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Charles Darwin 1st Edition

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Charles Darwin 1st Edition
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First edition, first printing of ''The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex'' by Charles Darwin. London: John Murray: 1871. In two volumes with illustrations, ''The Descent of Man'' applies Darwin's theory first conceived in ''Origin of Species'' to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection. Volume I of this set is the very first time in which the word evolution appears in print in any of Darwin's works. All first issue points present including the errata on the verso of the title leaf of Volume II; seventeen errata for Volume I and eight for Volume II; the verso of the half title leaf of Volume II bears the printer's note; present with note on a tipped-in leaf in Volume II, which refers to ''a serious and unfortunate error'' affecting pages 297-299 in Volume I, and pages 161 and 237 in Volume II; page 297 begins with the word ''transmitted.'' Publisher's full green pictorial cloth, stamped and lettered in gilt. Covers have been re-backed with vintage cloth. Some fading to the cloth on the covers around edges. The binding in both volumes is very tight and secure with no loose pages or sections. Internally very good. The endpapers have been replaced with paper in keeping with the original dark navy ones. Signature by previous owner on the half-title of Volume I and the title page of Volume I. Overall a beautiful set in very good condition.