Books inscribed by and for Charles Darwin

By J. David Archibald

Relatively few copies of books written by Charles Darwin bear an inscription directly written in the book in the author's hand. Some inscriptions in Darwin's hand are associated with, pasted in, or inserted into books that he wrote. Most commonly presentation copies of Darwin's books are inscribed by a clerk or secretary in the office of Darwin's publisher John Murray. The examples shown here represent a small sample of Darwin or clerk related inscriptions. If you are aware of other copies of Darwin's books inscribed by him or a clerk that are not listed here, please let us know.

Books inscribed by Darwin

A copy of Journal of researches (probably F10) is reported to be inscribed in Darwin's hand to British surgeon and zoologist Andrew Smith (1797-1872). As the Beagle voyage was homeward bound in May 1936, Darwin visited Smith in South Africa where Smith was stationed. Smith showed Darwin how the mammalian megafauna survived on sparse vegetation. The inscription was not seen.

Journal of researches new edition (F17) was inscribed by Darwin to the British artist Harrison Weir (1824-1906) reading 'Harrison Weir Esq / From the Author.'

A Journal of researches 12th thousand (F27) was inscribed by Darwin on the first front flyleaf to the German-British zoologist Albert  Günther (1830-1914) reading 'With Kind Regards of the Author'. The inscription was not seen.

Darwin provided a copy of Coral reefs (F271), which he signed 'The Geographical Society / From the Author'. The front pastedown has a bookplate of 'The Library of The Sedgwick Museum Cambridge'. In Darwin Online. Image

A monograph on the fossil Lepadidae (F342.1) bears the inscription 'Professor Steenstrup / with the Authors / Kind regards' and A monograph on the fossil Balanidae (F342.2) bears the inscription 'Prof. Steenstrup / Copenhagen / From the Author'. Japetus Steenstrup (1813-1897) was a Danish biologist who loaned Darwin fossil barnacles in the Zoology Museum in Copenhagen. In 3 April and 9 September 1851 letters Darwin indicates that he will send Steenstrup a copy of the 1851 monograph.

At the top of the epigraphic page of On the origin of species 2d ed. (F376) an inscription reads 'to J. Fe[illegible, possibly Ferris] / faithfully / Ch. Darwin'.

A 4th edition of On the origin of species (F385) is inscribed on the recto of the second front flyleaf 'With the Authors / Very Kind Regards.–'. A bookplate of the Museum of Zoology Cambridge University indicates the book was donated to the museum by the ornithologist Alfred Newton (1829-1907), a correspondent and advocate of Darwin's ideas on evolution. In Darwin Online. Image

A presentation copy of the 1st edition, 2d issue of The variation of animals and plants (F878) has an inscription on front flyleaf of volume 1 reading 'With very kind Regards from his friend & opponent The Author'. Various sources identify Samuel Haughton (1821-1897), an Irish clergyman and professor of geology at Trinity College as the possible recipient. The inscription was not seen.

A 1st edition of The descent of man (F937) is reported to bear the inscription 'Henrietta Darwin from her father.' An image of this writing was not seen. Henrietta (Darwin) Litchfield (1843-1927) was a valued assistant to her father. The inscription attests to his thanks for her considerable editorial skills working on Descent. The inscription was not seen.

A 1st edition, first issue (with photographic plates numbered in Roman numerals) of The expression of emotions (F1141) bears an inscription on the front flyleaf 'With the compliments / of the Author / and his best Thanks –'. The recipient is not recorded.

A 1st edition of Different forms of flowers (F1277) with an inscription at the top of the title page reads 'With the Complements of the Author.' The recipient is not recorded.

A copy of Preliminary notice to Krause, Erasmus Darwin. (F1319) bears an inscription on the recto of the second front flyleaf reading 'H. E. Litchfield / From her Father.' Above it is another inscription reading 'From C Darwin' in a hand other than Charles Darwin. In Darwin Online. Image

A copy of Preliminary notice. Krause, Erasmus Darwin. (F1319) bears an inscription 'Ch Darwin' on the recto of the second front flyleaf. This is Darwin's annotated copy. In Darwin Online. Image

A 1st edition The power of movement in plants (F1325) bears the inscription 'Elizabeth Darwin / From her Father.' Elizabeth Darwin (1847-1926) was the Darwin's youngest of two surviving daughters.

