LONDON (AP) – A first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species book sold for about 40,000 pounds ($60,000) Thursday at an auction conducted by Keys.

Hamish Riley-Smith, a local book dealer, bought the work, which was still in its original embossed green binding, said Keys auctioneer Andrew Bullock.

Written for a lay audience, On the Origin of Species outlined Darwin’s theory of natural selection, which in turn provided the foundation for the modern understanding of evolution.

Keys, a Norwich, England-based auction house, said the book was one of 1,250 copies first printed in 1859.

This is a bumper year for Darwin fans, who are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the scientific luminary’s birth. Celebrations earlier this year included a landmark exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum, prayers at Darwin’s tomb in Westminster Abbey, and a host of parties, lectures and exhibits around the world.

The 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species is Nov. 24.
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Darwin’s Collected Works: http://darwin-online.org.uk/

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