WCP3378

Letter (WCP3378.3346)

[1]1

Parkstone, Dorset.

Jan[uar]y 10th. 1890

Messrs Macmillan & Co.

Dear Sirs

Thanks for your cheque for which I enclose receipt.

Have you no accounts yet of the sales of "Darwinism" in America, and no remittance of the royalty due on these? I shall be glad to know to know at all events, how many copies have been sold in America, and also how many of the 3rd. Ed[ition].2 are now sold in England.

I cannot say that I see any connection between the [2] demand for "Darwinism" and demand for popular "Natural Histories". I shall have thought it showed that people felt more interest in the greater problems of Natural History than in the details of habits, structure, & classification which so many books, both popular & scientific, supply. Any how, such a work as you suggest is entirely outside of my specialty & equally beyond my power to undertake. To do it well would occupy many several years with full access to libraries [3]3 & museums and a detailed knowledge of at least some[?] one[?] important division of the Animal Kingdom — a knowledge I do not possess.

With regard to "Tropical Nature" I mentioned when discussing the publication of "Darwinism" that I should like to have that work ("Tropical Nature") and the "Contributions to Natural Selection" republished in one volume at a moderate price, omitting one or two of the less popular Essays. As soon as I can find time I will see about [4] preparing this new edition which I am inclined to think will sell well. I can hardly think of any title but — "Natural Selection & Tropical Nature" Explaining in the Preface that it is a reissue of two works in one volume.

Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]4

1
There is a catalogue/reference number (the number "26") inscribed in the top right corner of the page. It is not in Wallace’s hand-writing.
2
Charles Smith’s bibliography of Wallace’s publications cites that the 2nd edition of Darwinism was published in London and New York in August 1889. The 3rd edition was published in 1901.
3
There is a catalogue/reference number (the number "27") inscribed towards the top right corner of the page. It is not in Wallace’s hand-writing.
4
The official stamp of the British Library follows Wallace’s signature.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3378.3346)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Cooper, Rod [2014-02-20]

Please cite as “WCP3378,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 19 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3378