The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication.

survival of the fittest

First edition, second issue of the work in which the phrase 'survival of the fittest' appeared for the first time.

The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication was 'the only section of Darwin's big book on the origin of species which was printed in his lifetime and corresponds to the first two intended chapters' (Freeman p. 122). 'With detailed facts and lengthy discussion, the work includes what Darwin believed to be new ideas of pangenesis, but the topics of sexual selection and human evolution were excluded from these already thick volumes. Despite their size, the works sold briskly (Desmond & Moore, Darwin, p.550).

After running through the first issue in just a week (Freeman), John Murray produced a second issue, with several variations between the two. In the first, the imprint is printed on a single line on the spine, while it is broken on to two lines in the second as here. Numerous errata also appear in the first issue, most of which were corrected in the second. A second edition of 1875 bears even greater alterations to the text, as well as being reduced in size to a crown octavo.

First edition, second issue; 2 vols, 8vo; engravings throughout the text, single leaf of publisher's ads at the end of each volume, bookplates of Cyril Frampton, contents faintly toned; original green cloth, titles to spine gilt, boards blocked in blind, black coated endpapers, recased with the joints, hinges, corners, and spine ends repaired, some spots and marks to the cloth, very good condition; 411 & 486 pp.

Freeman 877.