In the first edition of Origin, Darwin wrote 'light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history.' In later editions he added 'Much' before 'Light'. On display is the 6th 'definitive' edition, which appeared in February 1872 in a print run of 3,000. It was extensively revised, with a new chapter added. Importantly, the word 'evolution' appeared in it for the first time.
Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. 6th ed. London: John Murray, 1882. Science QH 365 02
Darwin’s Origin of Species set the creation-evolution controversy squarely in the public domain. It generated reviews, articles and satires playing on the 'men from monkeys' angle. This 1861 issue of Punch contains an evolutionary squib anonymously penned by Sir Philip Egerton headed by the question: 'Am I a Man and a Brother?' Punch later featured the typographical 'Mr. G-G-G-O-O-O-rilla.'
'Monkeyana', Punch, 18 May 1861. Leith Journals AP 101 P8 1859-61
In 1881, artist Linley Sambourne illustrated the Rev. Charles Kinglsey's didactic fable The Water Babies, which not only contained references to Darwin, but also fairies called Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid. Here are Sambourne's caricatures of Richard Owen and Thomas Huxley, both peering at a captured water baby. Kingsley was also a naturalist, who admired Darwin's Origin of Species and was sent a presentation copy of the first edition.
Charles Kingsley, The Water-babies. London: Macmillan, 1896. General PR 4842 W3
