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Charles Darwin

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:40,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Charles Darwin

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Auction Date:2013 Aug 14 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Very scarce ALS signed “Farewell my ancient amigo. Ever yours, C. Darwin,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7.5, no date (circa 1842). Letter to John Maurice Herbert. In full: “I believe that the two best bird-preservers are ‘Leadbeater, 19 Brewer St. Golden Square,’ and ‘Gould, 20 Broad Street, Golden Square’—which is best I do not know. I should recommend your friend to call herself and explain in which styles she wants them mounted—and ask to see specimens. I fancy price varies according to care taken. As for Birds of Paradise from the West Indies, tell that to the Marines, as we used to say on board the Beagle.

I am very obliged for your enquiries about houses. I am getting desperate and expect next year I shall have to build: Borkham is rather too far from a railway station. I was not able to go [to] the Geoly. Anniversary yesterday as I have not been so as well as usual during the last fortnight.

Next Wednesday, Owen gives an account of the great Mastodon now exhibiting at the Egypt. Hall. I mention it, as possibly you like others may feel interested about it. I fear I shall not be there.” Letter is docketed on the reverse of the second page by a relative of Herbert.

Central horizontal and vertical folds, some scattered light toning and soiling, small area of slight paper loss from wax seal, affecting portion of a single word of text, and a stray ink mark next to the unusually large signature, otherwise fine condition.

The years directly following Darwin's return home from his five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle were some of the busiest in his life, filled with his eager participation in a variety of events and discussions in England's scientific community, many of which appear in this letter to his close friend John Herbert. Beginning with recommendations for the “best bird-preservers,” he doubts the fact that Birds of Paradise—which played a key role in his developing theory of sexual selection as presented in the Origin of Species—are indeed the birds that Herbert’s friend has, idiomatically joking, “tell that to the Marines, as we used to say on board the Beagle.” He continues, noting his absence from “the Geoly. Anniversary,” (likely referring to an event with the Geological Society, in which he was a council member for several years), and informing Herbert of Professor Richard Owen’s talks on the controversial mastodon on display at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly. A highly regarded anatomist and paleontologist, responsible for coining the word Dinosauria, Owen frequently disagreed with Darwin’s Origin, believing that evolution was much more complex than he presented. Any letter by Darwin is highly desirable; but this item, with abundant references to scientific pursuits and an extraordinarily rare specific mention of his time aboard the HMS Beagle, is one of the finest we have seen.