Ɛpsilon

To E. B. Tylor   30 April [1871]

Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

April 30th

Dear Sir

I thank you sincerely for your extremely kind & valuable present of Primitive Culture, received yesterday.1 You speak of regretting that you had not seen my Descent of man previously to writing your 2d. Chapt.; but I am certain to feel tenfold regret at not having read your book, as your knowledge about the early state of man is so wonderfully great.2

I am very sorry that it did not occur to me to send you my last Book, & I fear it is now too late; but I will not forget to send you my essay on Expression whenever it is published.3

With my best thanks, believe me. Yours faithfully & obliged | Ch. Darwin

Postmark: MY 1 71

1
CD’s annotated copy of Tylor 1871 is in the Darwin Library–CUL (see Marginalia 1: 810). CD cited it in Expression, pp. 88, 214, and 260.
2
In CD’s copy of Tylor 1871 (see n. 1, above), there is a note from Tylor expressing regret that chapter 2 was in print before Descent was published. The second chapter of Tylor 1871, vol. 1, discussed the development of European culture.
3
CD refers to Descent and Expression.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.1 Beckenham] before del ‘Bromley.’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7727,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7727