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This is the largest collection of Darwin's handwritten manuscripts and private papers ever published.
Read about the launch of Darwin's papers here.
Overview of Darwin's papers and manuscripts: Click here.
To access Darwin's papers online:
1. Browse through the list below
2. Search the catalogue: Search ; Introduction
We are extremely grateful for the kind permission of Cambridge University Library, which holds the largest collection of Darwin papers, to reproduce these online. They are presented in the same sequence as the original catalogue, which was divided into bound volumes, each with a library call number. Items from other institutions are interleaved in this list next to related material.
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Description (Note on descriptions) |
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DAR1 |
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'Northern Chile' [last ch. of South America (1846)]. 148 images | |
DAR2 |
Draft of chs. 1-10 of Cross and self fertilisation. 311 images |
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DAR3 |
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DAR4 |
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DAR5 |
Lecture notes on medicine etc. Edinburgh [1825-7]; zoological walk to Portobello [c. 1826]; early geological notes, near Shrewsbury; geological notes made with Sedgwick; notes on alluvium, 1837 (& 1846); geological notes on Salisbury Craigs, 1838; notes for glacier papers, 1839-42. 283 images | ||
Christ's College, Cambridge |
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| CC-T.1.2 | 'Admissions to Christ College' (1827). Christ's College, Cambridge. Introduction |
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| CC-T.1.4 |
Browse |
'Admissions 1818-1828'. Christ's College, Cambridge. | |
| CC-T.3.1 | 'Admissions 1815-1852'. Christ's College, Cambridge. | ||
| CC-OldLibrary184a | Photograph of Charles Darwin by Maull and Polyblank for the Literary and Scientific Portrait Club (1855). Introduction | ||
| CC-OldLibrary184b | [Cheque by Charles Darwin 'to self' (Union Bank of London)] 1872.03.21. Introduction |
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| CC-OldLibraryGG.1.25 | Utricularia [draft of `Insectivorous plants' p. 427] | ||
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DAR6 |
First 'pencil' sketch of species theory, 1842; [see fair copy DAR217.1]; sketch of species theory sent to Asa Gray, 1857. Transcribed in F1556 & F350. 87 images | ||
DAR7 |
Sketch of species theory, 1844, original MS. [see fair copy DAR113]. Transcribed in F1556. 311 images | ||
DAR8 |
Natural selection, ch. 3: 'On the Possibility of all Organic Beings Occasionally Crossing and on the Remarkable Susceptibility of the Reproductive System to External Agencies', 1856. Preceded by summary of Natural selection, in blue cover. Transcribed in F1583. 164 images | ||
DAR9 |
Natural selection, ch. 4 [i.e. ch. 2 in Origin 1859: 'Variations under Nature']. 1857. [Pp. 1-87; 91 folios, etc.] Transcribed in F1583. 120 images | ||
DAR10.1 |
Natural selection, ch. 5 [i.e. ch. 3 in Origin 1859: 'The Struggle for Existence as Bearing on Natural Selection']. 1857. Transcribed in F1583. 128 images | ||
| DAR10.2 | Natural selection, ch. 6 (i.e. ch. 4 in Origin 1859: 'On Natural Selection']. 1857. Transcribed in F1583. 167 images | ||
DAR11.1 |
Natural selection, ch. 7 [i.e. ch. 5 in Origin 1859: 'Laws of Variation. Varieties and Species Compared']. 1857. Transcribed in F1583. 223 images | ||
DAR12 |
Natural selection, ch. 8 [i.e. ch. 6 in Origin 1859: 'Difficulties in the Theory of Natural Selection in Relation to Passages from Form to Form']. 1857. Transcribed in F1583. 244 images | ||
DAR13 |
Natural selection, ch. 10 [i.e. ch. 7 in Origin 1859: 'Mental Powers and Instincts in Animals']. 1858. Transcribed in F1583. 187 images | ||
DAR14 |
Natural selection, original & copy of chapter on 'Geographical Distribution' [i.e. chs. 11 & 12 in Origin 1859]. Transcribed in F1583. 230 images | ||
DAR15.1 |
Natural selection, ch. 4 'Common and Large Genera Presenting Most Varieties'. Fair copy of DAR9.(1-87), sent to Hooker on 6 May 1858 & bears his notes. Transcribed in F1583. 141 images | ||
DAR15.2 |
Misc. tables of species, etc. First part. Items numbered 1-105. 162 images | ||
DAR16.1 |
Misc. tables of species, etc. 175 images | ||
DAR16.2 |
Misc. tables of species, etc. Second part. Items numbered 106-203; 204-308. 196 images | ||
DAR17.1A |
