Natural History, Evolution. [Chambers (Robert)], Vestiges of...

Hammer

£4,200

Natural History, Evolution. [Chambers (Robert)], Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation, [bound with] Explanations: A Sequel to "Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation", two parts, first editions, London: John Churchill, 1844 & 1845, only Explanations retaining half-title, otherwise complete and collating: [iii]-vi, 390; vii, 198pp, the second part with some occasional and mostly marginal foxing, otherwise good, contemporary polished tan calf gilt, marbled edges and endpapers, 12mo 
 
Provenance: Edward Strutt, 1st Baron Belper, PC, FRS (1801-1880); crested bookplate with his baron's coronet. 

'This outspoken statement of a belief in evolution, published anonymously to protect Chambers' reputation as a publisher, anticipated [Charles] Darwin's Origin [of Species] by 16 years' (Garrison and Morton, p.218). Bringing 'together a large variety of data from both geology and the life sciences to support the idea of the origin of species through a process of transmutation. It played a significant role in the history of mid-nineteenth century biology by making evolutionism a commonplace topic of discussion', becoming a sensational best-seller, read widely by the intellectual and cultural elite, thus easing the way for Darwin's own writings (Norman). Notably, the work also contains what is probably the first discussion of computing within the context of biology, with Chambers demonstrating 'that evolutionary change occurring over long periods of time could be seen as similar to the workings of Babbage's Difference Engine, programmed from the beginning of its operation to produce in sequence several different series of numbers according to a succession of mathematical rules'.