Beschreibung:

OWEN, Richard (1804-1892). On the anatomy of vertebrates . Vol. I: Fishes and reptiles ; Vol. II: Birds and mammals ; Vol. III: Mammals . London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1866-68. 3 volumes. 8 o. Text wood-engravings. Vol. I: 24-page Longmans catalogue dated July 1865 bound in. Vol. II: 2 folding printed tables. Vol. III: 24-page Longmans catalogue dated January 1868 bound in. Original brown cloth, gilt-lettered spines, uncut, some leaves unopened. Provenance : Dr. Albert Lewis Gnther (1830-1914), Keeper of the Zoological Department at the British Museum from 1875-1895 (presentation inscription from the author). FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY. The summary of Owen's disagreement with Darwinism, and of Owen's preferred theory of saltation (evolution via discrete jumps rather than by the gradual changes produced by natural selection) and his hypothesis that there was an "innate tendancy to deviate from parental type". This copy was presented to Gnther, whose work on lower vertebrates had assisted Owen's research. Norman 1627. -- OWEN. On parthenogenesis, or the successive production of procreating individuals from a single ovum . London: John van Voorst, 1849. 8 o (224 x 141 mm). Lithographed frontispiece. 4-page van Voorst catalogue bound in. Original blue blind-stamped cloth, gilt-lettered spine. Laid in a revised proof of W.J. Broderip's Hints for collecting animals and their products (London: W. Clowes, 1832), and the first page of a draft letter of 17 October 1885 from Owen to Lady Millais, wife of the artist Sir John E. Millais. Provenance : The author's copy (inkstamp; inscription); Edward Jesse (inscribed "With the author's kind regards to Edward Jesse Esq", and beneath, in Owen's hand "Autograph of the genial Recipient; the Work returned after my friend's demise"). FIRST EDITION. Norman 1625. (4)