Laying the groundwork for the origin of species. First edition of the complete two volumes of Fossil Cirripedia, handsomely bound and including the index to volume II which was accidentally omitted in the initial printing and issued in 1858. Though there is no indication on the title pages of these two volumes that they are one work, they are considered so by the bibliographers Freeman and Curle.

'Darwin spent the years from 1846 to 1854 researching both living and fossil Cirripedia (barnacles), seeking to provide evidence for his germinating theory of evolution, and to establish his reputation as an expert on both intraspecific variation and interspecific distinctions. "The barnacles were a highly appropriate group, not only because they had been placed in a 'transitional' position in some earlier classifications of invertebrates, but also because they illustrated with particular clarity some of the features of organic diversity that would need to be explained by any satisfactory theory of evolution" (Rudwick. p. 233)... Aside from their bearing on evolutionary theory, Darwin's studies of living Cirripedia are remarkable for having brought to light the existence of complemental males, small parasitic males found under the mantle of larger hermaphroditic or female individuals' (Hook & Norman, Norman Library of Science and Medicine 589).

First editions; 4to (28 x 21.5 cm); 5 plates in vol. I and 4 woodcuts within the text, 2 plates in vol. II and 8 woodcuts within the text, index is a single leaf, library date stamp to L3 of vol. I, uneven tanning to contents, occasional small spots and marks; recently bound to style in fine blue morocco by Andrew Sims, spine gilt in compartments, double gilt fillets ad corner-pieces, marbled endpapers, excellent condition; 88pp, 44pp, & 1p.

Freeman, The Works of Charles Darwin 342; Hook & Norman, Norman Library of Science and Medicine 590 (and note to 589).