Description: “Contributions to Theory of Natural Selection”, London and New York: Macmillan and Co., 1870. Apparent first American edition, apparent first printing, printed in London. 384 pp. Bound in green pebbled cloth. Spine stamped “ON NATURAL SELECTION, WALLACE” in gilt. Edgewear to top and bottom of spine (see photos). Bookplate removed from inside front cover. Owner’s name on front free endpaper, also annotation “First (American) Edition” and remnants of a bookstore price tag (see photos). Tight binding. Pages toned. Page 357-358 has a wrinkle near the bottom, evidently a defect of manufacture (see photos). I have not been able to confirm the accuracy of the annotation that this is a first American edition, which would seem to be called into question by the fact that the publisher page clearly states that this book was printed in London. The text reads “LONDON: PRINTED BY W. W. HEAD, ROYAL VICTORIA PRESS, FARRINGDON STREET, E.C.” (see photos). However title page does give the publisher as “MACMILLAN AND CO., London, AND 63, BLEEKER STREET, New York, 1870.” A copy described as a first UK edition gives the publisher simply as “London: MACMILLAN AND CO., 1870.” Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) was a prominent British naturalist and scientific explorer and a contemporary of Charles Darwin who independently arrived at the theory of evolution and the role of natural selection. He was an adventurer, writer, entomologist, and popular lecturer on a several different topics. “Contributions to Theory of Natural Selection” was so popular that a second, corrected edition was published only a year later in 1871. In his preface to the second edition Wallace says “The flattering reception of my Essays by the public and the press having led to a second edition being called for within a year of its first publication, I have taken the opportunity to make a few necessary corrections.” The press run for the 1871 edition was evidently much larger.
Price: 3500 USD
Location: Seattle, Washington
End Time: 2024-12-07T00:00:14.000Z
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Binding: Hardcover
Place of Publication: London & New York
Language: English
Special Attributes: 1st American Edition
Author: Alfred Russell Wallace
Publisher: Macmillan and Co.
Topic: Biology
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Subject: Science & Medicine
Year Printed: 1870
Original/Facsimile: Original
