Rare book from the personal library of Alexander Graham Bell: The Making of Species by Douglas Dewar and Frank Finn. London: John Lane, 1909. Hardcover, 6.25 x 9, 400 pages. Stamped on the first free end page with Alexander Graham Bell's ownership stamp, featuring his facsimile signature: "Library of Alexander Graham Bell." Also bears the bookplate of Bell's son-in-law, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, affixed to the front pastedown. It is a significant scientific work, offering a discussion of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, objections to the theory, the means by which traits are inherited, and factors of evolution. Numerous interesting passages throughout have been marked in pencil. Book condition: VG/None, with sunning to spine, a stain to the front board, and wear to the head of the spine.
This is an extremely rare example, as Bell's scientific library resides with the Smithsonian Institution, and Bell's papers are held by the Library of Congress. This book was evidently passed to his son-in-law, an influential figure in the success of the National Geographic Society, and thus escaped acquisition by those institutions. We have been able to find no record of other volumes from Bell's library in the marketplace. A unique book connecting two of the 19th century's foremost scientific minds.
