This is the Appleton edition of Darwin's collected works specially bound in uniform half red morocco leather - this set was edited by Darwin's son, Francis, and published as a tribute to Charles Darwin who had died in 1882. By the 1890s, public interest in Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection had increased so dramatically that Appleton decided to issue this specially bound set of Darwin's works.
The set includes these 12 titles in 15 volumes (three titles were issued as two volume sets):
(3 & 4) Darwin, C. R. 1898. The origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. New York: D. Appleton. Vol I & II. (Freeman 454)(5) Darwin, C. R. 1898. Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle etc. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 89)
(6) Darwin, C. R. 1896. The variation of animals and plants under domestication. New York: D. Appleton. Vol I (Freeman 895)
(7) Darwin, C. R. 1897. The variation of animals and plants under domestication. New York: D. Appleton. Vol II (Freeman 896)
(8) Darwin, C. R. 1897. The structure and distribution of coral reefs. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 288)
(9) Darwin, C. R. 1898. The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 984)
(10) Darwin, C. R. 1897. The power of movement in plants. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 1334)
(11) Darwin, C. R. 1898. The expression of the emotions in man and animals. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 1153)
(12) Darwin, C. R. 1897. Insectivorous plants. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 1229)
(13) Darwin, C. R. 1897. Geology of The Voyage of The Beagle. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 289)
(14) Darwin, C. R. 1898. The formation of vegetable mould, through the action of worms, with observations on their habits. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 1384)
(15) Darwin, C. R. 1897. The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species. New York: D. Appleton. (Freeman 1289)
All of these titles were published during Darwin's lifetime apart from 'Life and Letters'.
This set includes reproduction of many letters exchanged between Darwin and such great naturalists as Robert FitzRoy, Thomas Huxley, Alfred Russel Wallace, Joseph Hooker, and Asa Gray.
This set includes plates, maps (folding, and some in color), text-figures.
This 7,000+ page set is truly one of a kind and extremely RARE in this condition.
Some of the leather is cracking and brittle and could use a fine conditioning. We noticed one owner's plate and name on bottom edges of one volume (see pictures). Some of the pages have small tears (we did not repair but can be done easily). Some of the volumes have shelf pulls and shelf rubbing. However, for a set printed 120+ years ago, these are expected.
We also include all volumes of this set in PDF on USB flash drive.