Draft of part of Expression of the emotions (1872), written on the backs of MS. folios of Descent of man (1871). 38 images | ||
DAR17.1.B |
Draft of Climbing plants, Part I, pp. 1-62. 106 images | ||
DAR17.2.B |
Draft of Cross and self fertilisation, chs. 8 & 9. 49 images | ||
DAR18 |
Draft of Climbing plants. Part II, pp. 94-160, 160a-235. 263 images | ||
DAR19 - 23 |
Draft of Power of movement in plants (1880). | ||
DAR24 - 25 |
Draft of Formation of vegetable mould (1881). | ||
DAR26 |
Draft of Recollections of the Development of My Mind and Character. [Autobiography] Transcribed in F1497. 205 images | ||
DAR27.1 |
Notes and drafts for some of Darwin's papers: |
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DAR27.2 |
Draft of and notes for 'On the Sexual Relations of the Three Forms of Lythrum salicaria'. F1731 151 images | ||
DAR28.1.A |
Copy of 'The Action of Carbonate of Ammonia on the Roots of Certain Plants', in Francis Darwin's hand, corrected by Darwin. F1801 64 images |
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DAR28.1.B |
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DAR28.2 |
Copy in Francis Darwin's hand (corrected by Darwin) of 'The Action of Carbonate of Ammonia on Chlorophyll Bodies'. |
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DAR29.1 |
Notes made on board the Beagle, 1832-1836: |
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| DAR29.1.A1-A49 | [Darwin's Beagle animal notes (1832-33)]. Introduction |
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| DAR29.1.B1b-B20 | 'Fish in Spirits of Wine' [Beagle animal notes] (1832-1836). | ||
DAR29.2 |
[Beagle 1832-6] Ornithological notes, transcribed in F1577. 123 images | ||
DAR29.3 |
Notes made on Beagle, 1832-6, on Shells. Lists of Beagle specimens. Catalogue of boxes of corallines [10 small pieces of paper]. Insects in spirits of wine [one sheet]. Zoological plates & references. 'Table for Lind's wind gage for Captain Fitzroy of H.M.S. Beagle'. Mammalia in spirits of wine. Birds, etc. in spirits of wine. Notes on the preservation of specimens. 157 images |
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DAR30-31 |
'Diary of observations on zoology of the places visited during the voyage [of the Beagle]' (Zoological diary) (1832-1836) (Transcribed in F1840). 632 images |
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DAR32-33 |
'a diary of observations on the geology of the places visited during the voyage (1832-1834) [Geological diary]. 485 images | ||
DAR34 |
Notes on the geology of the places visited during the voyage: maps, etc. Part I. [Geological diary]. 367 images | ||
DAR35 |
Notes on the geology of the places visited. . . . Part II. [Geological diary]. 371 images |
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| DAR35.328,328a-328j | 'Chiloe Janr. 1835' [Beagle notes]. Introduction |
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DAR36 |
Notes on the geology of the places visited. . . . Part III. [Geological diary]. 310 images | ||
| DAR37 | Notes on the geology of the places visited. . . . Part IV. [Geological diary]. 315 images | ||
| DAR38 | Notes on the geology of the places visited. . . . Part V. [Geological diary]. 224 images | ||
| HarkerCatalogue | [Harker, A. c. 1907.] Sedgwick Museum. Catalogue of the "Beagle" Collection of Rocks, made by Charles Darwin during the voyage of H.M.S. "Beagle", 1832-6. Introduction | ||
DAR39 |
MS. on the Geology of the Falkland Islands, by B. J. Sulivan. Lists of geological specimens. Maps & diagrams: special notes on cleavage, fossils, shells, etc. 398 images |
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DAR40 |
Misc. notes (mainly geological) during and arising from the Beagle voyage. Includes field notes from Hobart, Ascension etc. 157 images |
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DAR41 |
Paper headed 'Coral Islands'; fair copy of the foregoing; 'Recapitulations and Concluding Remarks' [on geology of South America]. 176 images | ||
The Beagle field Notebooks (English Heritage Darwin Collection at Down House) |
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| EH1.4 [English Heritage 88202324] |
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'Cape de Verds Fernando Noronha Bahia, Abrolhos Rio de Janeiro City' (1-6.1832). Introduction |
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| EH1.10 [English Heritage 88202330] |
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'Rio de Janeiro excursion city. M. Video Bahia Blanca' (4.1832, 6.1832-10.1832). Introduction |
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| EH1.12 [English Heritage 88202332] |
