On the Origin of Species
On the 24th of November 1859, a book titled On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection appeared in London. The first printing consisted of exactly 1,250 copies priced at fifteen shillings each. Within one day, every single copy had been sold to booksellers and subscribers. John Murray, the publisher, had offered the manuscript without even reading it, trusting Charles Darwin's reputation alone. This transaction marked the beginning of a scientific revolution that would reshape how humanity understood its place in nature.
Darwin had spent twenty years developing these ideas since his return from the Beagle voyage in 1836. He delayed publication for personal reasons including fear of religious persecution and concern about upsetting his clergyman friends. His illness caused repeated delays while he worked on other geological studies. By September 1854, when he finally began working full-time on evolution, he knew the implications were profound. The text presented evidence collected during five years of research plus decades of additional study.
In mid-July 1837, Darwin started writing notes in what became known as his B notebook on transmutation of species. On page 36, he wrote "I think" above his first evolutionary tree sketch. These early thoughts emerged after observations of fossils resembling huge armadillos in South America and the geographical distribution of modern species. The three Fuegian missionaries returned to Tierra del Fuego seemed friendly yet their island relatives appeared miserable and degraded to him.
Richard Owen showed that extinct species Darwin found in South America were allied to living species on the same continent. John Gould announced that Darwin's rhea was a separate species from previously described ones, though their territories overlapped. Mockingbirds collected on Galápagos Islands represented three separate species each unique to particular islands. Darwin began speculating that one species could change into another to explain these findings around July 1837.
By late September 1838, he read Thomas Malthus's An Essay on the Principle of Population with its statistical argument about human populations breeding beyond means. He related this to the struggle for existence among wildlife and botanist de Candolle's warring of species in plants. Immediately he envisioned a force like hundred thousand wedges pushing well-adapted variations into gaps in nature's economy.
On the 18th of June 1858, Darwin received a parcel from Alfred Russel Wallace who stayed on Maluku Islands including Ternate and Gilolo. It enclosed twenty pages describing an evolutionary mechanism similar to Darwin's own theory. Wallace requested Darwin send it to Charles Lyell if he thought it worthwhile. Darwin wrote to Lyell that his words had come true with vengeance because Wallace forestalled him.
Lyell and Joseph Dalton Hooker agreed that a joint publication putting together Wallace's pages with extracts from Darwin's 1844 Essay should be presented at Linnean Society meeting. On the 1st of July 1858, papers entitled On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties were read out but drew little reaction. While Darwin considered Wallace's idea identical to natural selection, historians point out differences between their approaches.
Wallace drew no comparison to selective breeding and focused on ecological pressures keeping different varieties adapted to local conditions. Some historians suggest Wallace was actually discussing group selection rather than selection acting on individual variation. This event forced Darwin to finally publish his abstract after years of hesitation about exposing ideas to public review.
The second edition of three thousand copies appeared quickly on the 7th of January 1860 incorporating numerous corrections plus response to religious objections through addition of new epigraph on page ii quoting Charles Kingsley. The phrase by the Creator added to closing sentence during this revision process. During Darwin's lifetime the book went through six editions with cumulative changes dealing with counter-arguments raised.
Third edition came out in 1861 with number of sentences rewritten or added plus introductory appendix An Historical Sketch of Recent Progress of Opinion on Origin of Species. Fourth edition published in 1866 had further revisions while fifth edition released the 10th of February 1869 incorporated more changes including first use of phrase survival of fittest coined by philosopher Herbert Spencer in Principles of Biology 1864.
George Jackson Mivart's On Genesis of Species listed detailed arguments against natural selection claiming it included false metaphysics in January 1871. Darwin made extensive revisions to sixth edition which became first edition using word evolution commonly associated with embryological development though all previous editions concluded with evolved. Price halved to seven shillings sixpence printing smaller font making work available to working men in Lancashire clubbing together to buy.
In United States botanist Asa Gray negotiated with Boston publisher for authorized American version but learned two New York publishing firms already planning exploit absence international copyright print Origin. Darwin delighted by popularity asked Gray keep any profits resulting from sales. Gray managed negotiate five percent royalty with Appleton's of New York who got their edition mid-January 1860 while other two publishers withdrew from competition.
German translation published 1860 imposed Heinrich Georg Bronn's own ideas adding controversial themes Darwin deliberately omitted. Bronn translated favoured races as perfected races plus added essays on issues including origin of life and final chapter religious implications partly inspired by Naturphilosophie adherence. In 1862 Bronn produced second edition based third English edition before dying heart attack suddenly.
