On the Origin of Species – Charles Darwin – 1881 | Appleton in Terra Cotta cloth

On the Origin of Species 1881 Darwin printing by D. Appleton & Co. is an early American edition issued during Darwin’s lifetime. Marked as a “New Edition” on the title page, this version reflects the sixth and final revision of the text and was set for a U.S. readership. It’s bound in the publisher’s original terra cotta cloth with a stamped black border on the front board. This edition helped bring Darwin’s theory of natural selection to a wider American audience in the 1880s.

The text is based on Darwin’s final update, reset for U.S. publication. Appleton’s editions in this format are unillustrated and were printed in durable cloth with minimal ornamentation. The black-stamped cover design was typical of their science titles in the late 19th century. This version gave many American readers first-hand access to Darwin’s evolutionary theory in its most mature form.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
• Author(s): Charles Darwin
• Publisher: New York, D. Appleton and Company
• Edition: New Edition, 1881
• Format: Octavo, single volume
• Binding: Original terra cotta cloth with black decorative border
• Size:  8 x 5.5 in (20.5 x 13.5 cm)
• Collation: xxi, [1], 458 pp
• Contents Include:
  • Preface to the New Edition
  • Chapters including: Natural Selection, Hybridism, Instinct, Geological Record, Geographical Distribution
  • Recapitulation and Conclusion
• Reference(s): Freeman 395

Condition:

Original terra cotta cloth binding with black decorative border. Rubbing to edges and corners, scratches on front and rear boards, but the structure is solid. Gilt spine titling is intact. Pages display scattered foxing, with a few markings from an interested reader. Includes one folding chart, but no other illustrations, as issued. Binding is secure with no missing leaves.

Why Collect This?

• Printed during Darwin’s lifetime
• American edition tied to the final revision of the text
• Ideal for collectors of Darwin, early science, or U.S. printings of major works

Item Number: #28713