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From Eduard Koch1   21 July 1868

Hochgeehrter Herr

Gleichzeitig mit meinem heutigen Schreiben habe ich die Ehre Ihnen den zweiten Band der Uebersetzung Ihrer “Variation of animals & plants” zu übersenden.2 Die Ausgabe wurde leider durch die mühsame Arbeit bei Zusammenstellung des umfangreichen Registers so lange verzoegert.

Bei dieser Gelegenheit kann ich nicht unterlassen Ihnen meinen herzlichsten Dank für die Ueberlassung des Uebersetzungsrechts und die fortwaehrend Herr Prof. Dr Carus eingesandten vielen Notizen aus der zweiten engl. Auflage, abzustatten;3 ich verbinde damit die Bitte, mich gefälligst sobald die zur Herausgabe der in obigem Werke angedeuteten und versprochenen weiteren Ausführungen u Beweise Ihrer Theorie vorgeschritten sind, davon in Kenntnis zu setzen, damit unverzüglich mit der Uebersetzung und dem Drucke begonnen werden kann.4 Ich werde mich bestreben dasselbe in gleich guter Ausstattung und Uebersetzung wie Ihre bisherigen Werke zu liefern.

Mit dem Absatz bin ich sehr zufrieden und wird derselbe wenn einmal das Werk complet vorliegt noch wesentlich besser werden, da viele deutsche Bibliotheken nur vollständige Werke kaufen; eine zweite Auflage wird wohl schwerlich so schnell der ersten folgen, wie in England.5 Ebenso hat sich bis jetzt die Kritik noch nicht eingehend ausprechen koennen; wenn Sie wünschen kann ich Ihnen alle groesseren Besprechungen einsenden. Im ‘Ausland’ erscheint nächstens ein groesserer Aufsatz über das Werk, zu dem ich auch einige Holzschnitte No. 5.6.7.18.19, nach Wahl des h. Prof. Peschel in Augsburg, eingesandt habe.6

Um die deutschen Abonnenten nicht zu lange warten zu lassen, habe ich seiner Zeit die ersten 20 Bogen als erste Abth. des zweiten Bandes ausgegeben.

Die mir gütigst aufgetragene Versendung von Freiexemplaren an die Herren: Gegenbaur, Heer, Rütimeyer, Hildebrand, Caspary, Rolle, Schmidt u von Nathusius werde ich auch vom zweiten Band sofort mit Ausgabe des Werkes erfolgen lassen.7

Indem ich Sie nochmals freundlichst bitte mich gefäll. rechtzeitig von der Ausgabe Ihrer spaeteren Werke in Kenntniss zu setzen verbleibe ich | mit ausgezeichneter Hochachtung | Ihr Ergebenster | E Schweizerbart’sche Verlagshandlg | Eduard Koch

Stuttgart den 21 Juli 1868.

Footnotes

1
For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix I.
2
Koch refers to Carus trans. 1868, the German translation of Variation, which was published by Koch’s firm, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.
3
Koch had earlier written to thank CD for granting him translation rights to CD’s future works; CD had replied that he had spoken only of his previous works (see Correspondence vol. 15, letter from Eduard Koch, 11 December 1867 and n. 4, and letter to Eduard Koch, 13 December [1867]). See also letter to Eduard Koch, 27 August 1868. CD had sent Julius Victor Carus, the German translator, sheets of the second printing of Variation, which contained a large number of corrections and editions, for incorporation into the German edition (see letter to J. V. Carus, 22 February [1868]).
4
In Variation 1: 8, CD announced that in a second work he would discuss the variation of organisms in a state of nature, the struggle for existence, the principle of natural selection, and the difficulties opposed to the theory. This work was not published in his lifetime; his manuscript notes were published in 1975 under the title Natural selection.
5
Variation was published in January 1868; a second printing, which incorporated a number of corrections and additions but was not otherwise distinguished from the first printing, was issued in February 1868 (Freeman 1977).
6
The woodcuts (the half-lop rabbit, skull of a wild rabbit, skull of a large lop-eared rabbit, an English pouter pigeon, and an English carrier pigeon) appeared in the second part of the article ‘Charles Darwin’s neues Werk’ in Ausland 41 (1868): 217–24, 246–51, 281–8 (first part, published 5 March 1868), 673–82 (second part, published 16 July 1868). There is a copy of the whole article in the Scrapbook of reviews (DAR 226/1: 200–15). Oscar Ferdinand Peschel was the editor of Ausland (NDB).

Bibliography

Carus, Julius Victor, trans. 1868. Das Variiren der Thiere und Pflanzen im Zustande der Domestication. By Charles Darwin. (German translation of Variation.) 2 vols. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagshandlung (E. Koch).

