The Descent of Man. And selection in relation to sex.

John Murray. , 1871. 1st. Ed. 7th. Thou.. Two volumes. 8vo. Hardbacks. Contents nr. fine. Contemporary half-calf over marbled boards, some rubbing to extremities, o/w. thor. vg. Both volumes benefited from more recent spines (retaining original end-papers) all in fine condition. With heraldic bookplate of Arthur Byrom Gordon to front-paste down of both volumes. (Freeman 939). The first issue of ‘The Descent of Man’ had a print-run of just 2,500 copies. It was published in February 1871, closely followed in March 1871 by the second issue printing of a further 2,000 copies. There were two further issues of the two volume English edition in April and December 1871, the seventh and eighth thousands. Controversially received like ‘Origin of Species’ before it, the word ‘evolution’ occurs here for the first time in any of Darwin’s works. It can be found on page 2 of the first volume.