Darwin (Charles) On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, first edition, half-title, folding lithographic diagram, 32pp. of publisher's adverts at end dated June 1859 in Freeman’s variant 3, half-title, title and first 2 leaves of contents repaired at gutter, slight creasing to title and first contents leaf, occasional faint spotting, slightly heavier at beginning, p.467 small marginal tear repaired (just touching text), overall generally clean, hinges strengthened, endpapers rubbed, original publisher's green cloth in Freeman's variant a, extremities faintly rubbed, housed within modern green morocco-backed drop-back box, [Freeman 373], 8vo, John Murray, 1859.

⁂ '...certainly the most important biological book ever written' (Freeman).

Provenance: Roy Norr [bookplate, (1910)]; Paul Hyde Bonner (1893-1968) American financier, diplomat, author and book collector [armorial bookplate]; John D. Sherman, Jr (1872-1960) entomologist and entomological book dealer, sold to Melville Harrison Hatch (1898-1988) American entomologist [cheque dated 6 November 1945 to Sherman for $85, loosely inserted and bookplate].