Pages from one of Charles Darwin's notebooks from the 'Beagle' voyage

Charles Darwin's notebooks from the 'Beagle' voyage now form part of the collection at Down House in Kent.

Throughout his voyage Charles Darwin made his observations in small notebooks. After each day he would rewrite these notes, forming a comprehensive journal. The completed journal contains over 750 pages bound in alum-tawed – that is, aluminium salt-treated – leather. It represents Darwin's thoughts and interpretations over five of the most important years of his life – thoughts which would influence his most famous work, ‘On the Origin of Species’ (1859).