Insectivorous plants ready for publication. Asks price. Suggests advertisements in Nature and Gardeners’ Chronicle.

Sorry to hear price of 15s [for Insectivorous plants]. Asks that JM consider 14s. Fears small sale at 15s. It is his fault – he never can help making his books too big.

Mentioned to Appleton only that stereotypes [for Insectivorous plants] would be provided for "a little above cost price". Glad the price of the book will be 14s. He likes making money, but cares more for wider distribution of his books. Is uneasy about sale of Insectivorous plants.

Very glad about sales [of Insectivorous plants]. CD had hard work to persuade Murray to increase printing to 1250 copies, but owns he thought that number would last for eternity. U. S. publication and French, German, and Russian translations in the offing.

On publishing details of Variation [2d ed.].

CD mortified and annoyed to hear that RC has complained to Messrs Clowes of the extra expense because proofs for Climbing plants were put on wider paper at CD’s request.

Thanks RC for his kind note. It was only Climbing plants for which he wanted the proofs to have wide margins. Wishes he understood more about printing. It would be a great convenience to authors if exterior margins of proofs were broad.

Fears Variation [2d ed.] will not be ready for Murray’s annual sale unless printer sends proof more quickly. Arrangements with Italian publishers.

Sends list for complimentary copies and suggests various arrangements related to publication of Climbing plants.

Thinks a revised edition of Orchids is needed.

Climbing plants has sold better than he expected.

Thinks another 1000 of Origin may have to be printed; he has no corrections to make.

Asks JM for four copies of his Journal of researches [2d ed.] at wholesale price. Also asks for total number of copies sold.

Reminds RC that he will lose £200 unless Variation [2d ed.] sells pretty well in the U. S. [and therefore Murray’s price for stereotypes should be kept low].

Is unwilling that Insectivorous plants be stereotyped until he has profited by criticisms and new facts. It would be better to wait a few years and correct the book thoroughly before stereotyping.

Asks to be informed whenever more copies of his books are printed, as there may be errors to correct.

Asks how many copies of Origin have been printed "from the first". The number will be "a good puff" when listed in the new edition of Variation.

Thanks for gift [of books requested in 1026]. Sale is a good deal more than he had anticipated.

Asks JM for information on sales of his Journal of researches and to procure for him a copy of the American edition. He is curious to see if the part on slavery has been altered.

Convinced Cross and self fertilisation is of permanent value, though an extremely dry, special subject. Thinks it will sell for many years and suggests a printing of 1500 copies. Asks that a good indexer be found and put to work. Appleton has agreed to publish it

and Orchids, [2d ed.], if Murray’s will supply stereotype plates.

Is satisfied with sales of his books.

Did not expect Orchids to sell more than 600 or 700 copies.

Only bad item is Expression, which astonishes him, since it sells well in Germany.

Asks size of printing of Cross and self-fertilisation; thinks 1500 would be ample.

Sends MS [of Forms of flowers]. Since sale is likely to be small, Murray may not want to publish it on usual terms. CD thinks it may be his last book and asks Murray to publish it on most favourable terms he can afford.

Has not heard from Appleton about an American edition [of Forms of flowers]. Asks how many copies Murray is printing.

Asks exact number of copies of recent printing of Origin.

Approves stereotyping Orchids,

but fears he cannot approve of stereotyping Cross and self-fertilisation and Forms of flowers. It is too soon for the latter, and he is too busy to correct the former.

On publishing details for various CD books.

Has no corrections for new issue of Descent [2d ed.].

Questions amount of cheque for profits.