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Lot 88: DARWIN, Charles (1809-1882, editor). The Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle, under the Command of Captain Robert FitzRoy, R.N., during the Years 1832 to 1836 . London: Smith, Elder, February 1838-October 1843. 5 parts in 3 volumes, 4° (311 x

Est: £45,000 GBP - £60,000 GBPSold:
Christie'sLondon, United KingdomNovember 14, 2007

Item Overview

Description

DARWIN, Charles (1809-1882, editor). The Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle, under the Command of Captain Robert FitzRoy, R.N., during the Years 1832 to 1836. London: Smith, Elder, February 1838-October 1843. 5 parts in 3 volumes, 4° (311 x 235mm), comprising:

Part I. OWEN, Richard (1804-1892). Fossil Mammalia. With preface (to the whole work) and geological introduction by Darwin. 1838-1840. 32 lithographic plates by G. Scharf, 2 folding, one double-page. (Title and preliminaries a little spotted, slight browning of text, first plate torn at folds.)

Part II. WATERHOUSE, George Robert (1810-1888). Mammalia. With geographical introduction and notes on habits and ranges by Darwin. 1838-1839. 32 numbered hand-coloured lithographic plates; 3 numbered engraved plates. (Pl. 11 with small segment torn from margin, pl. 30 with slight paper adhesion mark, uncoloured plates spotted.)

Part III. GOULD, John (1804-1881). Birds. With notes on their habitats and ranges by Darwin and an anatomical appendix by T.C. Eyton. 1838-1841. 50 numbered hand-coloured lithographic plates by Elizabeth Gould after John Gould, unsigned. (Occasional light marginal soiling of plates, a few misbound.)

Part IV. JENYNS, Leonard (1800-1893). Fish. 1840-1842. 29 numbered lithographic plates by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins. (Occasional spotting of plates and more frequently of text, slight tear to lower margin of Y3.)

Part V. BELL, Thomas (1792-1880). Reptiles. 1842-43. 20 lithographic plates by Hawkins. (Pl. 12-20 spotted and a little waterstained at corner.)

The 3 volumes uniformly bound in late 19th-century green half morocco gilt by Root and Son, top edges gilt, original blue cloth gilt spine preserved at end of each volume (rebacked with old morocco spines laid down, faded to brown, slight tear to one cover, corners rubbed, new endpapers, advertisements not bound in).

THE LAVISH SCIENTIFIC RECORD OF DARWIN'S COLLECTING ENDEAVOURS during the five-year voyage of the Beagle, originally issued in 19 numbers. The 166 plates, 82 finely hand-coloured, were due to the tireless energy and flair which the relatively untrained ship's scientist put first into the collection of specimens and then into ensuring that the zoological specialists duly reported on them after his return. The cost of the plates was covered by a treasury grant of one thousand pounds, but to complete the work for Smith and Elder, who were publishers of large illustrated books and government publications, Darwin had to persevere as steadily with his pen as with his gun and geological hammer, turning himself into a considerable authority during the course of five years spent editing the work of others. 'He superintended the Zoology's text, wrote introductions for the different parts, and added notes from his various Beagle records about animal behaviour and habitats wherever appropriate, while also supervising the printers, proofreading the sheets, arranging artists for the plates, chivying the experts, and keeping them all moving forward within a tight self-imposed budget' (Janet Browne, Charles Darwin: Voyaging, 2003, p. 370). Anker 173; Freeman 8; Nissen IVB 384 and ZBI 1391; Norman 586; Wood p. 310; Zimmer p. 157.
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Artist or Maker

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THE PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH PRIVATE COLLECTOR

No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.

Auction Details

Valuable Printed Books and Manuscripts

by
Christie's
November 14, 2007, 12:00 PM EST

8 King Street, St. James's, London, LDN, SW1Y 6QT, UK