From G. Chiantore to John Murray   18 May 1875

Società | L’Unione Tip-Editrice | Torinese | già Ditta Pomba e C. | Torino | Via Carlo Alberto, no 33 | Gabinetto del Direttore

Torino, il 18th. of May 1875

Mr. John Murray Editor | London

This house has already published some works of English Autors, translated in Italian;—Is advised to publish also “The variation of animals in its domestic state” of. Darwin; Though the sale of the first editions has not been of much encouragement till now, we hope on the sale of more copies yet, to recover our expences.

What would decide this house to publish also the said work of Darwin, it is to obtain the clichets of the English edition for a price not superior to 250 fr. (£.10 Sterlings). We know that you have the clichets deposited in Italy, sent, time ago, for the same publication (failed).1

Pray be so good to make me know if that is true, and if you accept my offer; your answer will decide on the convenience or not to undertake such publication.

Agree my best respects and believe me your | Obbedte. Serv. G. Chiantore

1
The publisher Carlo Vincenzi of Modena had agreed to pay for the clichés (stereotype plates) of the illustrations of the first edition of Variation; this edition was translated into Italian and began printing in April 1870 (see Correspondence vol. 18, letter from Giovanni Canestrini, 21 April 1870), but was never published. Chiantore was requesting the stereotypes of the illustrations for the second edition (Variation 2d ed.) for the same amount that Vincenzi had been charged for the first edition (see letter from R. F. Cooke, 26 May 1875).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-9981,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-9981