Caption
'Swan Orchid' (Cyncnoches sp.) by Charles Darwin, 1862 first issue (idnentified by gilt orchid and ridged plum cloth) or 'On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects', London, John Murray publishers. The only Darwin edition post 'Origin of Species' not to be in the standard plain green binding. First book published by Darwin after 'Origin of Species', and so the first book of supporting evidence for natural selection. Darwin wrote to the publisher on 24th Sept 1861 'I think this little volume will do good to the 'Origin', as it will show that I have worked hard at details'. This unusual orchid has petals that point upward. Darwin acknowledged the influence of C.K. Sprengel's 1793 pioneering work on pollination.
Availability
Only inBelgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland