The first volume of supporting evidence for the origin of species. First edition, first issue, of this important contribution to Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Freeman's variant a with vertically lined cloth and ads dated December, 1861.

Orchids 'was concerned with working out in detail the relationships between sexual structures of orchids and the insects which fertilise them, their evolution being attributed to natural selection. It is therefore the first of the volumes of supporting evidence. It was much praised by botanists, but sold only about 6,000 copies before the turn of the century' (Freeman, The Works of Charles Darwin, p. 112). Darwin wrote to his publisher John Murray in September, 1861 that, 'I think this little volume will do good to the Origin' (Freeman).

In his autobiography, Darwin stated that, though the preparation of Orchids had taken ten months, 'most of the facts had been slowly accumulated during several previous years. During the summer of 1839, and, I believe, during the previous summer, I was led to attend to the cross-fertilisation of flowers by the aid of insects, from having come to the conclusion in my speculations on the origin of species, that crossing played an important part in keeping specific forms constant. I attended to the subject more or less during every subsequent summer... For some years before 1862 I had specially attended to the fertilisation of our British orchids; and it seemed to me the best plan to prepare as complete a treatise on this group of plants as well as I could, rather than to utilise the great mass of matter which I had slowly collected with respect to other plants. My resolve proved a wise one; for since the appearance of my book, a surprising number of papers and separate works on the fertilisation of all kinds of flowers have appeared; and these are far better done than I could possibly have effected'.

First edition, first impression, first issue; 8vo in twelves; folding plate, woodcuts within the text, 32-page publisher's ads dated December, 1861 to rear, Edmonds & Remnants binder's ticket to rear pastedown, bookplate, contents partially unopened, a few stray spots and tiny marks but overall contents clean; housed in a modern slipcase, original plum cloth rebacked with the original spine laid down with some loss from the ends, titles to spine and orchid to upper board gilt, decorative design to boards blocked in blind, coated endpapers, corners restored, some loss of size from cloth, very good condition; 365pp.

Freeman, The Works of Charles Darwin 800.