[Science, Medicine & Mathematics] Darwin, Charles The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex

London: John Murray, 1871. In two volumes. First edition, first issue (with "transmitted" as first word on p. 297 in Vol. 1; errata on title-page verso, and printer's imprint on half-title verso of Vol. 2). 8vo. viii, 423, (1), 16 (ads); viii, (ii), 475, (1), 16 (ads) pp. With half-titles and ads (dated January 1871) in each volume, and numerous in-text illustrations and diagrams. Publisher's green cloth-covered boards, stamped in blind and in gilt, extremities, boards, and joints variously rubbed and lightly worn; Vol. 2 cocked; front hinges slightly worn in each volume; contemporary ownership signature on half-title of Vol. 1 and front blank of Vol. 2; foxing to prelims and rear ads and endpapers of each volume; dampstaining in bottom gutter, pp. 340-345 in Vol. 1. Freeman 937; Norman 599; Garrison and Morton 170

A handsome first edition of Darwin's seminal work on human evolution. Containing the first appearance of the word "evolution" in any of Darwin's work, on p. 2 of first volume--preceding its appearance in the sixth edition of his Origin of Species that was published the following year. "This is really two works. The first demolished the theory that the universe was created for Man, while in the second Darwin presented a mass of evidence in support of his earlier hypothesis regarding sexual selection." (Garrison-Morton 170).

This first issue was published in an edition of 2,500 copies on February 24, 1871. Due to its popularity, the second issue followed shortly after in March in 2,000 copies. Overall, the book sold well, with 15,000 selling in Darwin's lifetime, and over 35,000 by the end of the century.