1871 The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Rebound

The 'Descent of Man' was the first of Charles Darwin's works to use the word 'evolution' and this can be found to page 2 of the first volume. It next appeared in Darwin's sixth edition of 'Origin' published in the following year. This work continues on the principles laid out in Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' which served as an abstract of his theory. Here, Darwin applies his evolutionary theory to humans and proceeds to detail his theory of sexual selection. He also looks at evolutionary psychology, evolutionary ethics, race, sexes, and how evolutionary theory is relevant to society. A harlequin set, with volume I in a half morocco binding with cloth covered boards, and volume II in library cloth. Both volumes are the first edition, first issue, with the correct errata to the verso of title page to volume II, seventeen errata for volume I and eight for volume II. With the note to a leaf between i and x referring to 'a serious and unfortunate error'. To volume I page 297 starts with 'transmitted' and contains misprints such as 'kaola' to page 27. This first volume is very scarce as only 2500 copies of this issue were printed. Collated, both volumes have been rebound without the half-titles and publisher's adverts. Ex-library copies, with institutional stamps to the recto and verso of title pages only, for the 'National Central Library London'. To the recto of front endpaper to volume II there is also a stamp for 'British Library, Boston Spa, Yorkshire'. Illustrated, with several in-text illustrations. A scarce opportunity to own a copy of the first edition, first impression of this important scientific work.