Darwin

1849 · ref. SRW1705 — London:: John Murray . . . publisher to the admiralty 1849. 1849. 8vo. xi 1 488 pp. Large folding oceanographic map showing the Approximate Limits of the Great Currents and Drifts of the Ocean scattered figures 1 engraved plate Hydrographic delineation appendices; final leaf reinforced at gutter. Original full dark green embossed cloth with gilt anchor device on upper cover in blind on the back cover Freeman notes that “in some copies but not all the anchor on the top board is gilt” as is with this copy no pocket in rear bottom board as per this issue; spine replaced preserving a remnant of the original spine corners and joints reinforced. Bookplate of Charles F. Cox New York; embossed stamp of the Carnegie Institution Solar Observatory under George Ellery Hale being from his library donated to the Mount Wilson Observatory. Very good. Rare. FIRST EDITION second issue with pp.171-90 cancelled containing the corrected sheets including part of Darwin’s article. Freeman notes that most copies of the first issue including Darwin’s own were published with a separate 20-page cancellans inserted into a pocket inside the back cover. Freeman further states that some copies may have been issued without the cancellans as here. This collection of scientific articles on subjects relating to naval training was used as a textbook for cadets at the Royal Naval College. Darwin contributed the section on “Geology” which contained serious transpositions of the text which were cancelled and replaced with corrected sheets. / “Sir John Frederick William Herschel 1792-1871 – astronomer mathematician chemist - was one of the most important British scientists of the nineteenth century. Son of the famous astronomer William Herschel he was persuaded by his father to pursue the astronomical investigations William could no longer undertake; John’s subsequent career resulted in a knighthood and a lifetime of accolades. This 1849 publication was commissioned by the Admiralty to encourage and assist naval officers to undertake scientific research while abroad. The work provides instructions in making and recording observations in a wide range of disciplines - astronomy; magnetism; hydrography; tides; geography; geology; earthquakes; mineralogy; meteorology; atmospheric waves; zoology; botany; ethnology; medicine; statistics - written by experts in these fields including G.B. Airy Capt. Beechey Leut. Col. Sabine R. Mallet Sir H.T. de la Beche W. R. Birt Richard Owen W.J. Hamilton Rev. Dr. Whewell Charles Darwin Dr. Pritchard G.R. Porter Dr. Bryson Sir William Jackson Hooker and Herschel himself. It was hoped that the instructions could also be used by other travellers to advance scientific knowledge and the work remained in print for over fifty years.” PROVENANCE 3: 1 Charles Finney Cox 1846-1912 New York. He worked as an American railroad manager holding roles including Assistant Treasurer of the Canada Southern Railway Company Vice-President of the Richmond & Alleghany Railroad Company and President of the Carthage & Adirondack Railway Company. He became Treasurer and President of the New York Academy of Sciences. In 1896 Cox was appealing for financial assistance to fund a suitable building for the Scientific Alliance of New York including creating a 100000 volume library etc. Cox was an active member of scientific groups like the New York Microscopical Society and the Royal Microscopical Society. He assembled a notable collection of Darwiniana which was later acquired by the New York Botanical Garden in 1912 as a permanent memorial; 2 embossed stamp of the Carnegie Institution Solar Observatory under 3 George Ellery Hale 1868-1938 being from his library donated to the Mount Wilson Observatory. REFERENCES: Freeman 1977 326; Norman 1057. John Murray . . . publisher to the admiralty, 1849. hardcover books