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Leonhart Fuchs (German: [ˈfʊks]; 17 January 1501 – 10 May 1566), sometimes spelled Leonhard Fuchs, was a German physician and botanist. His chief notability is as the author of a large book about plants and their uses as medicines, a herbal, which was first published in 1542 in Latin. It has about 500 accurate and detailed drawings of plants, which were printed from woodcuts. The drawings are the book’s most notable advance on its predecessors. Although drawings had been used in other herbal books, Fuchs’ book proved and emphasized high-quality drawings as the most telling way to specify what a plant name stands for.
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Historia Stirpium Commentarii 1542. Sold for over $10,000.
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Charles Darwin On the Origin of Species 1st Edition
First edition, first printing of “On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, one of the most important books in the scientific canon. London: John Murray, 1859. In this revolutionary book that upended man’s own view of himself, Darwin posits natural selection as the engine driving species’ evolution, an argument so persuasive that even 19th century religious leaders adjusted their teachings to allow for evolution to work in concert with divine planning. Its importance has only grown in the 150+ years since publication, with Freeman concluding it to be “the most important biological book ever written”. First released on 24 November 1859, its scarcity nearly matches its importance, with the first printing consisting of only 1,250 copies, and the number of extant copies now significantly fewer.
All first printing points are present, including original binding, variant B, title page with copyright information on verso, Table of Contents (pages v-ix) with binder instructions to verso, complete pages 1-502, and folding table present between pages 116-117. Bound in publisher’s full green boards, stamped and lettered in gilt. Overall in very good condition; ads at back of volume have been removed as has half-title page, and endpapers have been replaced. Volume is rebacked using morocco, with original spine laid down. Some shelf wear to boards. Light foxing throughout book, with some chipping, small closed tears with repairs to a few pages, and a few dogeared pages. One small mark on page 109, otherwise no internal writing or marks. Housed in a custom quarter-leather clamshell box. Overall in very good condition, a handsome, presentable copy of this scarce first printing. Sold for $68,250.
Charles Darwin autograph letter signed with evolution related content written shortly after ”On the Origin of Species” was published. Dated 16 August (1860 or 1861), Darwin writes to his second cousin William Darwin Fox, who introduced Charles Darwin to entomology. Upon Down, Kent stationery, Darwin writes in part, ”…you had seen a dozen instances of white cats with blue eyes being deaf: how can you by an extraordinary chance remember the sex of any of them…C. Darwin”. Fox’s reply to Darwin, giving additional details on the white, blue-eyed, blind cats, is archived in the Darwin Correspondence Project. Single page letter measures 5” x 8”, with an engraving of Darwin measuring 5.5” x 8”. Uniform toning, mounting tape remnants and writing at top not in Darwin’s hand, overall very good condition. Sold for $15,000.
Charles Darwin autograph letter signed, dated 12 February 1879 shortly before his publication ”The Power of Movement in Plants”. Darwin writes fellow English naturalist and explorer Henry Walter Bates regarding a document to be sent to the Royal Society. Letter reads, ”Feb 12th 79 / Dear Bates / Enclosed is the certificate with 7 signatures, which I would think was ample, but I send it to you instead of direct to R.S. [Royal Society], as you might have to get stamps from Martin and friend Sir H.C. Rowlinson’s signature, whom I do not know. If I were in your place I would append to your title ‘Ex Pres [President] of Ent. [Entomological] Soc. [Society] Yr’; but you are the best judge of this. I think that you had better send the certificate, with note enclosed by a safe hand or [?]. Yours sincerely, Ch. Darwin”. Darwin had earlier praised Bates seminal work, ”The Naturalist on the River Amazons”, as the ”best book of Natural History Travels ever published in England”. Single page letter measures 5” x 8”. Light soiling and wear; overall in very good plus condition with very bold handwriting and signature. Sold for $6,250.
Charles Darwin Autograph Letter Signed — Regarding the German Translation for His Works
Charles Darwin autograph letter signed, with a large, bold signature ”Ch. Darwin” at conclusion. Writing on 23 January (no year, but sometime between 1875-1882) upon his stationery from Down House in Kent, letter reads, ”Dear Sir / Mr. [John] Murray has forwarded to me your letter of the 20th. I am much obliged for your offer, but I have already agreed with Herr Koch & Prof. Victor Carus for a Translation…Ch. Darwin”. Julius Victor Carus translated the third German edition of ”On the Origin of Species” in 1867 and several subsequent publications by Darwin. Single page letter measures 4.75” x 7.5”, beautifully framed with a photographic portrait of Darwin to a size of 15.5” x 13”. Fold and light creasing, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $5,938.
