A lovely association copy signed by two generations of women in Charles Darwin’s family.

Both volumes have the ownership signature of Elizabeth Darwin, dated 1864, the daughter of the naturalist Charles Darwin, as well as that of his granddaughter, Gwen Raverat, the wood engraver, and author of Period Piece, dated 1926.

Elizabeth Darwin (1847-1926) was the sixth of Darwin’s ten children, living with her parents until they died, so it is likely these volumes were part of Charles Darwin’s library. Occasional spotting with shelf wear to extremities. A wonderful example of family heritage, female ownership, and how books were cherished and handed down in the Darwin family.

The Letters of Charles Lamb with a Sketch of His Life by Thomas Noon TalfourdLondon: Edward Moxon, 1837. 2 volumes. Hardback. Small Octavo. Half navy calf with marbled papercovered sides, spine labels not present. Frontispiece, x, 335 pages, 338 pages, ill. Vol. I frontispiece is an engraved portrait of Charles Lamb by Edward Smith from a painting by William Hazlitt, vol. II frontispiece is an engraved portrait of Lamb by W. Finden from a drawing of E. Wagemand.