To John Murray   10 May [1871]1

Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

May 10th.

Private ie. not to be forwarded

My dear Sir

I am very much perplexed what to decide about printed photographs & wood cuts. I believe the former would certainly be the best. I’m equally perplexed whether to try the Woodbury or Heliotype processes.2 You think the latter best; while Mr. Rejlander (who wishes much that his photos should be well given) feels confident that the Woodbury process is best.3 Dr Wallich has just been here & considers the autotype process (Rathbone) superior to either of the above.4 Would you make some enquiries with respect to the latter, as the knowledge might be of use to you on other occasions? Please to read the enclosed note, which is written so that you may forward it to the above 2 or 3 establishments; & my note will save you the trouble of making the enquiries which I want answered.5

You must ask for the return of my letter & of the photographs from the first establishment to which they may be sent. I am sorry to give so much trouble.

My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

P.S. I shall want the photos ultimately returned to me.—

LS(A)

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to R. F. Cooke, 8 May 1871.
3
Oscar Gustaf Rejlander had supplied CD with a number of photographs for Expression, some of which were commissioned by CD himself. CD’s working relationship with Rejlander is discussed in detail in Prodger 2009.
4
CD refers to George Charles Wallich; one of his photographs was used in Expression (pl. III, figure 2, facing p. 202; see Prodger 2009, p. 114). The Autotype Company developed other processes for reproducing photographs; their offices were at 35 Rathbone Place, London (J. Moore 2005).
5
The enclosed note has not been found.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.3 Private … forwarded] in CD’s hand

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7749,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7749