To J. V. Carus   23 September 1872

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

Sep 23 1872

My dear Sir

I recd yesterday your History of Zoology, & I thank you very sincerely for this present.

I consider the title of your book one of the greatest honours which has ever been paid me.1

What enormous labour it must have cost you— I wish it was in English for I then could read the whole; but I hope soon to read portions of it.

You will have recd. some time ago the last of the proof-sheets of my book on expression— I have no idea whether it will be successful & interest many persons; but I hear that Herr Koch has ordered 2000 plates.2 The Americans have ordered 3000— The Russians 2000; the French 500 & I believe the Dutch 500. I hope that you have made a favorable arrangement with Herr Koch, for it is to you & not to him that I give the right of translation.3 I most sincerely hope that the mountain-air & rest have done your health some good;4 & if at any time you feel so inclined, it wd be a real pleasure to me to hear how you are | My dear Sir | yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin

LS

1
CD refers to Geschichte der Zoologie bis auf Joh. Müller und Charl. Darwin (History of zoology up to Johannes Müller and Charles Darwin; Carus 1872a). CD’s copy is the Darwin Library–Down.
2
Eduard Koch was arranging for the German translation of Expression (Carus trans. 1872b) to be published by E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. The photographic plates were being produced by the Heliotype Company. In his letter to John Murray of 30 August [1872], CD stated that Koch had ordered 3000 plates.
3
CD made a gift of the right of translation to Carus (see letter to R. F. Cooke 4 August 1872).
4
On Carus’s illness, see his letter to CD of 14 July 1872.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8531,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8531