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'Buenos Ayres (city) Beagle Channel Ascent of P. Desire Creek.' (11-12.1832-2.1833; 12.1833). Introduction |
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| EH1.14 [English Heritage 88202334] |
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'Falkland Maldonado (excursion) Rio Negro to Bahia Blanca' (2-5.1833; 8.1833). Introduction |
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| EH1.11 [English Heritage 88202331] |
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'B. Blanca to Buenos Ayres' (9-10.1833). Introduction |
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| EH1.13 [English Heritage 88202333] |
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'Buenos Ayres. St. Fe and Parana. — Cordillera of Chile' (9-11.1833; 3-4.1835). Introduction |
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| EH1.9 [English Heritage 88202329] |
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'Banda Oriental S. Cruz.' (11.1833, 4-5.1834). Introduction |
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| EH1.8 [English Heritage 88202328] |
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'Port Desire — Famine
Wollaston Isld Navarin Isd. E. Falkland Isld Measurements of curved hills East coast of Chiloe
Boat excursion Chonos S. Carlos'. (1-4.1834, 11-12.1834). Introduction |
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| EH1.15 [English Heritage 88202335] |
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'Valparaiso up Aconcagua to St Jago' (8.1834). |
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| EH1.18 [English Heritage 88202338] |
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'Santiago Book.' (9.1834; 2.1835-9.1838?). Introduction |
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| EH1.16 [English Heritage 88202336] |
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'Valparaiso to Coquimbo. Coquimbo valley' (4-5.1835). Introduction |
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| EH1.7 [English Heritage 88202327] |
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'Coquimbo to Copiapò' (6.1835). Introduction |
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| EH1.6 [English Heritage 88202326] |
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'Copiapò. Despoblado Isle of France Cape of Good Hope. excursion St Helena.' (6-9.1835; 5-9.1836). Introduction |
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| EH1.17 [English Heritage 88202337] |
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'Galapagos. Otaheite Lima' (1835). Introduction |
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| EH1.3 [English Heritage 88202323] |
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'Sydney Mauritius' (1-4.1836). Introduction |
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| EHBeagleDiary | . |
[Darwin's Beagle diary (1831-1836)] transcribed by Rookmaaker. Also transcribed in F1925. | |
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DAR42 |
Notes for South America (1846). 366 images | ||
| DAR42.97-99 | 'The position of the bones of Mastodon (?) at Port St Julian is of interest'. | ||
DAR43.1 |
Notes by Orbigny, Sowerby & Forbes on shells collected by Darwin. [See Appendix in F273] 105 images | ||
DAR43.2.A |
'Buenos Ayres The fossil shells': 1-46. 46 images | ||
DAR43.2.B |
'Descriptions of Tertiary fossil shells from South America' by G. B Sowerby [See Appendix in F273]. 43 images | ||
DAR44 |
Printed maps of South America, & plans & diagrams (geological sections, etc.) made by Darwin. 52 images | ||
DAR45 |
Notes for chapter on 'Variation under Nature' [ch. 4 of Natural selection; ch. 2 of Origin 1859]. Contains Darwin's & others' MS. notes, printed extracts from periodicals, newspaper-cuttings, etc. See F1583. 284 images | ||
DAR46.1 |
Notes for chapter on 'Struggle for Existence' [ch. 5 of Natural selection ; ch. 3 of Origin 1859]. Newspaper-cuttings, etc. See F1583. 105 images |
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DAR46.2 |
Notes on seeds of flowers (including hollyhock & stock) & vegetables, 'Comparison of seeds, flowers, legumes, etc. to see effect of selection and of non-correlation'. |
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DAR47 |
Notes for 'Laws of Variation' [ch. 7 of Natural selection; ch. 5 of Origin 1859], includes notes by G. R. Waterhouse, H. C. Watson & G. J. Romanes. See F1583. 361 images |
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DAR48 |
Scraps & notes for 'Transitions of Organs', i.e. ch. 8 Natural selection [ch. 6 in Origin 1859].
