The Descent Of Man And Selection In Relations To Sex Darwin, Charles Biology,Darwin

1st Edition, mixed issue.viii, 423pp; viii,POSTSCRIPT 475pp, index. Rebound in full green calf without adverts and half-titles. All edges marbled. Bindings sound and secure with minor wear to edges and boards. Light foxing to first and last leaves - otherwise very clean and bright throughout. A solid set comprising the 2nd issue of VOL I and the 1st issue of VOL II. The first issue of the first edition of the Descent of Man was printed in February 1871. A subsequent run (the second issue) was produced shortly afterwards in March. The first issue of VOL II can be recognised by the errata on the verso of the title leaf, seventeen errata for Volume I and eight for Volume II. [The verso of the title leaf of Volume II of the second issue has a list of nine other works by Darwin and no errata.] The verso of the half title leaf of Volume II (opposite title) of the first issue bears the 3-line printer's note (see photo), [it is blank in the second issue of March 1871]. The first issue has a note on a tipped in leaf (pp. [ix-x]) in Volume II (see photo) which refers to 'a serious and unfortunate error' which affects pages 297-299 in Volume I, and pages 161 and 237 in Volume II. The proof that Volume I of this set is the later issue can be seen on page 297 where the first word is "When". The first issue begins "transmitted" on this page. There are also certain misprints, such as "kaola" for koala on p. 27 of VOL I. In The Descent of Man, Darwin applies the theory propounded in his Origin of Species to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection. The book discusses many issues, including evolutionary psychology, evolutionary ethics, the differences between human races, the differences between the sexes, and the relevance of evolutionary theory to society F937