Darwin, Charles | An attractive copy of "Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands"

Darwin, Charles

Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands, Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, together with Some Brief Notices on the Geology of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope. Being the Second Part of the Geology of the Voyage of the Beagle, under the Command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N., during the Years 1832 to 1836. London: Smith, Elder, 1844

8vo (221 x 135 mm). Folding engraved frontispiece map of Ascension Island by J. Walker, 14 in-text wood-engraved illustrations, plans, and diagrams, initial leaf with ad for Darwin's Coral Reefs on verso, publisher's catalogue dated January 1844 at end; foxing to map and preliminary leaves, scattered spotting elsewhere. Publisher's blind-paneled purple cloth, spine gilt-lettered, yellow coated endpapers; text block a little shaken, small splits to head and tail of spine.

First edition. The present work is based on Darwin's travels during the second voyage of the Beagle, commanded by captain Robert FitzRoy. During his travels, Darwin made observations related to the volcanic island of St. Jago in Cape Verde, the island of Saint Helena, the Galápagos Islands, and the Cape of Good Hope, just to name a few. It also offers one of the earliest accounts of the process of magmatic differentiation.

An attractive copy of a fragile book.

REFERENCES:

Freeman 272; Norman 587

PROVENANCE:

Robert Hyde Greg (armorial bookplate to front pastedown; "Quarry Bank," Greg's mill at Styal, Lancashire, to front free endpaper) — Hugh Selbourne, M.D. (his sale, Bonhams London, 25 March 2015, lot 265, £8,125)