When first published in 1859, the central theory of On the Origin of Species – that the natural order was not permanent and unchanging but a gradual process of evolution – met with fierce opposition. Yet the first edition sold out within a day and a new era in human thought had begun. The seeds of Darwin’s explosive ideas were planted during his expedition to South America on board HMS Beagle, but fear of their probable impact led him to spend 20 years in rigorous intellectual enquiry before publishing his theories.

On the Origin of Species remains one of the most influential books ever written. This buckram-bound edition features a magnificent binding design by Neil Packer and an introduction by Richard Keynes, Darwin’s great-grandson.