The Descent of Man : Charles Darwin : Leather Binding : Second Edition 1883

The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex

By Charles Darwin

London: John Murray, 1883. Second edition. Half leather binding; hardcover; octavo (19.5 x 13 x 4.5 cm); Marble endpapers, pp. [xvi], 693. English text.  half-title; illustrated; rear index in double columns. Printed by William Clowes. 

CONDITION
The leather binding is in good condition with some rubbing to the corners. Hinges secure with no cracking and binding tight and square. Endpapers good. All contents present and pages clean throughout. Overall a very good copy.

Second edition of Darwin's second major work following the publication of Origin of the Species in 1859. The Descent of Man was the first work to use the word 'evolution', preceding its use in the sixth edition of Origin of Species by a year, and it expands upon the theories of selection and evolution proposed in Origin of Species. In Descent, Darwin puts forth a new theory of sexual selection, explaining how it differs from and works alongside natural selection. This volume discusses how evolutionary processes apply to humankind, drawing in concepts from evolutionary psychology and ideas of differing characteristics of anthropologically defined races of people. This work had huge implications for the history of humankind and was met with mixed responses from a society in which conservative religious beliefs could be at odds with scientific advancement, but it went on to become immensely popular.

(Shop : Natural History, top shelf)