Charles Darwin John Murray

Updated August 18, 2026

This auction ended on August 22, 2026. See upcoming auctions from Big Shanty Auction.

Lot number	241
Estimate	100.00 - 200.00 USD
Auction	AUGUST AUCTION
Date	August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT
Auction house	Big Shanty Auction
Location	Marietta, Georgia

Four-volume late-Victorian set of major works by Charles Darwin, comprising The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, Sixth Edition, with Additions and Corrections, 33rd Thousand, in two volumes, together with The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Second Edition, Revised and Augmented, 22nd Thousand, likewise in two volumes, all published in London by John Murray, Albemarle Street, in 1888. The title pages visible in the photographs confirm the 1888 John Murray issues: Origin of Species is the two-volume Sixth Edition, 33rd Thousand, while Descent of Man is the two-volume Second Edition, 22nd Thousand, a configuration documented for these 1888 printings. The four books are attractively and uniformly bound in polished tan calf with richly gilt-tooled spines, raised bands, decorative floral and scroll ornaments, and contrasting dark green morocco title and volume labels, creating a handsome library presentation substantially more decorative than ordinary publisher’s cloth. The volumes appear generally well preserved for their age, with expected light rubbing, scattered small marks and minor wear to the leather, while the photographed title pages are notably clean and bright with only light age toning and occasional spotting; bindings appear intact from the views provided. These are later lifetime-era works rather than first editions, but their matching 1888 publication date, completeness in four volumes, distinguished fine binding, and pairing of Darwin’s two most influential evolutionary works give the group considerable decorative and bibliographic appeal.

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