Beschreibung:

DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882) -- FITZROY, Robert (1805-1865, editor). Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle . London: J.L. Cox and Sons [vols. I-II and appendix] and Whiting [vol. III] for Henry Colburn, 1839. 4 volumes including appendix to vol. II, 8° (235 x 145mm). 47 etched plates and engraved plans, and one folding engraved map, 8 folding engraved maps loosely inserted in cover pockets, woodcut illustrations. Half-titles. Without advertisements at end of the appendix. (Some light browning of plates, vol. II lacking the unnumbered leaf after p. xiv, a8 in vol. I detached and frayed at margins, chart in the same vol. cleanly torn, a few quires a little loose, several tissue guards lacking.) Original dark-blue cloth, spines with title, author's name, and imprint 'Colburn, London' in gilt at foot [Freeman variant a ], blind-stamped covers, pockets retaining their original ribbons for extracting the maps (spines of the principal vols. faded and worn at extremities, upper joints broken, upper covers of vols. II-III held by inner hinges only, vol. III with tear across spine). Provenance : 'Reading Society, held at Mr. Tibnam's, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury' (each vol. with a double-page letterpress 'List of Members' laid down on front pastedown and free endpaper, names in duplicate; and with a double-page list of 'Rules and Regulations' laid down at rear) -- Caroline Darwin (purchased by her from the Reading Society to which she and her sisters belonged). SHREWSBURY READING SOCIETY COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION, containing Darwin's first published book, Journal and Remarks 1832-1836 , in volume III. Whether in jest or earnest, it was clearly assumed by the sisterhood that their brother would publish his diary, portions of which they had delightedly read. However, Charles seems to have been genuinely surprised by FitzRoy's invitation to publish it as part of the official narrative of the voyage. 'Of course I have said I am perfectly willing,' Charles wrote to Caroline on the homeward voyage, 'he has read over the part I have on board and likes it. I shall be anxious to hear your opinions, for it is a most dangerous task, in these days, to publish accounts of parts of the world, which have so frequently been visited' ( Correspondence I, p. 496). Next to the Origin , it was his most important and most popular book, leading to the opening of his first notebook on 'Transmutation of Species' in 1837. While his studies on the voyage concentrated initially on geology, applying the theories proposed in Lyell's Principles of Geology (vol. I of which was given him by FitzRoy), the experience also aroused a desire to understand and explain the distribution and development of the species he encountered. He returned 'almost convinced that species had not always been as they were since the creation, but had undergone change' (DSB III, p. 566). Overall the great open-mindedness and pointed curiosity of the Journal make it the finest example of a scientific autobiography ever written. The existence of the Shrewsbury Reading Society, supplied with books by Mr. Tibnam, bookseller, appears to have been little if at all known to historians; its discovery offers a fascinating insight into the social life of 'the sisterhood' at the time of the Journal 's publication. Among other matters the 13 rules state that the Society is limited to sixteen members; members may order any non-specialist book under £3, but for books of a higher price the proposer has to offer 'two-thirds of the cost price at the time of sale'; 'all books shall be procured by Mr. Tibnam'; 'books which have passed through the Society, shall be annually sold'; loan periods are stipulated according to the format of the book, the smaller the format the shorter the loan ('an octavo a fortnight'); 'Mr. Tibnam shall be allowed to charge each Member ten shillings annually for his trouble'; the committee of five members will 'meet at Mr. Tibnam's on the fir