Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution work could leave the UK
A fragment from Charles Darwin's On The Origin Of Species, the work in which he outlined his theory of evolution, is at risk of leaving the UK unless a buyer can be found.
The handwritten, draft page, which even includes the words "natural selection", contains Darwin's corrections and reworking and "evidence of pauses for contemplation".
Darwin was born and grew up in Shrewsbury.
Some of the text differs substantially from what was eventually published in 1859, in the first edition of the book.
Arts, Heritage and Tourism Minister Michael Ellis has placed a temporary export bar on the page, from a private collection, and two others from Darwin's later publications, in the hope that a UK buyer will be found.
Written at Darwin's family home, Down House, page number 324 forms part of the English naturalist's conclusion for Chapter 8, which focuses on hybridism and is the only substantial part of the chapter from the draft to survive.
