Charles Darwin's desk up for auction for £50,000
An antique desk with links to Shrewsbury's most famous son will go under the hammer later this month with an estimate of £50,000.
The author of On The Origin of Species in 1859 is understood to have given the desk to his son Sir Francis Darwin more than 130 years ago.
The desk, which is around 139 years old, is due to be sold by Hansons Auctioneers March Spring Fine Art Auction at their Derbyshire salesrooms later this month.
Owner Charles Hanson said: “Who wouldn’t want to sit at Darwin’s desk and hope that a bit of the family brilliance rubs off on them?
“According to information carefully gathered by our vendor, the desk was passed down through generations of the Darwin family.”
The Nottinghamshire seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the desk was given to Francis by Charles Darwin to enable him to store his biology samples in its many drawers.
A note attached to the desk states that it was later given by Francis Darwin to his eldest daughter Charlotte Elizabeth, who died aged 18 in 1869 and is buried at Elston, Nottinghamshire.
The note adds that, in 1900, Francis gave the desk to his son, William Darwin, rector of Thrumpton, Suffolk.
Mr Hanson said: “Our vendor tells us that Elizabeth Joan Darwin (nee Coke) then acquired the desk. For a time, she lived at Pinxton Manor, Nottinghamshire, and was married to Gilbert Darwin. They moved to Marset House in Oxton, Nottinghamshire, in 1936.
“She was a keen gardener and amateur naturalist, loved birds and animals and regularly attended church.
“The present owner acquired the desk and chair from Elizabeth Darwin, who died in 1990. She was responsible for the compilation of the Darwin family tree. Her extensive family history knowledge helped the present owner compile the desk’s provenance.”
Francis Darwin (1848-1925) was born at Down House, Downe, Kent. He was the third son and seventh child of Charles Darwin and his wife Emma Wedgwood.
As well as the desk, the auction will include a metamorphic chair which belonged to the Darwin family and a barometer similar to one used by Captain Robert Fitzroy, who played a part in the Darwin story.
Captain Fitzroy achieved lasting fame as the Captain of HMS Beagle during a Charles Darwin voyage which famously took five years to complete, from 1831 to 1836.
The auction runs from March 28-April 4. To find out more, email charleshanson@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk
