FIRST TRANSLATION OF ANY OF DARWIN'S WORK

DARWIN, CHARLES.

Naturwissenschaftliche Reisen nach den Inseln des grünen Vorgebirges, Sudamerika, dem Feuerlande, den Faltland-Inseln, Chiloe-Inseln, Galapagos-Inseln, Otaheiti, Neuholland, Neuseeland, Ban Diemen's Land, Keeling-Inseln, Mauritius, St. Helena, den Vzoren, etc. 2 vols. [i.e. "Journal of Researches"].

Brunswick, F. Vieweg und Sohn, 1844.

8vo. 2 volumes bound in one contemporary half calf binding with gilt lettering to spine. Previous owner's stamp to front free end-paper. Light brownspotting throughout, especially to first and last leaves. XVI, 319, VIII, 301, (3) pp. + 1 folded map.

Rare first German translation of Darwin's Journal of researches, now known as Voyage of the Beagle, constituting the very first translation of any of Darwin's works into any language. As Darwin later recalled in his autobiography 'The voyage of the Beagle has been by far the most important event in my life and has determined my whole career'.

"On its first appearance in its own right, also in 1839, it was called Journal of researches into the geology and natural history etc. The second edition, of 1845, transposes 'geology' and 'natural history' to read Journal of researches into the natural history and geology etc., and the spine title is Naturalist's voyage. The final definitive text of 1860 has the same wording on the title page, but the spine readsNaturalist's voyage round the world, and the fourteenth thousand of 1879 places A naturalist's voyage on the title page. The voyage of the Beagle first appears as a title in the Harmsworth Library edition of 1905. It is a bad title: she was only a floating home for Darwin, on which, in spite of good companionship, he was cramped and miserably sea-sick; whilst the book is almost entirely about his expeditions on land." (Freeman)

Freeman 176

Order-nr.: 54590