This deluxe gift edition of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species is presented with gold-embossed cover design with decorative page-edges and beautiful endpapers. The controversial theory of natural selection proposed in this book made Darwin internationally famous and put the issue of evolution at the center of a fierce debate. Some 150 years after the book's first publication, this battle still rages. Appearing here in this beautiful foil-stamped edition, On the Origin of Species includes a fascinating preface by George Davidson and includes over 100 delicately detailed and informative contemporary illustrations, many of them relating to Darwin's discoveries on H.M.S. Beagle . The text used for this edition was the last to be published during Darwin's lifetime and is considered to be the definitive version. ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Epic Classics brings together stunning large-format hardback editions of classic works, presented with striking illustrated page edges and classic illustrations throughout.