A First Edition Of Darwin’s ‘On The Origin Of Species’ Is Going Up For Auction

If you are an avid book collector, then you are going to want to pay attention to an upcoming auction at Hindman in Chicago on November 5th.

A first edition of Charles Darwin’s revolutionary 1859 book, On the Origin of Species, is estimated to sell for between $120,000 and $180,000. Another copy of the title sold at the Bonhams auction house in June 2019 for $500,075.

On the Origin of Species was Darwin’s attempt to explain his theories of evolution and the process of natural selection. The book was published on November 24, 1859, and was well-received by his peers.

Natural selection is the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

The Hindman copy of ‘On the Origin of Species’, published by John Murray of London, is said to be in exceptional condition.

The book is part of an 85-title lot that includes other rare offerings:

Elementa Geometriae by Euclid: A 1422 tome thought to be one of the earliest printed books with geometrical figures and estimated to sell for $60,000 to $80,000

Ulysses by James Joyce: A 1922 first edition and limited-issue publisher’s print, signed by Joyce and estimated to sell for $120,000 to $180,000

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling: A 1997 first edition signed by Rowling and expected to fetch between $80,000 and $120,000.