DARWIN DESCENT OF MAN 1ST ED/ 1ST ISSUE 1871 2 VOLUMES

The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex - First UK Edition, First Issue in Original Cloth by Darwin, Charles

8vo - 7.75 Inches. John Murray. London. 1871 First edition/ First issue. A presentable two volume set of the rare genuine first issue of Darwin's second great work,with some wear, in the original green cloth binding, and with all the first issue points - 'kaola' for Koala on p. 27 of Vol I, 'transmitted' as the first word on p. 297 of Vol I, 27 errata points on verso of title of Vol II, printer's name on verso of half title in Vol II and 'postscript' leaf added after page viii in Vol II. Ads dated January 1871. From the library of J. E. Haselwood, committee member of the Brighton and Sussex (later the Brighton and Hove) Natural History Society c. 1880-1900 and with some marginal notes by him. Both volumes bound in uniform original green cloth with blindstamped boards and gilt spine titles. Some wear and fraying to ends of spine and joints, but no actual splits to joints, though there are some minor holes. Corners a little bumped. Cloth of rear upper corner of Vol I peeling a little. Vol I - Inner hinges weakening a little but not splitting. Old bookseller's catalogue entry for the books tipped in to free front endpaper. Ink stamp 'K114' to free front endpaper verso - this was a private library shelfmark. No other library markings appear. Pencil notes to half title verso. viii, 423, (1), 16 pages of ads. Page 13/14 of ads defective and missing about 2/3 of the leaf. Otherwise internally very tidy with some foxing to the adverts. Discrete marginal note in faint lilac crayon to margin of page 297.  Vol II - Front inner hinge cracking. Rear inner hinge weakening a little. viii, (2), 475, (1) + 16 pages ads. Leaf 11/12 of adverts cut across the bottom corner with loss of 1/8th of the page. Discrete marginal note in faint lilac crayon to margin of page 161 and 237. Overall a very honest, unrestored set in presentable condition with some wear and some defects to the adverts.

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