Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S., &c. ~ The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. In Two Volumes. With illustrations ~ 1871. Volume II only for sale here.

Freeman 938. First edition, second issue with list of other works by Darwin on the verso of the title page. pp: viii, 476, 16 (adverts dated January 1871), woodcuts in text. Good ex-library copy in original publisher's cloth, recased retaining original end papers. Half-title and last page of adverts are spotted but otherwise very good internally with no library stamps. The only indications of the library are a book plate and a small stamp on the spine.

As Darwin wrote, he sent chapters to his daughter Henrietta for editing to ensure that damaging inferences could not be drawn, and also took advice from his wife Emma. The zoological illustrator T. W. Wood, (who had also illustrated Wallace's The Malay Archipelago (1869)), drew many of the figures in this book. The corrected proofs were sent off on 15 January 1871 to the publisher John Murray and published on 24 February 1871 as two 450-page volumes, which Darwin insisted was one complete, coherent work, and were priced at £1/4/–.

Within three weeks of publication a reprint had been ordered, and 4,500 copies were in print by the end of March 1871.