Seibutsu shigen: ichimei shugenron (Origin of living things: or, in another name, an origin of species)

Seibutsu shigen: ichimei shugenron ["Origin of living things: or, in another name, an origin of species"]

Darwin, Charles [original text by]; Tachibana, Senzaburō [translated by].

Tōkyō: Keizai Zasshisha, Meiji 29 [1896]. First edition.

The first full Japanese translation of Darwin's On the origin of species, published around nine years before the first translation by a biologist. The translator, Tachibana Senzaburō (1867－1901), taught sociology and pedagogy at Gakushuin University. He was a friend and schoolmate of Natsume Sōseki and a few years after the publication of this book went to Germany and the UK to study education. Tachibana's translation features a portrait of Darwin (somewhat foxed) and one folding plate featuring Darwin's 'Tree of Life' diagram.

Almost all of the records for this title in OCLC are for the later 1905 translation (published under a different title and produced by a different translator), not this 1896 translation. The only two physical copies of this edition that can be confirmed in OCLC are at the National Diet Library in Tokyo and the Huntington Library. This copy has the ex-library stamp of Kanchōrō (the name of the former residence of novelist and translator Mori Ōgai (1862-1922)), suggesting Ōgai may have been a previous owner. An important work, with excellent provenance.

One volume, complete. Original gray cloth boards; gilt-stamped Japanese title to spine. Extremities lightly worn and bumped. Ex-ownership inscription to title. Sticker removals and tears to endpapers. Occasional internal foxing and browning. Ex-library stamp of Kanchōrō (the name of Mori Ōgai's former residence). Small hole to colophon. Binding lightly cracked. 41, 2, 17, 12, 8, 958, 3, 23, [2] leaves of plates (1 folded). Includes index and publisher's ads. Text-block edges marbled. 19.3 x 13.4 cm.

# darwin-01

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