From R. F. Cooke to G. H. Darwin   13 August 1872

My dear Sir

I have been to the “Heliotype Company” & the result of the whole business is, that each plate will cost 2$\frac{1}{4}$^d or a set 1^s/4^d in round numbers, including the Titling.¹

The preliminary process amounts to the 14 G^s.

The explanation is, that they never bargained for so many subjects on a plate & that most of the plates are on a much larger paper than the page of the work.²

These prices now quoted are much lower (under these circumstances) than their scale & are almost cost price.

What I have seen of them, everything is very straightforward & above board & the result comes to this that the price of the volume must be such as to cover the 1/4 extra for these plates.

The titling is so much, because it is done by lithography & this is another printing & it costs them the 2/- p 100.

The numbers ought to have been given at first & c^d. then have been heliotyped in— it w^d. cost more than 2/- p 100 or quite as much if done by hand.

Your father must now make up his mind at once, as to the Nos being lithographed in so that we may get a head with the printing & begin with 5000.

Are we to charge the American & other editions 1/4 a set or 1/5 or 1/6.?³ As they sh^d. be informed at once.

Yours faithfully | Rob^t. Cooke

I trust to your kindly informing yr father of all this.

George Darwin Esq