Beschreibung:

DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882) — Robert FITZROY (1805-1865, editor) Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle. London: Henry Colburn, 1839. First edition of Darwin's first published book, one of the finest examples of scientific autobiography ever published. Darwin's Journal and Remarks 1832-1836, published as volume III in the set, was the result of Fitzroy's invitation to Darwin to contribute to the official narrative of the voyage of the Beagle. 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 Darwin's studies on the voyage concentrated initially on geology, the experience also aroused a desire to understand and explain the distribution and development of the species he encountered. 'The five years of the voyage were the most important event in Darwin’s intellectual life and in the history of biological science. Darwin sailed with no formal scientific training. He returned a hard-headed man of science, knowing the importance of evidence, almost convinced that species had not always been as they were since the creation but had undergone change … The experiences of his five years in the Beagle, how he dealt with them, and what they led to, built up into a process of epoch-making importance in the history of thought' (DSB). In his own words: 'The voyage of the Beagle has been by far the most important event in my life, and has determined my whole career' (Charles Darwin, Life and Letters I, p.61). Freeman 10; Hill 607; Norman 584; Sabin 37826. 4 volumes including Appendix to vol. II, octavo (227 x 141mm). Half-titles in vols I and II, 8 engraved folding maps and charts, 48 plates and charts, one of which folding, and 6 text illustrations (lacking half-title in vol. III, map of South America in vol. I with 35mm tear at head without loss and with some faint insignificant spotting and creasing, map of ‘Southern Portion of South America’ in vol. III with very small marginal chip and two tiny tears at creasefolds, and that of the ‘Keeling Islands’ in same vol. browned and spotted with tears along a few creasefolds with old repairs on verso with some small losses, the other plates lightly spotted, but the text generally clean and fresh). Vols I, II and Appendix bound in contemporary sprinkled calf, marbled endpapers and edges (rebacked with original gilt spines laid down, new spine labels), vol. III in modern calf bound to match). Provenance: Ipswich Public Libraries (stamp on verso of title in vol. III).