 28
19.10.2023 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 88 200
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1032680
Lot 28 | The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle
Estimate value
$ 70 000 – 90 000
DARWIN, Charles (1809–1882), and others. The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836. London, Smith, Elder & Co., [1838-]1840-1843.

"The five years of the voyage [of the Beagle] were the most important event in Darwin’s intellectual life and in the history of biological science" (DSB).

First edition, parts and volumes issue, complete with all the half and fly titles, lists of plates, etc. This was the first publication resulting from the Beagle voyage, and it was a massive undertaking. Darwin edited the work, which appeared in five parts made up of nineteen numbers, between February 1838 and October 1843. "Darwin contributed a geological introduction to Part I, the Fossil Mammalia (pp. 3-12), and a geographical introduction to Part II, the Mammalia (pp. i-iv). He also contributed notices of habits and ranges throughout the text of Mammalia and Birds, and there are frequent notes, mostly from his labels, in the text of the Fish and the Reptiles’ (Freeman, p 26). The variation of finches between islands in the Galapagos, the fossil remains of extinct animals on the coast of South America, the geological evidence of upheaval and subsidence, gave Darwin the source material which resulted in the theory of natural selection and inspired The Origin of Species. Several artists were involved in preparing the plates, notably John and Elizabeth Gould, B.W. Hawkins and G.R. Waterhouse. Anker 173; Freeman 9; Nissen ZBI 1391 and IVB 384.

Comprises:
Part 1. Richard Owen's Fossil Mammalia with 32 lithographed plates;
Part 2. G.R. Waterhouse's Mammalia with introduction by Darwin and 32 hand-colored lithographed plates plus three steel-engraved plates (without errata slip sometimes found pasted on p.ix;
Part 3. John Gould and G.R. Gray's Birds with 50 hand-colored lithographed plates;
Part 4. Leonard Jenyns's Fish with 29 lithographed plates;
Part 5. Thomas Bell's Reptiles with 20 lithographed plates.

Five parts bound in three volumes, quarto (308 x 242mm). With 166 plates, 82 of which are hand-colored, a few folding, and three steel-engraved; the rest lithographed (some half-titles and plate lists are bound out of sequence; some foxing/toning to plates and occasionally to text; repaired tear through title of part 2, about 20 leaves in part 1 with discreet repairs to blank margins, blank corner of plate 26 in part 1 repaired, blank guard in part 4 detached and laid in). Modern straight-grained morocco gilt, spines with gilt compartments and red morocco labels. Provenance: Royal Association for Natural Science of the Dutch East-Indies (contemporary Dutch inkstamps to some titles and half-titles; recorded in their 1884 catalogue) – Batavian Society for the Arts and Sciences (pre-1910 stamps in Dutch on some titles) – later Indonesian stamp on part 4 title.
Artist:Charles Robert Darwin (1809 - 1882)
Place of origin:England
Auction house category:Medicine & science, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
14.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
15.10.2023 13:00 – 17:00
16.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
17.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
18.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

More from Creator

Preparing
Preparing "The Voyage of the Beagle" for publication
$100
On the Origin of Species
On the Origin of Species
$55 000
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
£10 000
DARWIN, Charles (1809-1882)
DARWIN, Charles (1809-1882)
£3 000
On the delay in publication of his Journal of Researches
On the delay in publication of his Journal of Researches
$100
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
£100
DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882) and Alfred Russel WALLACE (1823-1913)
DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882) and Alfred Russel WALLACE (1823-1913)
£15 000
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
£100

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.