Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

The phrases "natural selection" and the "theory of evolution" will forever brand and influence the world's scientific approaches to mankind's beginnings and subsequent journey thanks to biologist Charles Darwin. His groundbreaking On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection first published in 1859 (London) by John Murray shares what are still controversial ideas, and it serves as a direct challenge to church ideals for many. A footnote in the book cites it as "the most important biological book ever written." The blind-stamped green cloth first edition book is valued as high as over $130,000 with excellent condition copies. Personalized inscriptions can add value such as one signed by Joseph Hooker (1817-1911) who was a close and personal friend to Darwin. The first edition (1860) published in the United States by D. Appleton (New York) presents a brown cloth book; these copies can potentially sell for as high as $180,000. Incomplete and ragged copies can command comparatively low $3,000 prices.

We collected a sample of 59 auction results of Darwin, Charles's On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, Or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $200 and the highest overall price realized was $131767. The overall average price was $13137 and the median price realized for the book was $3000. There were 8 auctions (27%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 13 auctions (43%) exceeding the high estimates, and 9 auctions (30%) within the range of the low and high estimates.