⁂ Please note, the description of this lot has changed ⁂

Darwin (Charles) On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, third edition (seventh thousand), presentation copy to Robert Colgate, half-title, folding lithographed plate, short closed tear to title, advertisement f. at end, Edmonds & Remnants binders' ticket to foot of rear pastedown, original green blind-stamped and gilt cloth, spine darkened and repaired, corners restored, rubbed at extremities, [Freeman 381; PMM 344 (b), note], 8vo, John Murray, 1861.

⁂ A presentation copy of 'the most important biological book ever written' (Freeman). The inscription on the half-title in the hand of Murray's clerk reads 'From the Author'. The recipient has added his ownership inscription above this ('Rob. Colgate'). Robert Colgate was a surgeon with a practice on Bolton Road, Eastbourne. He was Admiralty surgeon and agent to the Eastbourne division of the coastguard. Darwin had made his acquaintance in the autumn of 1860 when he and his family had spent seven weeks in nearby Marine Parade. Colgate's name is included in the presentation list drawn up by Darwin for the third edition, issued in April, 1861. He wrote to thank Darwin for this gift on 25th June, 1861 (Darwin Correspondence, letter 3197), explaining that he had delayed writing until he heard back from his friend John Cowell Boys (a Sussex-born surveyor and sheep breeder who had emigrated to New Zealand), of whom Darwin had asked a series of detailed questions via Colgate on the population of bees in New Zealand. Colgate goes on to highlight 'a slight error at p.77' of the Origin, pointing out that owls and hawks were in fact the main predators of field mice, not cats. Darwin did not amend this page in subsequent editions.

The third edition 'was extensively altered, and is of interest for the addition of a table of differences between it and the second edition, a table which occurs in each subsequent edition, and also for the addition of the historical sketch... which was written to satisfy complaints that Darwin had not sufficiently considered his predecessors in the general theory of evolution... there is also a postscript on page xii... concern[ing] a review of the earlier editions by Asa Gray' (Freeman p. 78)

Provenance: Robert Colgate (see above); 'Jenny Flecknor, Feb, 1961' (ink inscription to front free endpaper).