The Descent of Man
The Descent of Man is Charles Darwin's book on human evolution and sexual selection, first published by John Murray on 24 February 1871 in two volumes. The first edition exists in two issues, told apart by their errata. A revised edition of November 1874 is the text most often reprinted.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First edition
- J. Murray, 1871
- First published
- John Murray, London, 1871
The first edition of The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin was published in London by J. Murray in 1871. We track 1 edition.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st J. Murray1871 Hardback Sold £1,500 · Mar 2025 I own The Descent of Man, J. Murray 1871 Log in to want this
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Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 52 on Open Library, 26 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 26 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
Pictures of the book
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Freely licensed pictures of the work. They are not necessarily the edition you hold: check the points on each edition's page.
More by Charles Darwin
- The Voyage of the Beagle1839 · 1 edition
- On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection1859 · 1 edition
- The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication1868 · 1 edition
- The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex1870 · 2 editions
- The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals1872 · 1 edition
- Insectivorous Plants1875 · 1 edition
- The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin1887 · 1 edition
- The Autobiography of Charles Darwin1929 · 1 edition
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How to Identify a First Edition
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Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Descent of Man?
The first edition of The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin was published in London by J. Murray in 1871.
How many editions of The Descent of Man are there?
We track 1 edition of The Descent of Man, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Where these facts come from
- The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Freeman, The Descent of Man (editorial introduction), Darwin Online (darwin-online.org.uk)
- The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Wikidata (wikidata.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 22 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.