From John Murray 19 March [1867]1
50A. Albemarle St. | W.
Mar 19
My Dear Sir
I am enclined to think, with you, that the new Title of your work is an improvement & I propose to adopt it in future.2
I have been giving much consideration to the question of the number to be printed & have altered my mind on this point. I do not think there will be any eventual loss if I print 1500 Copies & I propose with your assent to go to press with that number.—3
Of course this—like all other publishing undertakings is a lottery—but the Scientific must study your book & the unlearned will dip into it & pick out portions at least suited to interest them— This I gather from the proof sheets you shall certainly have the sets of fair sheets. please instruct Clowes to that effect4
At least if your old German publisher will have nothing to say to you, I can assure you of another candidate at Jena, who tells me he is ready to adventure5
I am | My Dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | John Murray
Charles Darwin Esq
Footnotes
Bibliography
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Agrees that new title of Variation is an improvement. Now thinks 1500 copies a safe number to print.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-5448
- From
- John Murray
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Albemarle St, 50a
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 347
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5448,” accessed on 29 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5448.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 15