The Selfish Gene.

First edition, first impression of 'the first real blockbuster popular science book', the text that coined the term 'meme' (Rutherford, 'The Selfish Gene Turns Forty', the Guardian, May 29th, 2016). In the dust jacket with art by zoologist Desmond Morris.

Though Dawkins was not a geneticist but a behavioural scientist, this volume is still considered one of the most significant books in the history of genetics and evolution. Building on the work of George C. Williams and W.D. Hamilton, he made the case that the gene, rather than the organism or the species, is the unit on which evolution acts. Though scientifically controversial, the theory explained altruism and the behaviour of social insects, and the book 'made an impassioned argument for the reality of natural selection. Previous attempts to explain the mechanics of evolution had been academic and rooted in maths. Dawkins walked us through it in prose. Many great popular science books followed...' (Rutherford).

First edition, first impression; 8vo; spotting to edges of text block, title and endpapers, and margins of contents; original black boards, titles to spine gilt, spine rolled, corners slightly bumped, a very good copy in the lightly rubbed jacket with faded spine panel and spotting to the edges and verso; 224pp.