 

Books with messages written by Darwin

A second group comprises books that have associated slips of paper (loose, tipped-in or attached) that appear to be in Charles Darwin's hand rather than directly written in the book. At some date following publication these slips became associated with a particular copy of a Darwin book. Whether Darwin supplied these samples of his writing for a specific volume requires corroborating evidence.

A piece of Down House stationery reading 'May 14th 1880 / With Mr Charles Darwin's / Compliments' is associated with a 1st edition of On the origin of species (F373). The recipient is unrecorded as is additional evidence associating the book and the signed stationery.

A 1st edition of On the origin of species (F373) has a note in pencil reading 'Sept 5th 1880 Down Beckenham / Kent / With Mr Darwin's / compliments.' It is reported to be "laid into the book" but the recipient is unrecorded as is additional evidence associating the book and the autographed paper.

A 1st edition of On the origin of species (F373) has a paper affixed to the front pastedown reading 'With the Authors / Best Compliments'. The copy was owned by George Poole III (1907-1990), director of the Chicago based printing company, Poole Brothers. Evidence associating the affixed inscription with the book is not known.

A 2nd edition of On the origin of species (F376) has a small paper affixed to the front pastedown reading 'Dear Sir, / Yours very faithfully / Ch. Darwin'. Only the signature is by Darwin. There is an illegible ink signature on the top of the half-title page 'John W. [?] / 3 Parkhill Road'. Evidence associating the affixed inscription and signature with the book is not known.

A 5th edition (10th thousand) of On the origin of species (F387) has a paper pasted at the top of the title page reading 'From the Author.—'  The pastedown is laid paper with visible chain lines. Evidence associating the affixed inscription with the book is not known.

A presentation copy of the 1st edition of The variation of animals and plants (F877) has a small paper pasted at the top of the recto of the second front flyleaf of volume 1 reading 'From the Author'. The copy bears the bookplate of the English naturalist W. B. (William Bernhardt) Tegetmeier (1816-1912). Tegetmeier and Darwin exchanged many letters including those dealing with preparation of Variation.

A presentation copy of the 1st edition, 1st issue of The variation of animals and plants (F877) has a small paper pasted at the top of the recto of the flyleaf of volume 1 reading 'From the Author' and the bookplate of John Lubbock (1834-1913) the English banker, archaeologist, and close neighbourhood friend of the Darwins. The inscription was not seen. 

A 1st edition of The variation of animals and plants (F877) with an associated piece of Down stationery reading 'Dec 24 / With Mr C. Darwin's / compliments & Thanks.'  The copy was owned by British geologist and businessman Joseph Prestwich (1812-1896), who also received a presentation copy of the first printing of On the origin of species (F373).

A copy of the article On the existence of two forms . . . in The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society (F1723) has a slip in Darwin's hand reading 'From the Author' pasted to the title page. This was not seen.

Darwin books with inscription by a clerk or secretary

Various of Darwin's books have an inscription by a secretary or clerk. Although the names of the individual clerks are not known, as many as three different handwriting styles have been recognized by various people. In the examples shown here only two styles can be identified with any certainty. The first sort has many flourishes and embellishments, which here is termed clerk F (for flourishes). The second clerk uses a rounded and simpler style termed clerk S (for simpler). The best-known examples of these clerk inscriptions occur in presentation copies of the first printing of On the origin of species (F373). None of these presentation copies is in Darwin's hand. Darwin specified that some ninety presentation copies were to be sent to domestic and foreign recipients (Correspondence, vol. 8, 1993).

The German botanist Johann Xavier Caspary (1818-1887) received a copy of the first printing of On the origin of species (F373) reading 'Professor Caspary / Koenigsberg / from the author' inscribed by clerk F.

