From John Murray   31 May [1871]¹

My Dear Sir

Cooke has had no little trouble in collecting the information needed to decide between the different styles of Photography, wch will account for the delay in furnishing it to you. I have no doubt you have made the best choice.²

It seems to me essential that every plate sh^d be numbered for the sake of reference—& it will not greatly matter if the numbers do not quite agree with the order of precedence in the book. This will be a lesser evil than delaying the printing off of Photographs wch depend often on the weather—

An arrangement ought however to be made beforehand with M^r Rejlander³ that the glass plates of his negatives shall be of such a size as to allow room below the heads—for a number & a Title—Laughter—Anger—Sorrow or the like, wch sh^d be neatly scratched out on the glass in a clear writing

We have made out an estimate for a cheap Edition of the Origin of Species & find it may be got into a volume, somewhat like Lyells Elements (Students Edⁿ) of about 450 pages & sold for 7/6—⁴ The profit will of course be limited, in proportion to the number sold— but for this I dare say you will be prepared, as I am

I remain My Dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | John Murray

Chas Darwin Esq