The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex By Charles Darwin, L.L.D., F.R.S. The Descent of Man in 2 volumes, Second USA Edition, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1872. Octavo. 2 vol. 8vo. [3], iv-vi, [1], 2-409, [1], [2] pages of publisher's advertisements) [2]; [3], iv-v, [4], 2-436, [12] pages of publisher's advertisements). Publisher's orange-red cloth with black decorations on the boards and gold lettering on the spines. Yellow coated endpapers and paste downs. Several in-text illustrations, with the postscript in volume two, both versos of title pages are blank. Both title pages dated 1872. Condition of Bindings Small octavo bound in the publisher's russet boards with double rules and black designs in the corners; gilt titles to spine. The covers are rubbed with some minor marks, both volumes with the head and foot ends chipped, the corners on both volumes are chipped and bent. Condition Inside Yellow coated endpapers, contemporary owner's name and address to both paste downs, some loss to the top corner of the endpaper in volume two. The pages are toned in both volumes, in volume one, a contemporary strip of newspaper left in between pages 40-41 which has left a brown strip not affecting text. Overall both volumes in very good condition, please refer to the pictures as they form part of the description. These volumes contain the first appearance of the word evolution, and a verbal description of humanity's ancient ancestors, which was no doubt disturbing to Victorian sensibilities. Darwin painted human ancestors as hairy tree dwellers. The majority of the book, however, focuses on sexual selection among other animal species. The first print run was very popular, selling 5000 copies right away. A landmark work in biological science, a paradigm shift in the way the animal kingdom's history was understood.