A SEMINAL PAPER IN THE HISTORY OF EVOLUTION: WALLACE’S “ON THE ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO,” 1860
WALLACE, Alfred Russel. “On the Zoological Geography of the Malay Archipelago.” IN: Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Volume IV, Number 16. London: Longman, Green, et al., 1860. Octavo, original pink wrappers, uncut and unopened. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and slipcase.
First printing of “On the Zoological Geography of the Malay Archipelago,” the foundation for Wallace’s Malay Archipelago.
In this seminal paper, Wallace presents the first full description of what later became known as “Wallace’s line,” a line dividing the Malay Archipelago into two zoological regions-the Oriental and Australasian. Wallace’s research in the Malay islands, which “alone would have established him as one of the greatest English naturalists of the age,” formed the foundation of the book which would formulate the core of his thoughts on evolution, The Malay Archipelago (DSB XIV:135). On receiving this particular paper shortly before the publication of his Origin, Darwin praised Wallace and his work: “Your paper seems to me admirable in matter, style and reasoning… had I read it some months ago I should have profited from it for my forthcoming volume” (Life and Letters).
Fine condition.