Darwin first edition sells for $120k at Swann Galleries

Swann Galleries’ Spring Fine Books auction on April 23 achieved $1,209,919, far exceeding the pre-sale estimate of $645,200 to $930,200. The sale, featuring a Focus on Women section, had an 88% sell-through rate and reached 121% of its high estimate. A first edition of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" sold for $120,000. Other strong performers included children's books, astronomy, and early printed works. The auction included an unnamed private collection of early printed books and items from Professor Owen Gingerich's collection. Devon Eastland, senior specialist for books and manuscripts, noted robust competition across categories.