On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects, and on the good Effects of Intercrossing

London: John Murray, 1862. First Edition. Hardcover Hardcover. Very Good Condition. 20.5cm x 14.5cm. vi, 366 pages, 32 advertisements, 1 folding plate, black and white illustrations in text. Aged reback with original spine laid down, original maroon cloth, gilt lettering with blind and gilt-stamped decoration. First edition, first issue, of Darwin's first published work after the Origin of Species, providing evidence supporting his theory of evolution through natural selection. Darwin believed this volume tackled the question of design in nature. He maintained that the complex internal arrangements and ornate ridges of orchids were not created for the sake of beauty, but for the functional purpose of facilitating reproduction. Includes a folding wood-engraved plate, 33 wood-engraved illustrations, as well as the gold-blocked orchid illustration on the cover. This copy with the advertisements dated December, 1861. Aged reback with the original spineback laid down with some loss. Minor foxing. Previous owner's names. A few dog-earred corners and some roughly opened edges, a 9.5cm closed tear to fore-edge margin of page 119/120. Shipped Weight: .60 kilos. BZDB407 Natural History & Resources; Unbranded Charles Darwin On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects, and on the good Effects of Intercrossing