See F1583. |
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DAR49 |
Notes on dichogamy in plants, 1841. Also other notes an plants, dated 1841-72. ('Scraps about plants, all fully used.') 195 images | ||
DAR50 |
Rough draft made for W. Kemp 'An account of some seeds buried at a great depth. . .which germinated.' F1918 with correspondence on the subject. |
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DAR51 |
Notes & diagrams on phyllotaxy [1863]. |
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| DAR51.C36-C74 | Hypothesis of Pangenesis. [5.1865.] Also transcribed in F1578. | ||
DAR52 |
Draft of a discussion on organs not being formed by direct action of medium in distinct organisms. Sent to G. H. Lewes, 1868. |
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DAR53 |
Additional photographs for Expression of the emotions, drawings, notes & references of chs. 2, 3, 6, 7, introduction, memoranda; cuttings from Nature & other publications. Notes for Cross and self fertilisation (1876). 202 & 138 images |
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DAR54 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). Daily observations, notes, undated scraps for 1860-1862, 1871-1872. 260 images | ||
DAR55 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). Daily observations, notes, undated scraps, etc. for the later months of 1872 & June & July of 1873. 225 images | ||
DAR56 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). Daily observations, notes, etc., for the remaining months of 1873. 227 images | ||
DAR57 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). Daily observations, notes, etc., for the first part of 1874. 220 images | ||
DAR58.2 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). Press-cuttings, articles from scientific journals. 219 images |
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DAR59.1 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). Daily observations, notes, etc., for the second part of 1874, & for 1875. 244 images | ||
| CC-OldLibraryGG.1.25 | Utricularia [draft of `Insectivorous plants' p. 427] | ||
| SA-Haandskrift394A[.1] | The immersion of leaves in a solution of sugar [draft of `Insectivorous plants' pp. 293-4] (1874-1875). | ||
DAR59.2 |
Material for Expression of the emotions. 127 images |
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DAR60 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). |
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DAR61 |
Material for Insectivorous plants (1875). Rough draft of the book, incomplete. 129 images | ||
DAR62 |
Notes for 'On the Action of Carbonate of Ammonia on the Roots of Certain Plants'. F1801 132 images |
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DAR63 |
Material on earthworms for Formation of vegetable mould (1881). |
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DAR64.1 |
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Material on earthworms for Formation of vegetable mould (1881). |
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DAR64.2 |
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DAR65 |
Material on earthworms for Formation of vegetable mould (1881). Notes & observations made June 1880 - Mar. 1881; drawings, proofs, calculations, & undated scraps. 171 images | ||
DAR66 |
Notes on bloom on leaves & fruit, which remained unfinished at Darwin's death. |
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DAR67 |
Notes on researches into bloom on leaves & fruit. |
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DAR68 |
Notes on researches into bloom on leaves & fruit.
Scraps on bloom. |
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DAR69 |
Material for new edns or corrections of works: |
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DAR70 |
Material for 2nd edn of Orchids (1877). Paintings for plates I-IV. 264 images | ||
DAR71 |
Darwin's abstracts of scientific books. Includes 'Catalogue of books'. 290 images | ||
DAR72 |
Darwin's abstracts of scientific books pp. 1-82, not recorded in the 'catalogue' of DAR 71; pp. 83-169: Misc. abstracts of scientific journals, chiefly on botany (Annales des Sciences, series II, vol. I-). 213 images | ||
DAR73 |
Darwin's abstracts of scientific journals. Includes: Mém. Soc. Phy. Sci. de Genève; Mém. des Muséums, vols. III, X; Mém. du Mus. d'histoire Nat. vol. X, 1823; London J. Botany; Phytologist, vol. II, 1845-7; Botanical Gazette; Zoologists, vols. I & II, 1843-56; J. Indian Archipelago. 216 images | ||
DAR74 |
Darwin's abstracts of scientific journals, etc. Includes: Westminster Rev.; Annales des Scient. Nat. 1st series; Horticulture Trans. vols. I-VII; Silliman's American J. Science; Horticultural J. vol. I; J. Agricultural Soc. of England, vol. I; Boston J. Natural History, vol. I; Linnaean Soc. Trans. vol. XVI; J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal; Madras J. Literature and Science; British Association: 1840. 271 images | ||
DAR75 |
Darwin's abstracts of scientific pamphlets & journals. Includes an index of abstracts of '4° and 8° pamphlets': Gardeners' Chron.; Bull. Geological Soc.; Geological J.; Annals of the Soc. of Natural History; Trans. New Zealand Institute; Kosmos; Proc. & Trans. Zoological Soc.; Linnean J.; Trans. Linnean Soc.; American Naturalist; Philosophical Trans; J. Anatomy & Physiology; Proc. American Philosophical Soc; Annales, Soc. Entomolog. de France; Mind; J. Anthropological Institute; Proc. or Mem. of Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist. (sic); Proc. American Academy of Sciences; Proc. Royal Soc. for Advancement of Science. |
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DAR76 |
Old observations on Diptera. |
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DAR77 |
Material used in Cross and self fertilisation (1876) includes scraps, memoranda, notes of observations, tables of calculations, references to articles in journals. |
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DAR78 |
Notes for Cross and self fertilisation (1876). 276 images | ||
DAR79 |
Notes for Cross and self fertilisation (1876), continued. 239 images | ||
DAR80 |
Material for 1st edn of Descent of man (1871).
