Darwin, Charles.

The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs. Being the First Part of the Geology of the Voyage of the Beagle, under the Command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. During the Years 1832 to 1836. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1842, 8vo (223 x 140mm.), first edition, half-title, 3 folding engraved maps by J. & C. Walker (two partially coloured by hand), 6 wood-engraved illustrations and diagrams in text, terminal leaf with notices for other Beagle-related publications, 16-page publisher's catalogue dated May 1842 bound at end, original blue cloth with Westleys & Clark ticket, decorated in blind, spine gilt with title and price, frontispiece map creased and lightly offset to title-page, lower corners and foot of spine a little worn, some light rubbing and fading



Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands, visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, together with some brief notices on the geology of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope. Being the second part of the Geology of the Voyage of the Beagle. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1844, 8vo (222 x 139mm.), first edition, advertisement leaf at front for the first part, folding map, wood-engraved illustrations in the text, original green cloth decorated in blind, one gathering coming loose, binding a bit faded and with small light soiling



Geological Observations on South America Being the third part of the Geology of the Voyage of the Beagle. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1846, 8vo (222 x 138mm.), first edition, folding map, hand-coloured folding plate of cross-sections, 4 folding plates of fossil shells, diagrams in the text, original green cloth decorated in blind, unopened, minor foxing to plates, binding a little faded

First volume: Dr. Meyer Friedman, bookplate (but not included in his 2001 sale); sale in our New York rooms, 15 January 2006, lot 77

First volume: Freeman 271; Ferguson 3387; Norman 587; cf. Herbert, Charles Darwin, Geologist (Cornell University Press, 2005); Second volume: Freeman 272 (citing only copies in blue and purple cloth); Norman 587; Third volume: Freeman 273; Norman 587

The condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Fine copies of Darwin's geological researched from the voyage of the Beagle.

The first volume is the only geological text truly necessitated by the Beagle's remit. Francis Beaufort, hydrographer of the Royal Navy, instructed Captain Fitzroy to have minute inspections made of coral reefs, and an article about the impending voyage in the December 1831 Athenaeum claimed that the proposed study of reefs was "the most interesting part of the Beagle's survey", affording "many points for investigation of a scientific nature beyond the mere occupation of the surveyor" (quoted in Herbert, p.168).

Darwin's subsidence theory of the structure and distribution of coral reefs remains the most lasting of his many contributions to geology. While he received the highest honour of the Geological Society, the Wollaston medal, in 1859 for his considerable corpus of geological studies, his recent geological biographer has noted that "Coral Reefs held a special place in Darwin's estimation, and, alone of the three parts of his geological trilogy from the voyage, he rewrote it substantially when it appeared as a second edition in 1874" (Herbert, p.356).

"The third volume of this series... is inexplicably rarer than the first two" (Norman). The present copy is in a green binding, like the Norman copy; Freeman indicates only that copies are in purple or blue bindings.