First Edition, First Printing of Charles Darwin’s 1871 Masterpiece, “The Descent of Man” — First Printing of the Controversial Word “Evolution”
First edition, first printing of “The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex” by Charles Darwin. London: John Murray: 1871. In two volumes with illustrations, “The Descent of Man” applies Darwin’s theory first conceived in “Origin of Species” to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection. Volume I of this set is the very first time in which the word evolution appears in print in any of Darwin’s works. All first issue points present including the errata on the verso of the title leaf of Volume II; seventeen errata for Volume I and eight for Volume II; the verso of the half title leaf of Volume II bears the printer’s note; present with note on a tipped-in leaf in Volume II, which refers to “a serious and unfortunate error” affecting pages 297-299 in Volume I, and pages 161 and 237 in Volume II; page 297 begins with the word “transmitted.” Publisher’s full green pictorial cloth, stamped and lettered in gilt. Covers have been re-backed with vintage cloth. Some fading to the cloth on the covers around edges. The binding in both volumes is very tight and secure with no loose pages or sections. Internally very good. The endpapers have been replaced with paper in keeping with the original dark navy ones. Signature by previous owner on the half-title of Volume I and the title page of Volume I. Overall a beautiful set in very good condition. Sold for $5,073.
Tractado de las drogas, y medicinas de las Indias Orien
Rare 1578 first edition of “Tractado de las drogas, y medicinas de las Indias Orientales” (“Treatise of the drugs and medicines of the East Indies”) by physician and naturalist Cristobal Acosta. Burgos, Spain: Martin de Victoria, 1578. Bound in original vellum boards with leather ties, rare volume is complete with all woodcuts: title page featuring a portrait of the author, 45 pages of medicinal plants and herbs, and two pages of Asian elephants. Book also features woodcut initials heading each chapter. Acosta’s tomb of therapeutic botany was highly important in its day, giving illustration to exotic plants, animals, herbs and spices from the East Indies during the Age of Exploration, including cinnamon, garlic, nutmeg, coconut, sandalwood, and pineapple, all relatively unknown to Europe at the time. There is even a chapter on opium (“muy usual, y necessaria”), and a chapter on Asian elephants, then described for the first time in a scientific publication. Book measures 5.5″ x 7.375″. Some faint dampstaining, worming to several pages towards the end, and expected age wear. Overall very good plus condition. Sold for $3,900.
Carl Linnaeus document signed, acknowledging receipt of his salary as Professor of Medicine and Botany at the Royal Swedish Academy. Datelined Uppsala, 10 October 1757 in Swedish, elegantly signed ”Carl Linnaeus”. Named the ”Father of Modern Taxonomy” and the ”Prince of Botanists”, Linnaeus was one of the most renowned scientists and naturalists of his day, having published ”Systema Naturae” in 1735, which classified 4,400 animal species and 7,700 plant species. The publication was so important that people from all over the world sent their specimens to be included in subsequent editions, which reached its 12th edition in the second half of the 17th century. Document measures 8” x 4”. Mounting remnant to verso and vertical fold, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $3,438.
Charles Darwin autograph letter signed, dated 15 June 1859 just a few months before the publication of ”On the Origin of Species”. Darwin here writes to his land agent John Higgins, regarding rent collected from Darwin’s farm at Beesby. Writing from his home in Down Bromley Kent, letter reads in full, ”My dear Sir / I beg leave to acknowledge & thank you for the sum of 244: 15: 11, placed to my account at the Union Bank being 1/2 years rent on the Beesby Farm. / My dear Sir / Yours very faithfully. / Ch. R. Darwin”. Single page letter measures 5” x 8”. Folds and irregular left edge. Darwin purposely signs over a duty stamp at conclusion of letter. Near fine condition with exceptionally bold writing. Sold for $3,300.
Darwin’s “First Words”
London: Baldwin & Cradock, 1827-35 and Henry Bohn 1846. 2,202pp., 7 volumes of 11. Bound in six volumes, (the first and second volumes bound as one). Contains Mandibulata portion of work only, plus one supplementary volume (lacks four volumes of Haustellata). Contains 47 hand-colored engraved plates, bound from arts in quarter morocco, gilt rules, lettering to spines. Plain-paper sides, marbled endpapers. Bindings worn, rubbed, scuffed at head, tail of spines. Two volumes lacking .5″ piece at spine’s head. Volume VI split at head, tail of hinges. Covers detached on Volume I. Endpapers, title pages foxed, small embossed library stamp to top corner of title pages. Toning to pages, occasional light pencil note, tick to margins. Bindings tight. Good. Sold for $2,040.
Beautiful limited edition of ”Select Orchidaceous Plants”, dedicated and gifted to legendary actor Raymond Burr in 1975. Originally published in 1862, ”Select Orchidaceous Plants” features descriptions and color plates of 43 orchids. Burr’s copy was commissioned by Fort Caroline Orchids Inc. and published by Rare Editions Ltd.: Jacksonville: 1975. Bound in red calfskin boards with gilt title lettering and floral design. Edition number and ”Prepared Especially for Raymond Burr” plated to front free endpaper. Measures 13.25” x 18”, runs 187pp. Very slight rubbing to corners. Near fine. With an LOA from the estate of Raymond Burr. Sold for $275.
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Historia Stirpium Commentarii 1542 that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).