DARWIN, Charles. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
Pub. LONDON: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1859. First issue of the first edition.
Title, pp[v]-ix, 502pp :: 1 diagram, 28pp of advertisements dated June 1859.
Russell notes, in pencil, to fly leaf…'This is the first issue of first edition which sold out on the day of publication. Some of the first issue points: p.20, L11, species misspelt speceies; p.184 has original but improbable form of story of whale-bear.
When purchased from Quaine's bookshop Melbourne in 1935 for £2.2.0 it had been sadly misused. The front cover and spine of the original binding were missing and the back cover was torn in half.
I had it rebound by Green of Melbourne in full green morocco at a cost of £2.10.0.
Half title and pp.29-32 of the advertisements are lacking.
Gilt ruled green morocco boards in good condition, spine sunned. Text block is gilded to the top edge. Remainder of edges show mild foxing. Text is overall very clean. The folded chart has likely been rebacked with fine linen. Bookplate: Ex Libris K. F. Russell. (195x121mm)


Estimate $30,000-50,000