References to books & articles by other writers.
Index to a work by C. L. Brehm.
Index of books used. |
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DAR81 |
Material for 1st edn of Descent of man (1871). 237 images | ||
DAR82 |
Material for 1st edn of Descent of man (1871). Queries & observations of A. Günther; scraps; press-cuttings; illustrations. 319 images |
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DAR83 |
Material for 1st edn of Descent of man (1871). Notes & observations, made at Zoological Gardens & elsewhere; cuttings from scientific journals; illustrations; observations by other people. 233 images | ||
DAR84.1 |
Material for 1st edn of Descent of man (1871). Notes, calculations, references to books & articles by other writers, mainly on sexual selection in birds, misc. memoranda, cuttings from journals, drawings, & proofs of illustrations. 309 & 251 images | ||
DAR84.2 |
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DAR85 |
Material for 1st edn of Descent of man (1871). Includes notes & relevant letters on specific subjects (e.g. music, hair colour in man, etc.); scraps & memoranda; cuttings from journals. 335 images | ||
DAR86 |
MS relating to 1st edn of Descent of man (1871), & of errata for Insectivorous plants (1875). 289 images | ||
DAR87 |
Material for 2nd edn of Descent of man (1874) chs. 1-6, & cuttings from journals, memoranda & photographs. 229 images | ||
DAR88 |
Material for 2nd edn of Descent of man (1874). Notes & memoranda on moral sense, mammals & birds. 274 images | ||
DAR89 |
Material for 2nd edn of Descent of man (1874). Notes on fish, insects, sexual selection, man—voice, music. 284 images | ||
DAR90 |
Material for 2nd edn of Descent of man (1874), including races, sexual selection, general principles, notes & proofs for errata, etc. 211 images | ||
DAR91 |
Early notes on guns & shooting. |
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| DAR91.1 | Shot [Notes on shooting]. | ||
| DAR91.2 | the proper proportion of shot [Notes on shooting]. | ||
| DAR91.3 | Instructions for Young Sportsmen [Notes on shooting]. | ||
| DAR91.114-118 | [Notes on reading Sumner's Evidence of Christianity]. [c. 1827.] | ||
| DAR91.56-63 | [An autobiographical fragment] (8.1838). | ||
DAR92 |
Papers dealing with Samuel Butler's attack on Darwin. Including fair copies of Darwin's first & second draft letters to Athenaeum, cuttings, reviews of Butler's Evolution old and new, & Butler's letter to Athenaeum. 300 images | ||
| DAR107 | forthcoming | ||
DAR108 |
Material on illegitimate progeny of dimorphic & trimorphic plants, including notes, tables, memoranda & press-cuttings, mainly on Primulae. 292 images | ||
DAR109 |
Material on illegitimate progeny of dimorphic & trimorphic plants: notes, memoranda & extracts from journals. Mainly on Oxalis, Thyme & Marjoram. 357 images | ||
DAR110 |
Material on illegitimate progeny of dimorphic & trimorphic plants; notes, memoranda, cuttings, etc., mainly on Rubiaceae & Primulaceae; Pulmonaria & Mitchella, etc. 347 images | ||
DAR111 |
Material on illegitimate progeny of dimorphic & trimorphic plants; notes, observations, memoranda, reprinted articles by Darwin, general conclusions & remarks & groups of notes on Primulae. 263 images | ||
DAR112 |
Letters to Francis Darwin about Darwin, collected for Life and Letters (1887). Also various recollections of Darwin. 351 images (Over 50 of these are transcribed.) |
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| DAR113 | |||