The Anglo-French physician and botanist Hugh Algernon Weddell (1819-1877) received a copy of the first printing of On the origin of species (F373) inscribed by clerk F reading 'Dr Weddell / Bagnères de Bigorre / from the author'.

The Scottish journalist and scientist George Buist (1805-1860) received a copy of the first printing of On the origin of species (F373) reading in the hand of clerk F 'Dr Buist / Bombay / from the author.'

A first printing of On the origin of species (F373) signed 'From the Author' on the verso of the front free flyleaf may be by clerk F based on the uncrossed 't's'. It was owned and annotated by Darwin's third son Francis (1848-1925). In Darwin Online. Image PDF [Intro by J. van Wyhe]

The ornithologist Edward William Vernon Harcourt (1825-1891) was on Darwin's list to receive a presentation of the first printing of On the origin of species (F373). He did not receive a copy signed by a clerk but rather an uninscribed copy. At the top of the title page he wrote 'E. W. Harcourt, from the Author / 1859'.

The French zoologist Henri Milne-Edwards received a first printing of On the origin of species (F373) with the inscription on the recto of the front flyleaf reading 'From the Author'. An image was not seen.

The English clergyman and author Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) received a first printing of On the origin of species (F373) with the inscription on the verso of the front flyleaf reading 'From the Author'. An image was not seen.

A 6th edition, first issue, 11th thousand of On the origin of species (F391) bears a blind stamp reading 'PRESENTED BY MR. MURRAY' in the upper right of the title page. The recipient is not identified.

The anatomist Jeffries Wyman (1814–1874) received a third edition of On the origin of species (F381) inscribed by clerk F on the half-title page 'From the Author'.

A 2nd edition revised 4th thousand of The variation of animals and plants (F836) bears the inscription 'From the author' in a clerk's hand on the half-title page. The recipient was not identified. An image was not seen.

A 1st edition, first issue of The descent of man (F937) bears the inscription 'From the author' in the hand of clerk S. Below this is written 'To H.W. Bates' in a second hand, possibly that of Bates. Darwin had consulted Bates regarding this work. Bates (1825-1895) was an English naturalist and explorer.

A 1st edition, first issue of The descent of man (F937) bears the inscription 'From the Author' in the hand of clerk S on the recto of the front flyleaf as well a signature 'W. H. Flower' not in the hand of clerk S. This same signature plus 'from the author' occur on the half-title page. Flower (1831-1899) was an English surgeon, comparative anatomist and mammal expert.

 

George Edward Harris (1809–1890), an English barrister interested in psychology among other pursuits, received a 1st edition, first issue (with photographic plates numbered in Roman numerals) of The expression of emotions (F1141). On the recto of a front flyleaf is the inscription 'From the Author' in the hand of clerk S. Harris has also signed the title page 'George Harris FSA From the author'.

A presentation copy of the 1st edition, 1st issue of The expression of emotions (F1141) with 'From the Author' on the first front flyleaf.This was presentation copy to John Lubbock (1834-1913) the English banker, archaeologist, and close neighbourhood friend of the Darwins. The inscription was not seen.

A presentation copy of the 1st edition, 1st issue of The expression of emotions (F1141) with 'From the Author' on the first front flyleaf.This was a presentation copy to H. W. Bates (1825-1895), English naturalist and explorer. The inscription was not seen. 

Henry Marlow Wilkinson (1828-1908), and Anglican clergyman, received a 1st edition, first issue presentation copy of Insectivorous Plants (F1217) inscribed by clerk S reading 'From the Author' at the top of the half-title page. Wilkinson examined some insectivorous plants for Darwin.

A 1st edition of Different forms of flowers (F1277) bears a printed label affixed to the title page reading 'FROM THE AUTHOR.' This was a family copy belonging to Darwin's great-grandson Richard Darwin Keynes. In Darwin Online. Image

J. David Archibald
September 2026

 

Edited by John van Wyhe

RN2