The Formation of Vegetable Mould, through the Action of Worms, with Observations on their Habits

Description:

Third thousand. This work was first published October 10, 1881, with the second to fifth thousand also being printed in the same year. 'The book was remarkably successful, selling 6,000 copies within a year, and 13,000 before the end of the century. To begin with it sold faster than The Origin of Species had.' (Freeman). Darwin's last book. With errata slip tipped in before page 1.

Freeman 1359.

Condition

8vo, orig. blind-stamped green cloth, gt, some wear/chafing to head and foot of spine with minor loss of cloth. Evidence of water damage to top third of front and rear boards, resulting in rippling/bubbling of cloth in places; endpapers also lightly affected, with a light stain extending to the upper inner corner of the final page of the index and following leaf. Previous owners' names to endpaper. Endpapers foxed. Occasional neat marginal pencil annotations. Good.