WALLACE, Alfred Russel (1823-1913). The Malay Archipelago: The Land of the Orang-Utan, and the Bird of Paradise. A Narrative of Travel, with Studies of Man and Nature. London: Macmillan, 1869.

WALLACE, Alfred Russel (1823-1913). The Malay Archipelago: The Land of the Orang-Utan, and the Bird of Paradise. A Narrative of Travel, with Studies of Man and Nature. London: Macmillan, 1869.

First edition of 'one of the nineteenth century's best scientific travel books' (Smith). 'Wallace's name is now inextricably linked with his travels in the Indonesian region. He spent nearly eight full years there; during that period he undertook about seventy different expeditions resulting in a combined total of around 14,000 miles of travel ... His collecting efforts produced the astonishing total of 125,660 specimens, including more than a thousand species new to science' (Smith). During his travels, Wallace independently formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection. His letter to Darwin in 1858, outlining his ideas, hurried Darwin into publishing On the Origin of Species. Wallace dedicates the present work to Darwin 'as a token of personal esteem and friendship [and] also to express my deep admiration for his genius and his works'. Norman 2176; Smith S715 (online bibliography hosted by Western Kentucky University).

2 volumes, octavo (187 x 125 mm). Half-titles, 2 frontispieces, 9 maps (2 folding), 6 plates, numerous illustrations, with 2pp. and 52pp. of publisher's ads at end of vol. I (front free endpaper and half-title loose in vol. 1, occasional spotting more heavily affecting leaves at beginning and end of vols, short marginal tear to pp.257-8 in vol. 2). Original green cloth, gilt orang-utans and birds of paradise to upper covers, gilt lettered spines (extremities faintly rubbed). Provenance: Frederick du Cane Godman (armorial bookplates).

[Sold with the same author's:] Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection ... Second edition. London: Macmillan, 1871. Octavo (187 x 123mm). with 48pp. ads at end dated April 1871. Original green cloth. Smith S716. [And:] Australasia. London: Edward Stanford, 1879. Octavo (204 x 140mm). 20 maps, of which 15 folding, frontispiece and 55 plates and illustrations, 4pp. publisher's ads at end (some spotting at beginning and end). Original green cloth, stamped in gilt and black (rear hinge cracked, extremities lightly rubbed). Smith S720.

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