About this Item
A third printing of the first edition - reprinted with corrections in 1977. The book was first published in 1976, and reprinted with corrections the same year, and in this printing in 1977. ***A near fine copy in black cloth-covered boards, with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. The boards are clean and unmarked. No bumps or tears to the cloth. No creasing. Corners sharp. The page block edges don't have the usual foxing, just a few small spots to the bottom edge. There is also no reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally the book is also near fine with no inscriptions or other annotations. Pages clean. No creases or tears. ***In an unusually near fine dustwrapper, with the fabulous wraparound surrealistic illustration taken from the painting 'The Expectant Valley' by Desmond Morris. The dustwrapper has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £2.95 net. The dustwrapper is complete, with virtually no rubbing or creasing at the edges, even on the spine - just a tiny loss of surface colour on the fore-edge of the front foldover edge. No chips or tears. Very unusually also, there is virtually none of the usual fading to the colour on the spine. The white inner flaps are slightly browned at the edges, otherwise the dustwrapper is bright and clean. ***224 pages including a Bibliography, Index and Key to bibliography at the back of the book. 222mm x 140mm. ***'Richard Dawkins first came to prominence with his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene", which popularised the gene-centred view of evolution and introduced the term meme. With his book "The Extended Phenotype" (1982), he introduced into evolutionary biology the influential concept that the phenotypic effects of a gene are not necessarily limited to an organism's body, but can stretch far into the environment. In 2006, he founded the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. "The Selfish Gene" is a 1976 book on evolution by the ethologist Richard Dawkins, in which the author builds upon the principal theory of George C. Williams's "Adaptation and Natural Selection" (1966). Dawkins uses the term "selfish gene" as a way of expressing the gene-centred view of evolution (as opposed to the views focused on the organism and the group), popularising ideas developed during the 1960s by W. D. Hamilton and others. From the gene-centred view, it follows that the more two individuals are genetically related, the more sense (at the level of the genes) it makes for them to behave cooperatively with each other.' (Wiki) ***'Four thousand million years ago molecules with the power to make copies of themselves first appeared in the sea. What was the fate of these ancient replicators? They did not die out: they are masters of the survival arts. But do not look for them floating loose in the sea; they gave up that cavalier freedom long ago. Now they swarm in huge colonies, safe inside gigantic lumbering robots, manipulating the outside world by remote control. They are in all of us; they created us, body and mind; and their preservation is the sole reason for our existence. They have come a long way, those replicators. Now they go by the name of genes, and we are their survival machines.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A third printing of Richard Dawkins' first published book, published with corrections - probably the most famous work of genetic science - in really beautiful collector's condition. All three printings from 1976-77 are rarely found in this near fine condition. The book is prone to a reading lean, and the jacket is nearly always either torn, chipped or spine-faded. This is a wonderful copy. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Seller Inventory # 8610
Contact seller
Report this item
Bibliographic Details
Title: THE SELFISH GENE (First edition - third ...
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP), Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP
Publication Date: 1977
Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: Desmond Morris (Jacket design)
Condition: Near Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
Edition: First Edition
