Charles Darwin would be 214 this month. I was asked to give a short talk as part of Evolution Month. I decided to read On the Origin of Species (published by Darwin in 1859) and try to come up with something interesting to share.
I found myself thinking about something from around the same time - Christmas cards. The Victorian era was when holiday cards became popular. I’ve always enjoyed that the Victorians favored weird images for their cards - dead birds, murderous frogs, polar bears mauling arctic travelers - nothing was too strange.
There was a mash-up opportunity here! Specifically, Darwin’s words (edited lightly) could be paired up with Victorian card art to create Darwin Day Greeting Cards. (Note: the names of the artists who worked on these cards are mostly lost so I am unable to give the proper credit for these images.)
No one supposes that all individuals of the same species are cast in the same actual mould. These individual differences are of the highest importance.
On the Origin of Species - Variation Under Nature
It is the most closely allied forms which, having nearly the same structure and habits, come into the severest competition with each other. Consequently, Each new species during the progress of its formation, will generally press hardest on its nearest kindred.
On the Origin of Species - Natural Selection
In the following quote, Darwin is reflecting on the origins of modern pears:
Gardeners of the classical period, who cultivated the best pears they could procure, never thought what splendid fruit we should eat. We owe our excellent fruit to their having chosen and preserved the best varieties they could find.
On the Origin of Species - Unconscious Selection
Thank you for reading and Happy Darwin Day!