Surviving Pages From The First Draft of The Origin
DAR 185: 109af6r
Origin Ms p 40 Sect 1 Variation Under Domestication
On verso: Childrens' Drawings on verso of Origin leaves
Courtesy of Cambridge University Library
Courtesy of Cambridge University Library
DAR 185: 109af6v
Drawing: Aubergine and Carrot Cavalry
Watercolor; Initialled FD
On recto: Draft of Origin leaves DAR 185: 109af6r
Courtesy of Cambridge University Library
Courtesy of Cambridge University Library
Pages from Darwin's first draft of Origin of Species survived due to the drawings made by his children on the backs of these pages. This is becasue the Darwin household recycled their paper after its initial use. Once Charles Darwin recorded his notes or wrote a draft, this paper was then reused by his children for their artwork. Many of Darwin's original notes and drafts on The Origin survived becasue, as a father, he kept his children's artwork.
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