3 (of 4) volumes: Vols. I-II & IV (appendix volume for Volumes II). [4 (facsimiles pp.)], [vii]-xxviii, [4], 597; xiv, [2], 694, [1]; viii, 352 pp. With 43 (of 44) total steel and copper engraved plates, including frontispieces (in first two volumes only), with tissue-guards; 8 (of 9) engraved maps (6 are folding, 5 of which are tipped in at the rear). 8¾x5¾, recent half blue leatherette and cream boards, spines tooled in gilt, red and blue leatherette labels, new marbled endpapers and new front and rear end-leaves. First Edition.
Charles Darwin's two seminal works derived from his voyage aboard the Beagle, landmarks in his intellectual development which would culminate in On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man. Unfortunately, this set lacks Volume III: Journal and Remarks 1832-1836, the “Darwin volume.” Volume I with facsimile title and dedication leaves mounted on the stubs of the originals and with a later supplied tissue-guard for frontispiece; pp. 287-289 are also in facsimile. Appendix volume spine label reads: Appendix to Volume II, Volume III. Sabin 37826; Hill, Pacific Voyages, pp. 104-05.
Condition:
Mild foxing and darkening to contents, a few leaves a bit darker than others; many of the folding maps with splits (rear of Vol. I with larger splits and old repairs); occasional leaf repairs and other wear in first two volumes (including pp. 399-401 in Vol. I & pp. 499-500 and last 2 printed leaves in Vol. II); lacking the plate that should face p. 287 in Vol. I, and also the Chart of Chiloe, still a nice set, very good in appearance.