RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1868-1870]. Draft leaf of Descent, summary of Chapter II. Bonhams-27617Lot1032. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe. Corrections by Christine Chua 11.2022. RN5
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of William Huxley Darwin.
From the auction description: "draft outline of the subjects covered in Chapter II titled "Comparison of the Mental Powers of Man & the Lower Animals," 1 p, 4to (250 x 205 mm), ink on thin blue paper, c.1867-1868, with numerous deletions, additions and emendations in his hand, signed "Charles Darwin / Down Kent," likely a later presentation, additional words added in ink in a second hand above Darwin's autograph in two places...Provenance: Sold Sotheby's London, December 18, 1986, lot 332." Bonham's October 2022. Lot 1032.
Sold previously: "DARWIN (CHARLES) Autograph outline for Chapter II of The Descent of Man, "Comparison of the Mental Powers of Man & the Lower Animals", listing the subjects to be dealt with, which include emotions, curiosity, memory, imagination, sense of beauty and belief in God, 1 page, quarto, inscribed at foot "Charles Darwin. Down, Kent" on another occasion (possibly when sending the page to an autograph collector), 11 lines in all, with corrections and additions, two of the less legible words transcribed in another hand above the line. *** The present manuscript displays a number of slight variants from the printed text, consistent with minor alterations made at final proof stage." Sotheby's Valuable printed books and manuscripts comprising science and medicine. June 1983, Lot 645. Sold for £1,210. Buyer: Maggs. Sold again at Sotheby's English Literature and History comprising Printed Books, Autograph Letters and Manuscripts, 18th December 1986, lot 332 for £3,080. Buyer: 'Joseph'." Sothebys-1983serpent-645
The text of the draft corresponds to Descent 1: 34.
[1]
Chapter II.
Comparison of the mental powers of men & the Lower Animals.—
The difference enormous in mental powers between the highest ape & lowest savage is even immense — Instincts in common.— Emotions — Curiosity — Imitation — Attention — Memory — Imagination — Reason — Progressive improvement — Tools & weapons — Language Self-consciousness, abstraction— Sense of Beauty — Belief in God, , & Spiritual agencies, Superstitions — Moral sense, & Conscience — Conclusion.—
[later insertion in Darwin's hand:]
Charles Darwin
Down, Kent
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 28 May, 2025