Darwin and Wallace: the lost photograph

I’d heard the legend, of course. Every Darwin groupie has. The missing photograph of the two independent discoverers of evolution by means of Natural Selection, Darwin and Wallace, standing side-by-side. Together. In the same frame.

The incorrigible sceptic in me had always dismissed the tale as a myth. Wishful thinking. It never happened. But wouldn’t it be fantastic if it had?

And then, last week, browsing the History of Science section in one of my favourite second-hand bookshops, I chanced upon a collection of Thomas Henry Huxley’s essays, Darwiniana. I picked it up to examine it, and this fell out:

Darwin and Wallace — The legendary missing photograph: Darwin (R) and Wallace (L).

There’s a Pulitzer in this for me, mark my words.

20-Apr-2013

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Comments

7 responses to “Darwin and Wallace: the lost photograph”

Lynn

10/05/2013

I’m really disappointed.

Reply
Richard Carter, FCD

10/05/2013

I think it’s a cracking photo.

Reply
Bill Mechior

16/07/2013

Wensleydale cheese wasn’t made on a large scale until the end of the 19th century, and it seems unlikely that Wallace could have survived without it. The photo must be a fake.

Reply
John S. Wilkins

17/07/2013

You can tell it’s a PhotoShop job…

Reply
GrrlScientist

08/01/2019

wallace was bald??

Reply
Russell Musgrove

08/01/2019

I’m glad to see this has finally seen the light of day. Just think of the attention it will get and the money it could be sold for. Pulitzer? I think this deserves the big one, the Nobel!

Reply
Farooq Hussain

03/02/2025

Leaving the Wensleydale issue aside for a moment, he’s forgotten his crackers again! This is an epic contribution, and I’m shocked though unsurprised that it’s not been reproduced by the great Richard Dawkins in his most recent epic tome.

Reply

Darwin and Wallace: the lost photograph

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7 responses to “Darwin and Wallace: the lost photograph”

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