First edition. The first edition of Darwin's second work of genius, containing his earliest published use of the term 'evolution'. A true sequel to Origin of a Species, the Descent of Man picked up where the earlier work had left off, discussing for the first time the place occupied by homo sapiens in the Darwinian scheme of natural selection. An immensely popular work from the get-go, over 5000 copies of Descent were sold within the first year cementing Darwin's status in the public mind as a 'gentleman of science'.

First edition, second issue (without the errata to verso of title-page of vol. II, and errors in vol. I corrected); 2 vols, 8vo (19.5 x 13.5 cm); ownership inscriptions to front free endpaper recto of both vols, numerous illustrations, light spotting to prelims otherwise text bright and clean; publisher's green cloth, rules in blind to boards, gilt spine, minor rubbing to extremities, hinges repaired, a very good set.



Freeman 938.