SELECTION

Nevins was a passionate opponent of Darwinism, and the present item, composed any time after 1854 (the latest date of the various works referred to in the text), reflects the crisis of faith in the period leading up to the publication of the 'Origin of Species'. Nevins would set out his position on 'Natural Selection, Sexual Selection, Evolution' in his 1872 inaugural address as President of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool (Proceedings, No. 26, 1872, pp.1-26), attacking the 'imperfect and one-sided view' put forward by 'the advocates of man's lowly origins'.

8vo: 56 pp. In original blue printed wraps. Unopened. Good, on lightly-aged paper, in creased and slightly-chipped wraps. The title of Smith's catalogue of Wallace's collection ('Read Jan. 15, 1863') ends '[...] By Frederick Smith, Assistant in the Zoological Department, British Museum. Communicated by W. W. Saunders, Esq., F.R.S. & L.S.' It runs from p.6 to p.48. Detailed catalogue preceded by brief note by Smith. Smith's 'Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects' had appeared in 7 parts between 1853 and 1859.

Ephemera relating to this even in the Auditorium of the Wellcome Building, including the Prospectus and application for tickets, one page, 4to; tickets for the Symposium and Buffet Lunch (2); and the Programme (speakers include J.S. Weiner, Asa Briggs, J.M. Thoday, F.E. Zeuner, etc), 4pp., 8vo, brief notes on lectures added by Nehemiah Asherson, Harley Street specialist.