Darwin's 'Origin of Species' appeared in a print run of 1,250 copies
On this day · 24 November 1859
On November 24, 1859, Darwin published the book that founded modern biology — and the entire first printing was snapped up at once.
On November 24, 1859, the London publisher John Murray issued Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, priced at fifteen shillings. The first edition ran to just 1,250 copies — modest for a book that would reshape how humanity understands life.
Demand was immediate. Murray had offered the title to the trade at his autumn sale two days earlier, and booksellers took up the whole stock before publication day. The lending-library giant Mudie’s alone ordered 500 copies, prompting Darwin’s wife Emma to marvel at “the whole edition selling off at once.”
After thirteen months correcting proofs, Darwin recorded simply in his journal: “1250 copies printed.”
A second edition of 3,000 copies followed quickly on January 7, 1860, lightly revised. Darwin had spent more than two decades gathering evidence before going to print, fearing the reaction his quiet argument for common descent would provoke.
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