Lot 75: DARWIN, Charles, 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, 1840-October 1843.

DARWIN, Charles, 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, 1840-October 1843.

5 parts in 3 volumes, 4o (315 x 245 mm), comprising:

Part I. OWEN, Richard (1804-1892). Fossil Mammalia. 1840. With preface (to the whole work) and geological introduction by Darwin. 32 lithographic plates by G. Scharf (one folding) (lightly browned, one or two spots, some pale marginal stains to last plates).

Part II. WATERHOUSE, George Robert (1810-1888). Mammalia. 1839. With geographical introduction and notes on habits and ranges by Darwin. 32 numbered hand-colored lithographic plates and 3 numbered engraved plates (lightly browned, one or two spots).

Part III. GOULD, John (1804-1881). Birds. 1841. With notes on their habitats and ranges by Darwin and an anatomical appendix by T.C. Eyton. Errata leaf (torn). 50 numbered hand-colored lithographic plates by Elizabeth Gould after John Gould, unsigned (plates 9-13 and 25-26 misbound, some browning and spotting). (Some browning, some spotting.)

Part IV. JENYNS, Leonard (1800-1893). Fish. 1842. 29 numbered lithographic plates by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (lightly browned, a few marginal pale stains not affecting the text).

Part V. BELL, Thomas (1792-1880). Reptiles. 1843. 20 lithographic plates by Hawkins (plate 7 misbound, one or two pale stains just affecting the image on plates 18-20.)

Volumes one and three bound in original publisher's green cloth decorated in blind, spines lettered in gilt, largely unopened, (rebacked preserving the original cloth, lightly stained, corners rubbed); volume two in 20th-century half blue morocco gilt; all three with matching modern quarter blue morocco gilt clamshell boxes.

THE LAVISH SCIENTIFIC RECORD OF DARWIN'S COLLECTING ENDEAVOURS during the five-year voyage of the Beagle. Originally issued in 19 numbers, subsequently in five volumes, and then in this three volume issue, apparently published without volume titles. Darwin "superintended the Zoology's text, wrote introductions for the different parts, and added notes from his various Beagle records about animal behavior 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" (Browne).

The 166 plates, 82 of which are beautifully hand-colored, form a fascinating record of the tireless energy and flair which the relatively untrained Darwin put into the collection of specimens intended to interest zoological specialists. Anker 173; Browne Charles Darwin: Voyaging, p. 370; Freeman 8; Nissen IVB 384 and ZBI 1391; Norman 586; Sabin 18649; Wood p. 310; Zimmer p. 157. (3)