[DARWIN, CHARLES]. Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World, Under the Command of Capt. Fitz Roy, R.N. London: John Murray, 1860.
TENTH THOUSAND. Cloth-bound; hardcover; octavo (20.5 x 12.5 x 4 cm); pp. xv, 519, [32, publisher's catalogue dated January, 1866]. Bound in publisher's original green bead-grain cloth; gilt titles and decoration to spine; upper and lower covers blind decorated; brown coated endpapers; engravings in the text; printed footnotes. Bookseller's sticker to front pastedown and binder's sticker to rear pastedown. Condition: GOOD. Binding tight, secure and square with the hinges and joints intact. Covers well-preserved with slight bumping to the spine ends. Interior lightly toned, some leaves remaining uncut, previous owner details neatly inked to the front endpaper, and an old tape reinforcement to the rear.
Notes: An excellent early issue of the definitive edition of Darwin's first published book; the text of this printing containing his final edits to the text. Originally published in 1839, an extensively revised second edition followed in 1845, which was reprinted several times. For this particular edition the stereotypes of the text are printed on larger paper and there is a new postscript. Notably, it is bound to match the early editions of the Origin of Species, thus giving 'the whole book a much better appearance' (Freeman). In this copy the advertisements at the rear are dated January, 1866 - the earliest copies were December 1861 and Freeman notes they can be as late as September, 1868. [Freeman F20].