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. The works of Charles Darwin: an annotated bibliographical handlist. 2d edition. Folkestone, Kent: William Dawson & Sons. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, Shoe String Press.

Natural selection: Charles Darwin’s Natural selection: being the second part of his big species book written from 1856 to 1858. Edited by R. C. Stauffer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1975.

NDB: Neue deutsche Biographie. Under the auspices of the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. 27 vols. (A–Wettiner) to date. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. 1953–.

Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.

Translation

From Eduard Koch1   21 July 1868

Most esteemed Sir

I have the honour of sending the second volume of the translation of your ‘Variation of animals & plants’ along with my present letter.2 Unfortunately the edition was delayed for so long by the laborious work of compiling the extensive index.

I cannot fail to take this opportunity of expressing my most cordial thanks for granting me the rights of translation and for consistently sending notes from the second English edition to Prof. Dr. Carus.3 I add the request that you please let me know as soon as possible when the further explanation and proofs of your theory which you outline and promise in the above-mentioned work will be ready for publication, so that we can start immediately with the translation and the printing.4 I shall strive to make it available in as good a production and translation as your earlier works.

I am very satisfied with the sales, and these will become yet considerably better when the complete work is available, since many German libraries only puchase complete works. A second edition will hardly follow as quickly as in England.5 Also, the reviewers haven’t yet come to a comprehensive verdict; if you are interested I will send you all the larger reviews. A larger essay on your work will appear shortly in the “Ausland”, for which I have also sent several wood cuts nos. 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, chosen by Prof. Peschel in Augsburg.6

So that German subscribers would not have too long to wait, I published the first 20 sheets as first part of the second volume.

With the second volume I shall also follow your kind request to send presentation copies immediately upon publication to Messrs. Gegenbaur, Heer, Rütimeyer, Hildebrand, Caspary, Rolle, Schmidt and von Nathusius.7

While again asking you most kindly to let me know as soon as possible about the publication of your later works, I remain | with the greatest veneration | Respectfully yours | E Schweizerbart’sche Verlagshandlg | Eduard Koch

Stuttgart 21 July 1868.

Footnotes

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original German, see part II: 636.
2
Koch refers to Carus trans. 1868, the German translation of Variation, which was published by Koch’s firm, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.
3
Koch had earlier written to thank CD for granting him translation rights to CD’s future works; CD had replied that he had spoken only of his previous works (see Correspondence vol. 15, letter from Eduard Koch, 11 December 1867 and n. 4, and letter to Eduard Koch, 13 December [1867]). See also letter to Eduard Koch, 27 August 1868. CD had sent Julius Victor Carus, the German translator, sheets of the second printing of Variation, which contained a large number of corrections and editions, for incorporation into the German edition (see letter to J. V. Carus, 22 February [1868]).
4
In Variation 1: 8, CD announced that in a second work he would discuss the variation of organisms in a state of nature, the struggle for existence, the principle of natural selection, and the difficulties opposed to the theory. This work was not published in his lifetime; his manuscript notes were published in 1975 under the title Natural selection.
5
Variation was published in January 1868; a second printing, which incorporated a number of corrections and additions but was not otherwise distinguished from the first printing, was issued in February 1868 (Freeman 1977).
6
The woodcuts (the half-lop rabbit, skull of a wild rabbit, skull of a large lop-eared rabbit, an English pouter pigeon, and an English carrier pigeon) appeared in the second part of the article ‘Charles Darwin’s neues Werk’ in Ausland 41 (1868): 217–24, 246–51, 281–8 (first part, published 5 March 1868), 673–82 (second part, published 16 July 1868). There is a copy of the whole article in the Scrapbook of reviews (DAR 226/1: 200–15). Oscar Ferdinand Peschel was the editor of Ausland (NDB).

Bibliography

Carus, Julius Victor, trans. 1868. Das Variiren der Thiere und Pflanzen im Zustande der Domestication. By Charles Darwin. (German translation of Variation.) 2 vols. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagshandlung (E. Koch).

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. The works of Charles Darwin: an annotated bibliographical handlist. 2d edition. Folkestone, Kent: William Dawson & Sons. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, Shoe String Press.

Natural selection: Charles Darwin’s Natural selection: being the second part of his big species book written from 1856 to 1858. Edited by R. C. Stauffer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1975.

NDB: Neue deutsche Biographie. Under the auspices of the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. 27 vols. (A–Wettiner) to date. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. 1953–.

Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.

Summary

Sends completed translation of vol. 2 of Variation. Thanks CD for co-operation and asks to be informed when CD is finished with additions. Comments on sale of first volume and distribution of presentation copies of the second.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-6284
From
Eduard Koch; E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Stuttgart
Source of text
DAR 169: 43
Physical description
ALS 3pp (German)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6284,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6284.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 16

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