Surviving Pages From The First Draft of The Origin

Page from Darwin's first draft of the Origin

DAR 185: 109af6r Origin Ms p 40 Sect 1 Variation Under Domestication On verso: Childrens' Drawings on verso of Origin leaves
Courtesy of Cambridge University Library

FD drawing of Aubergine and Carrot Cavalry on the backs of The Origin

DAR 185: 109af6v Drawing: Aubergine and Carrot Cavalry Watercolor; Initialled FD On recto: Draft of Origin leaves DAR 185: 109af6r
Courtesy of Cambridge University Library

Pages from Darwin's first draft of Origin of Species survived due to the drawings made by his children on the backs of these pages. This is becasue the Darwin household recycled their paper after its initial use. Once Charles Darwin recorded his notes or wrote a draft, this paper was then reused by his children for their artwork. Many of Darwin's original notes and drafts on The Origin survived becasue, as a father, he kept his children's artwork.

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Surviving Pages From The First Draft of Origin of Species