The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. by Darwin, Charles - 1894: Sixth edition, with additions and corrections

Printed for James Hodges, at the Looking Glass, facing St Magnus Church, London Bridge. Fourth edition, with additional section on Perspective. 1755. 8vo. [6], 352, [8]pp. Unusual allegorical frontispiece engraved by James Hulett, 16 further copper plates of which 2 are folding (V mis-numbered VI). Later full calf, spine in six compartments with raised bands, leather labels, gilt and blind tooling. Blind tooling to upper and lower boards. Repaired closed fold tear to one plate. Closed repaired tear to p.157/8. Slight chips to corners of frontispiece. Some toning, spotting and offsetting.
The Laboratory; or School of Arts: in which are Faithfully Exhibited, and fully Explained, A variety of curious and valuable Experiments in Refining, Calcining, Melting, Assaying, Casting, Alloying, and Toughening of Gold; with several other Curiosities relating to Gold and Silver. Choice secrets for Jewellers in the Management of Gold; in Enamelling, and the Preparation of Enamel Colours, with the Art of Copying… Read More

First edition. Gurney & Jackson. 1893. Octavo. xx, 472pp. Double-page frontispiece map, 52 plates, further text emgravings. Half calf, marbled boards. Marbled endpapers. Spine in six compartments with gilt embellishment, leather labels with gilt lettering bound and signed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Slight foxing to preliminary pages, occasional spotting.
From the library of Humphrey Adam Gilbert (1886-1961) of Bishopstone, Hereford, hunter, shooter and fisher; author of a Tale of a Wye Fisherman, with his signature dated 1932 to first blank.

De l'imprimerie de P. Didot L'Aine. L'An 111 de la Republique. 1795. Edition limited to 100 copies. Se vend chez Ponce et Regnault, graveurs, rue du Fauberg Jacques.In 18: 11x 17cm. Half title, x (in smaller state), 173pp. Eng. frontis by Rouchard, 3 double engraved plates after Marillier (in two states, & large paper). Occasional light spotting. Fine copy in the original full crushed red levant morocco, raised bands to spine, inner gilt dentelles, silk bookmarker, top edge gilt.
Provenance:
A fine copy from the libraries of two notable bibliophiles.
Bookplate of Lord Stanley of Alderley. John Thomas Stanley (1766-1850), 7th Baronet and First Baron Stanley of Alderley of Alderley Park, Cheshire. He undertook learned expeditions to the cultural centres of Europe, becoming one of the first explorers of Iceland.
Amédée Rigaud (1819-1874), circular bookplate, black and gilt with elaborate initial R, motto "bona fide sine fraude". This volume is listed in the Catalogue de Beaux Livres Rare et Curieux… Read More

First UK edition. John Camden Hotten. London. 1868. Small octavo. xii, 403pp. Half title, Frontispiece portrait. Title. Later full blue calf, spine in six compartments with raised bands, leather labels, gilt rules and lettering. Lightly toned. Spine slightly darkened. Signature of Raisley Moorsom in pencil to ffep.
The first edition of Whitman published in the UK, the only time Whitman (reluctantly) allowed his writings and his portrait photograph to be censored.

The second edition with additions. Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme. London. [1805] G. Woodfall, Printer, Paternoster Row to verso of half title. Octavo. Half title, Title, xv, 300, (21), (bl.), (1), (1)pp. 6 folding engraved plates. Later half calf, marbled boards, spine in six compartments, leather label, gilt lettering, rules and embellishment. Minor corner chips to half-title. Short closed fold tear to Plate I. Toned with some light offsetting of plates, foxing/browning to index.
This edition has an additional plate to the 1790 edition, plus additional material. The plates are each dated September 1, 1805. Significant to the library of the vine. A handsome volume.
William Speechly (1723 – 1819), gardener to the Duke of Portland at Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire. ODNB.

Printed for James Hodges, at the Looking Glass, facing St Magnus Church, London Bridge. Fourth edition, with additional section on Perspective. 1755. 8vo. [6], 352, [8]pp. Unusual allegorical frontispiece engraved by James Hulett, 16 further copper plates of which 2 are folding (V mis-numbered VI). Later full calf, spine in six compartments with raised bands, leather labels, gilt and blind tooling. Blind tooling to upper and lower boards. Repaired closed fold tear to one plate. Closed repaired tear to p.157/8. Slight chips to corners of frontispiece. Some toning, spotting and offsetting.
The Laboratory; or School of Arts: in which are Faithfully Exhibited, and fully Explained, A variety of curious and valuable Experiments in Refining, Calcining, Melting, Assaying, Casting, Alloying, and Toughening of Gold; with several other Curiosities relating to Gold and Silver. Choice secrets for Jewellers in the Management of Gold; in Enamelling, and the Preparation of Enamel Colours, with the Art of Copying… Read More

First edition. Gurney & Jackson. 1893. Octavo. xx, 472pp. Double-page frontispiece map, 52 plates, further text emgravings. Half calf, marbled boards. Marbled endpapers. Spine in six compartments with gilt embellishment, leather labels with gilt lettering bound and signed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Slight foxing to preliminary pages, occasional spotting.
From the library of Humphrey Adam Gilbert (1886-1961) of Bishopstone, Hereford, hunter, shooter and fisher; author of a Tale of a Wye Fisherman, with his signature dated 1932 to first blank.

De l'imprimerie de P. Didot L'Aine. L'An 111 de la Republique. 1795. Edition limited to 100 copies. Se vend chez Ponce et Regnault, graveurs, rue du Fauberg Jacques.In 18: 11x 17cm. Half title, x (in smaller state), 173pp. Eng. frontis by Rouchard, 3 double engraved plates after Marillier (in two states, & large paper). Occasional light spotting. Fine copy in the original full crushed red levant morocco, raised bands to spine, inner gilt dentelles, silk bookmarker, top edge gilt.
Provenance:
A fine copy from the libraries of two notable bibliophiles.
Bookplate of Lord Stanley of Alderley. John Thomas Stanley (1766-1850), 7th Baronet and First Baron Stanley of Alderley of Alderley Park, Cheshire. He undertook learned expeditions to the cultural centres of Europe, becoming one of the first explorers of Iceland.
Amédée Rigaud (1819-1874), circular bookplate, black and gilt with elaborate initial R, motto "bona fide sine fraude". This volume is listed in the Catalogue de Beaux Livres Rare et Curieux… Read More

First UK edition. John Camden Hotten. London. 1868. Small octavo. xii, 403pp. Half title, Frontispiece portrait. Title. Later full blue calf, spine in six compartments with raised bands, leather labels, gilt rules and lettering. Lightly toned. Spine slightly darkened. Signature of Raisley Moorsom in pencil to ffep.
The first edition of Whitman published in the UK, the only time Whitman (reluctantly) allowed his writings and his portrait photograph to be censored.

The second edition with additions. Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme. London. [1805] G. Woodfall, Printer, Paternoster Row to verso of half title. Octavo. Half title, Title, xv, 300, (21), (bl.), (1), (1)pp. 6 folding engraved plates. Later half calf, marbled boards, spine in six compartments, leather label, gilt lettering, rules and embellishment. Minor corner chips to half-title. Short closed fold tear to Plate I. Toned with some light offsetting of plates, foxing/browning to index.
This edition has an additional plate to the 1790 edition, plus additional material. The plates are each dated September 1, 1805. Significant to the library of the vine. A handsome volume.
William Speechly (1723 – 1819), gardener to the Duke of Portland at Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire. ODNB.