Description
Darwin, Erasmus. The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: a Poem, with Philosophical Notes. London: J. Johnson, 1802. First Edition. Half Calf and Marbled Boards. Poor. pp.(vi), 174; 124 (additional notes)+ 4 (frontis & 3 other plates). Erasmus Darwin’s final & most highly-regarded work published posthumously. A paper published as recently as April 2023 revealed that the personal copy of his grandson, Charles, has 25 annotations to the text which scholars now consider point to a marked resemblance (unacknowledged by Charles) between the thinking behind this work & Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man. Perhaps the fact that both this title & On the Origin of Species contain the word ‘Origin’ kept any of Charles Darwin’s other work from being brought to bear in comparison? A somewhat shaken copy with one signature starting. Front gutter tape-repaired & externally; the spine’s junction with front board is 1/3 split up from the tail. Another shorter (1 inch) surface split at its head. Boards bumped & rubbed in places with slight loss of marbled paper. Throughout the text-block are intermittent patches of damp staining & mould spotting. Accordingly, offered at a reduced price, this extremely scarce first edition of a work whose importance is even now gaining in recognition.