Darwin's 'Origin of Species' sells for half million dollars

A first edition of Charles Darwin's "Origin ofSpecies" has sold for a record amount of just over half a milliondollars, the auction house said.Bonhams said the 160-year-old book sold for 500,075 dollars to ananonymous buyer in an online sale that concluded at midnightThursday. The winning bid was more than double the amount expected,Bonhams said in a news release.Described by Bonhams as "in pristine condition," the book, whose fulltitle is "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,"had been held in a private collection for nearly 100 years.Darwin, a British naturalist and biologist who developed the theoryof evolution by observing and studying birds, plants and fossilsaround the world, published the book in 1859. His revolutionaryscientific theory is considered a turning point in the history ofscience as it clashed with belief in creation taught by establishedreligions.The book was among a number of first edition presentation copies thatwere sent to family and friends shortly after it was published. Itsoriginal owner was German botanist Robert Caspary, whose work isdiscussed in other Darwin publications. It bears the inscription"Professor Caspary / Koenigsberg / from the author."Caspary's copy was sold in the early 20th century to Edward BradfordTitchener, an English-born psychologist and professor at CornellUniversity in New York, according to Bonhams. It descended to thecurrent owner, who was not identified.In advertising the auction Bonhams said this "wonderful association"made it "a once in a generation opportunity."