IT is considered to be one of the most important ever books. It sparked massive controversy when it arrived in bookshops 160 years ago. Now a rare first edition of Charles Darwin’s On The Origin Of Species is going up for auction in Scotland.
How many were printed?
Edinburgh-born publisher John Murray ran off 1,250 first editions of the book in November 1859, of which 1,192 were available for sale, with 12 reserved for the author, 41 for review and five for Stationer’s Hall, which organised copyright.
It was an instant bestseller?
It sparked such interest that Murray took 1,500 more orders even before publication day, including 500 for a circulating library. Then a month after publication, another 3,000 copies were produced. Darwin helped sales along by way of what is now a modern tactic – promoting the book with lectures and articles in magazines and newspapers.
The ethos of the book?
English naturalist, geologist and biologist Darwin used the tome to outline his theory of evolution based on “survival of the fittest” – the survival of only those most well-adapted to their environment. The book proposed the idea of the evolution of new species from earlier ones, exploring the connection between animals and humans.
It sparked controversy?
It put forward ideas that were regarded as nothing short of revolutionary, coming at a time when the scientific community was closely connected with the church. Science was generally regarded as being part of “natural theology”, theology based on studying the natural world.
Is the book still considered to be important?
It is regarded as the foundation of evolutionary biology and still inspires ongoing research into our origins today, with scientists agreed that modern scientific thought would be very different without his seminal work.
Sir David Attenborough put it best?
He said of Darwin: "He inspires me because he made sense out of the natural world and not only just physical sense, of why animals have antlers or why birds have fine feathers, but to suggest the mechanism which led to all these multiplicity of forms. Darwin is the founding father of scientific physiology and botany.”
When is the auction?
The book is part of the Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photography sale at Lyon & Turnbull’s auction house in Edinburgh on October 9.
Do we know where the edition is from?
It was one of the presentation copies sent out by Murray, most likely on the instructions of Darwin, as it is inscribed “Dr Allen Thomson with John Murray’s kind regards”. 19th century Professor Allen Thomson was a renowned Scots anatomist and embryologist.
How much is the edition expected to fetch?
Anywhere between £40,000 to £60,000, although another first edition of the book previously sold for more than £100,000.
If the price-tag is out of reach?
A rare first edition is on display in the Treasures Gallery of the Natural History Museum in London to have a look at instead.
The Museum's Library holds the world's largest concentration of Darwin works. It has 478 editions of On the Origin of Species in 38 languages.
MAUREEN SUGDEN
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