Today marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of one of the world’s most important and controversial books — Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. A first edition of the book, which had been kept in a bathroom bookcase for years in southern Britain, sold for more than $172,000.00 (100,000 pounds) today after going thru Christie’s auction house.
Evolution and science newsgroups are discussing how an anonymous telephone bidder purchased the 1859 print run of the book on the 150th anniversary of the work’s original publication. It is Darwin’s seminal book that shared his theory of evolution with a lay audience.
When Darwin originally published the book, most scientists accepted his theories on evolution. The general public wasn’t as easy to convince, however, mainly due to the fact that Darwin’s theories challenged established religious beliefs. Not much has changed in 150 years.
As the USENET newsgroups point out, other events are planned around the world commemorating the 150th anniversary of the publication of “On the Origin of Species” and the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth, Feb. 12, 1809.
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