Hello ConchLers,

with all the recent messages on Charles Darwin's birthday, and on the
extinction of mollusks, I now wonder how many copies of the1st printing of
Darwin's "On the origin of species" still survive today. It is common
knowledge that 1.250 copies were printed, and an often repeated story is
that the book sold out on the very first day. But where are all these copies
now (a single copy may be worth more than 100,000 US$!). Anyone any idea?
Another, more shell related question about the Origin: Darwin did not bother
much about mollusks (he liked cirripeds better - must have been mad), but
are mollusks mentioned anywhere in the book?

Marien
www.mollus.nl