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From Giovanni Canestrini1   6 May 1876

Gabinetto di Zoologia | ed Anatomia Comparata | Della R. Universita di Padova Padova

li 6 Mai 1876.

Hochgeehrtester Herr,

Ich habe di zwei Bände “The Variation of Animals and Plants ecc”., zweite Auflage richtig erhalten.2 Die Unione tipografico-editrice torinese druckt bereits die Uebersetzung ins italienische, und zwei Hefte sind bereits veröffentlicht. Ich danke wärmstens für die schnelle Zusendung der zweiten Auflage.

Gleich darauf wird die Uebersetzung von Expression of Emotions veröffentlicht werden, da oben genannte Unione alle Ihre Werke, in unsere Sprache übertragen, sammeln will.3

Ich höre dass Sie ein neues Buch über die Carnivore Pflanzen geschrieben haben.4 Der Direktor der oben genannter Gesellschaft (der Unione tipografico-editrice)5 hat mich beauftragt, Sie zu bitten, ihm das Recht der Uebersetzung ins italienische vorzubehalten; eben weil er allein in Italien die Sammlung Ihrer Werke, in unsere Sprache übersetzt, besitzen will; und er meint, es sei dies nothwendig, damit er leichter alle Werke, auch die weniger gesuchten, verkaufen könne. Wollen Sie gefälligst hierüber mir eine Antwort geben.

Mit der groesster Hochachtung | Ergebenster | Prof. G. Canestrini

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
Canestrini was translating Variation 2d ed. into Italian (Canestrini trans. 1876); he had requested a copy of the second edition in October 1875 (see Correspondence vol. 23, letter from Giovanni Canestrini, 22 October 1875).
3
Expression was translated into Italian by Canestrini and Francesco Bassani; it was published in 1878 (Canestrini and Bassani trans. 1878). Unione Tipografico-Editrice of Turin continued to publish Italian translations of CD’s works, but does not appear to have published a collected edition.
4
Insectivorous plants was translated by Canestrini and Pier Andrea Saccardo, and published by Unione Tipografico-Editrice of Turin in 1878 (Canestrini and Saccardo trans. 1878).
5
G. Chiantore was the director of Unione Tipografico-Editrice of Turin; he has not been further identified (see Correspondence vol. 23, letter from R. F. Cooke, 8 October 1875 and n. 4).

From Giovanni Canestrini1   6 May 1876

Gabinetto di Zoologia | ed Anatomia Comparata | Della R. Universita di Padova Padova

6 May 1876

Dear Sir,

I have duly received the two volumes of the second edition of “The Variation of Animals and Plants etc.”.2 The Unione tipografico-editrice torinese will soon publish the Italian translation, and two fascicles are already printed. I thank you most warmly for the quick dispatch of the second edition.

Immediately afterwards the translation of Expression of Emotions will be published, since the above named Unione wants to translate all your works in our language in a collection.3 I hear that you have written a new book on carnivorous plants.4 The director of the above named society (the Unione tipografico-editrice)5 has instructed me to ask you to reserve for him the Italian translation rights; precisely because he wants to have sole rights in Italy to your collected works, translated into our language; and he thinks this would be necessary, since he could more easily sell all the works including the less sought after. Will you most kindly give me an answer on this.

Most respectfully | yours | Prof. G. Canestrini

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original German, see p. 155.
2
Canestrini was translating Variation 2d ed. into Italian (Canestrini trans. 1876); he had requested a copy of the second edition in October 1875 (see Correspondence vol. 23, letter from Giovanni Canestrini, 22 October 1875).
3
Expression was translated into Italian by Canestrini and Francesco Bassani; it was published in 1878 (Canestrini and Bassani trans. 1878). Unione Tipografico-Editrice of Turin continued to publish Italian translations of CD’s works, but does not appear to have published a collected edition.
4
Insectivorous plants was translated by Canestrini and Pier Andrea Saccardo, and published by Unione Tipografico-Editrice of Turin in 1878 (Canestrini and Saccardo trans. 1878).
5
G. Chiantore was the director of Unione Tipografico-Editrice of Turin; he has not been further identified (see Correspondence vol. 23, letter from R. F. Cooke, 8 October 1875 and n. 4).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10499,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10499