In 1859, Charles Darwin began work on a text that is now among the pivotal works of world scientific and biological history: “On the Origin of Species“. This text explains the theory of evolution and examines how organisms of the same species gradually evolve according to a process of natural selection. “On the Origin of Species” is a very important text because at a time of strong religious beliefs it opposes the Bible and rejects creationism.

Darwin’s early writings received a lot of criticism and so the text was reworked in several publications. Today, graphic designer Simon Phillipson has combined into one book all the changes, from 1859 to 1872, from the first to the sixth edition.

Phillipson’s project began in 2010 while studying at the London College of Communication. It is a tribute to the great English naturalist and a unique exercise in design and typography.

“Combining my interest in Darwin’s story on evolution and letterpress printing and book design, I started out with a rough theme for this project. Eventually, it became clear to me that I wanted to create a book that visualised ‘the evolution’ of the story on evolution. By highlighting all those changes made between each of the six editions.”

– Read also: BIBLE THE, the Bible reorganized in alphabetical order

Phillipson’s design shows the evolution of the theory by means of a double division of the pages: on the left side of the book all the modifications made over time are shown in bronze, while on the right side the definitive edition is printed in black.

This new edition is a treasure for all Darwin’s admirers, is printed on semi-transparent biblical paper, has 964 pages and can be purchased on the graphic designer’s personal website at a cost of 27 euros.

Words by Federica Cimorelli