Sotheran's Latest “Piccadilly Notes”

Item 91 is a look at one of the most notable scientific theories in the making. It is a limited presentation edition published for delegates celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's On The Origin of Species, published in 1909. The title is The Foundations of the Origin of Species, a Sketch Written in 1842 by Charles Darwin. Darwin had returned from his voyage on the Beagle, where he made the observations that in time would lead to his theory of evolution, six years earlier. It would be another decade and a half before Darwin would begin to discuss his conclusions. However, as early as 1842, Darwin was making notes about what he saw that were precursors to the conclusions he would reach. At one point he notes that organisms found in different surroundings often have slight differences, while disused features atrophy. These notes were unknown to the world until after the death of Darwin's wife in 1896, fourteen years after his own. The Darwins had an under-stair cupboard where they placed scrap paper for later reuse. Fortunately, the paper with these notes was never reused.£1,495 (US $ 2,330).

Item 74 is a collection of 20 mounted color photographs, circa 1959, of the Great Hall of the People in the People's Republic of China, better known then in the west as “Red China,” or “Communist China.” It was one of ten major buildings built by the government at the time of the Great Leap Forward. It is an enormous building used to house the legislature and other government functions. It combined modern and historic architecture and art, along with some of the sterility of communist orthodoxy. While the construction was impressive, the Great Leap Forward was an economic and humanitarian disaster, production falling rather than leaping forward, and millions of people dying from starvation and brutality. These photographs were evidently intended to show the government in a more positive light. £1,400 (US $2,181).

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