French translation by Clémence Royer published 1862 added introduction praising Darwin's ideas as alternative religious revelation promoting social Darwinism eugenics numerous explanatory notes giving her answers doubts expressed. Darwin corresponded closely Julius Victor Carus improving translation published 1867 though remained unsatisfied until Edmond Barbier translation appeared 1876. By 1864 additional translations appeared Italian Russian Swedish Danish Polish Hungarian Spanish Serbian Chinese.
Chapter one covers animal husbandry plant breeding going back ancient Egypt discussing contemporary opinions origins different breeds under cultivation arguing many produced common ancestors selective breeding. Fancy pigeon breeding illustrates artificial selection noting diversity breeds astonishing yet all descended rock dove species. Two distinct kinds variation described rare abrupt changes called sports monstrosities example Ancon sheep short legs ubiquitous small differences slightly shorter longer bill pigeons.
Darwin expresses erroneous belief environmental change necessary generate variation despite later corrections from Patrick Matthew book Naval Timber Arboriculture published 1831 future editions Origin contained first two sentences unchanged continuing omit correct explanation stabilizing selection. Chapter two specifies distinction species varieties arbitrary experts disagreeing changing decisions new forms found concluding well-marked variety justly incipient species species only strongly marked permanent varieties.
Chapter three asks how varieties become distinct species introducing key concept natural selection adding expression often used Herbert Spencer Survival Fittest more accurate sometimes equally convenient fifth edition. Owing struggle life any variation however slight profitable individual infinitely complex relations other organic beings external nature tend preservation individual generally inherited offspring.
Chapter six begins addressing possible objections theory first being often no intermediate forms between closely related species found though theory implies such forms must existed. Darwin attributed this competition different forms combined small number individuals intermediate forms leading extinction such forms. Another difficulty related absence rarity transitional varieties time wondering why not find embedded countless numbers crust earth.
Chapter deals whether natural selection produce complex specialised structures behaviours use them difficult imagine intermediate forms functional. Darwin presented flying squirrels flying lemurs examples bats evolved non-flying ancestors discussing various simple eyes invertebrates starting optic nerve coated pigment vertebrate eye could evolve. Concluded if demonstrated any complex organ existed possibly formed numerous successive slight modifications theory absolutely break finding out case.
Chapter seven addresses evolution instincts including slave-making ants construction hexagonal cells honey bees observed many ant species collect store pupae other species food thought reasonable species extreme dependency slave workers evolved incremental steps suggesting bees making hexagonal cells evolved steps from round cells under pressure natural selection economise wax.
Final chapter Recapitulation Conclusion reviews points earlier chapters hoping theory might produce revolutionary changes many fields natural history. Suggests psychology put new foundation implying relevance theory first appearance humanity sentence Light thrown origin man his history. Ends passage became well known much quoted contemplating entangled bank clothed many plants birds singing bushes insects flitting worms crawling damp earth reflecting elaborately constructed forms produced laws acting around us.
During eclipse Darwinism 1880s 1930s various mechanisms evolution given more credit than natural selection itself. Development modern evolutionary synthesis 1930s 1940s integrated genetics with natural selection becoming central modern evolutionary theory unifying concept life sciences now. Book sales increased sixty to two hundred fifty per month after sixth edition price reduction making work accessible working class readers clubbing together buy copies.
By Darwin's death 1882 book reached sixth edition earning nearly three thousand pounds total profits. Translation into multiple languages including Chinese Ma Chün-wu added non-Darwinian ideas publishing preliminaries chapters one five 1902-1904 complete translation 1920. As of 1977 Origin appeared additional eighteen languages beyond original dozen translations completed during lifetime.
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Common questions
When was On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin first published in London?
On the 24th of November 1859, a book titled On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection appeared in London. The first printing consisted of exactly 1,250 copies priced at fifteen shillings each.
How long did Charles Darwin spend developing ideas for On the Origin of Species before publication?
Darwin had spent twenty years developing these ideas since his return from the Beagle voyage in 1836. He delayed publication for personal reasons including fear of religious persecution and concern about upsetting his clergyman friends.
Who sent an evolutionary mechanism to Charles Darwin on the 18th of June 1858?
On the 18th of June 1858, Darwin received a parcel from Alfred Russel Wallace who stayed on Maluku Islands including Ternate and Gilolo. It enclosed twenty pages describing an evolutionary mechanism similar to Darwin's own theory.
Which edition of On the Origin of Species included the phrase survival of fittest coined by Herbert Spencer?
Fifth edition released the 10th of February 1869 incorporated more changes including first use of phrase survival of fittest coined by philosopher Herbert Spencer in Principles of Biology 1864.
When was the sixth edition of On the Origin of Species published and what price change occurred?
Price halved to seven shillings sixpence printing smaller font making work available to working men in Lancashire clubbing together to buy. This became first edition using word evolution commonly associated with embryological development though all previous editions concluded with evolved.