Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle

Darwin, Charles, editor. The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836. London, 1839-43. Five parts in three volumes, large quarto, original blind-stamped and gilt-lettered cloth (spines neatly repaired, joints a little worn, front board of first volume a little stained). Traces of library markings at foot of spines, small inked numbers on versos of two titles (but no other library markings), very slight waterstain on top edge of a few leaves, one opening a little stained from an insertion, clear of the text: but generally a very good, clean set. First edition in book form, rare in original cloth: the complete published series of zoological studies of specimens collected by Darwin on the voyage of the Beagle. Comprising: Owen, Richard, Fossil mammalia, with 32 plates (one folding and two double-page), Waterhouse, George R., Mammalia, with 32 coloured and 3 plain plates, Gould, John [and Gray, G.R.], Birds, with 50 coloured plates, Jenyns, Leonard, Fish, with 29 plates, and Bell, Thomas, Reptiles, with 20 plates. Freeman 9, complete with all titles and sectional titles, the 2 errata leaves and 2 errata slips. As well as editing the work, Darwin contributed the geological introductions to the first and second parts and supplied 'notices of habits and ranges throughout the text of Mammalia and Birds, and there are frequent notes, mostly from his labels, in the text of the Fish and the Reptiles' (Freeman).