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The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Superb, but exaggerated, review [of Orchids, by M. J. Berkeley] in London Review [& wkly J. Polit. 4 (1862): 553–4]. Asa Gray thinks almost as highly. "I have not been a fool, as I thought I was, to publish." The Athenæum review will hinder sales greatly.
It is not certain cuts are wanted by an American publisher [of Orchids].
Has fixed price of £10 for Schweizerbart [Stuttgart publisher].
Account of Orchids.
CD is well content with sale of 768 copies [of Orchids]. Hopes and expects remainder will ultimately be sold.
Reports misprint in announcement of his book [Orchids].
Asks that a copy of Origin be sent to Thomas Rivers.
Curious about sale of Orchids. It is too stiff for the public. "If praise from Botanists would sell, it would go off well."
Has made progress [on Variation]. Hopes it will go to press in the autumn. Lists his needs for cuts to be made – altogether 50.
Supposes Origin has ceased selling. Would be sorry to have labour of another edition. A new French edition is wanted.
Thanks for advertisement, and pleased Murray likes title (of Variation).
There is no chance of publication [of Variation] by autumn, because of CD’s illness.
Informs CD third edition of Origin is exhausted. Proposes a new edition. Has CD any changes? Since demand is slowing up, proposes printing only 1250 copies and deferring payment of CD’s share until sales have repaid manufacturing costs.
CD is pleased [about need for a new edition of Origin] but even more grieved – for it will delay his next book [Variation]. Progress of natural history will make many changes necessary in Origin. Nevertheless, proceeds with 32 more woodcuts for Variation.
Printing [of 4th edition of Origin] nearly complete. Will print 1000 copies which, at present rate of sale, may last three to five years.
Has corrected and improved Origin.
Now hopes to make real progress [on Variation].
On reflection, in view of the extensive additions CD has made to Origin, has decided to print 1500 copies [of 4th ed.].
4th edition of Origin will soon be bound. Suggests sending copies to scientific periodicals that might notice it. Hopes JM will specify in advertisements that the work is corrected and enlarged. Hopes pages will be cut. Only insanity accounts for this not being done in England.
Proposes to delay issue [of 4th ed. of Origin] until November to obtain better market conditions. Now printing 1250 copies.
Explains practice of not cutting pages is due to propensity of English public to read books without buying them.
Will attend to CD’s wishes regarding six presentation copies [of Origin, 4th ed.] for England and America.
Arrangements for woodcuts [in Variation]. Hopes to be ready to print early in 1867.
Encloses letter from Asa Gray [5160] about Appleton’s refusal to alter their plates for a new edition of Origin.
CD asks JM to consider Gray’s plan to have the English edition compete with the American.
JM states he will publish [Variation] on same basis as Origin, i.e., paying CD two-thirds of the profits.
In response to Asa Gray’s suggestion, he could supply Ticknor & Fields with 250 copies [of Origin, 4th ed.] at half-price.
A letter from Asa Gray informs CD that Ticknor & Fields will not publish a new edition of Origin to compete with Appleton’s unrevised edition. They recommend sending copies of the English edition for the American market.