To John Murray 10 May [1871]1
Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.
May 10th.
Private ie. not to be forwarded
My dear Sir
I am very much perplexed what to decide about printed photographs & wood cuts. I believe the former would certainly be the best. I’m equally perplexed whether to try the Woodbury or Heliotype processes.2 You think the latter best; while Mr. Rejlander (who wishes much that his photos should be well given) feels confident that the Woodbury process is best.3 Dr Wallich has just been here & considers the autotype process (Rathbone) superior to either of the above.4 Would you make some enquiries with respect to the latter, as the knowledge might be of use to you on other occasions? Please to read the enclosed note, which is written so that you may forward it to the above 2 or 3 establishments; & my note will save you the trouble of making the enquiries which I want answered.5
You must ask for the return of my letter & of the photographs from the first establishment to which they may be sent. I am sorry to give so much trouble.
My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin
P.S. I shall want the photos ultimately returned to me.—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Moore, John. 2005. Celebration of innovation: a history of autotype 1868–2005. Wantage: Autotype International.
Prodger, Phillip. 2009. Darwin’s camera: art and photography in the theory of evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Summary
CD is perplexed about illustrations for Expression, i.e., whether photographs are better than woodcuts. He thinks photographs, but does not know which process is preferable. Asks JM to inquire.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-7749
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John Murray
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 278–9)
- Physical description
- LS(A) 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7749,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7749.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19