New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1881. "New Edition, from the Sixth English Edition, with Additions and Corrections" (Freeman 406). Cf. PMM 344 (for the 1859 1st edition, now prohibitively expensive). xxi, [1 (blank)], 458, [2 (blank)] pp (including Index). 8vo. 8" x 5". Original publisher's terra cotta cloth with gilt spine lettering, and boards stamped in black. Grey-green floral patterned paper eps. Square & tight. Bit of cloth fraying at spine ends. Period pos . A solid VG copy. Item #47126
The Sixth edition of Origin is generally regarded as the definitive edition as it was the last to be printed in Darwin's lifetime. It was the publisher's usual practice to print in short runs, usually of about 1000 copies, and it suited the author especially well as he could make revisions between each printing. Of this, the Sixth edition, Freeman, the bibliographer of Darwin's works, makes the following observations: 'it [Origin] is again extensively revised and contains a new chapter, VII. This was inserted to confute the views of of the Roman Catholic biologist St George Mivart... The title changes to The Origin of Species, and a glossary, compiled by W. S. Dallas, appears. It is in this edition that the word 'evolution' occurs for the first time.' Freeman concludes that Origin of Species is 'the most important biological book ever written'.