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Darwin Correspondence Project

From E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung1   23 March 1866

Stuttgart

den 23 März 1866.

Verehrtester Herr!

Seit ich zum letztenmale das Vergnügen hatte, mich brieflich mit Ihnen über die 2te Auflage der deutschen Bearbeitung von “on the origin etc und die Uebersetzung der Orchideen zu unterhalten, sind nun schon 312 Jahre verflossen.2

Ihr berühmtes Werk hat auch in Deutschland viele Freunde gefunden, aber an Gegnern hat es ebensowenig gefehlt, wie diess bei einem in die früheren Anschauungen so tief einschneidenden Buche nicht anders seyn konnte.3 Wie der unvergeßliche Bronn in seinem Prospecte sagte: “dass kein Naturforscher der sich nicht mit den in diesem Buche niedergelegten Thatsachen und neuen Gesichtspunkten vertraut gemacht auf der Höhe der Wissenschaft stehe etc”4 So überzeuge ich mich, daß der Absatz der deutschen Ausgabe—wenn auch klein gegenüber dem in England—doch nachhaltig ist und namentlich jüngere Naturforscher für das Buch sehr eingenommen sind, von welchen es auch immer neu in Anregung gebracht wird.5 Ich erlaube mir nun, verehrter Herr, Sie in Kenntniß zu setzen, dass ich wieder an eine neue Auflage denken muss und daß—falls Sie für diese neue deutsche Auflage Zusätze zu geben für angemeßen finden sollten, es mir sehr angenehm wäre, solche recht bald zu erhalten um den Druck der Auflage beginnen lassen zu können.6

Die Revision des Drucks so wie die Übersetzung der etwaigen Zusätze oder Aenderungen werde ich dem Herrn Professor Geinitz—in Dresden übertragen, der an des Herrn Bronn’s Stelle in die Redaction des Jahrbuchs f. Min. u Palaeontologie eingetreten ist.7

Ihren gütigen Nachrichten hierauf sehe ich entgegen und bin mit größter Hochachtung und Verehrung Ihr | ergebenster | E. Schweizerbart.8

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol.14, Appendix I. The letter was written by Christian Friedrich Schweizerbart, head of the Stuttgart publishing firm E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (see n. 8, below).
See Correspondence vol. 10, letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 16 October 1862. The firm had published two German editions of Origin (Bronn trans. 1860 and 1863), and a German edition of Orchids (Bronn trans. 1862).
On the reception of Origin in Germany, see the letter from Ernst Haeckel, 28 January 1866 and n. 5.
Heinrich Georg Bronn’s prospectus for the first German edition of Origin was published in Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Palaeontologie (Bronn 1860a); Bronn was co-editor of the journal.
A thousand copies of the second German edition of Origin (Bronn trans. 1863) were printed. See Correspondence vol. 10, letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 7 June 1862.
See also letter from Rudolf Suchsland, 16 March 1866. Suchsland had criticised Bronn’s translation of Origin, and had asked permission on behalf of his father, Friedrich Emil Suchsland, to publish a new translation.
After Bronn’s death in 1862, Hans Bruno Geinitz replaced him as editor of the Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Palaeontologie (Jubiläums-Katalog, p. xvii). In the event, Geinitz was unable to undertake the revision, and the third German edition of Origin (Bronn and Carus trans. 1867) was overseen by Julius Victor Carus (see letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 10 May 1866).
In his business communications, C. F. Schweizerbart continued to use the signature of his uncle, Wilhelm Emanuel Schweizerbart, from whom he had purchased the publishing firm in 1841 (Jubiläums-Katalog, pp. x–xi).

Bibliography

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

Jubiläums-Katalog: Jubiläums-Katalog der E. Schweizerbart’schen Verlagsbuchhandlung (Erwin Nägele) G.m.b.H., Stuttgart, 1826–1926. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart. 1926.

Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.

Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.

Translation

From E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung1   23 March 1866

Stuttgart

23 March 1866.

My dear Sir,

Since I last had the pleasure of corresponding with you regarding the 2d edition of the German version of “on the origin etc. and the translation of Orchids 312 years have already passed.2

Your famous work has found many friends also in Germany, but at the same time it has not lacked enemies.3 This could not be otherwise with a book that has had such a profound effect upon views earlier held. As the unforgettable Bronn said in his prospectus: “that no scientist who had not familiarised himself with the facts and new viewpoints presented in this book was scientifically up-to-date etc.”4 Thus, I see that the sales of the German edition—although small by comparison with those in England—are, nonetheless, vigorous and that younger scientists in particular are very much in favour of the book and keep recommending it.5 Allow me now, dear Sir, to inform you that I have to consider a new edition and that—should you find it appropriate to make additions to this new German edition, I would be very glad to receive them quite soon so as to be able to begin printing the edition.6

I will hand over the revision of the type as well as the translation of possible additions or changes to Professor Geinitz—in Dresden, who has replaced Mr Bronn as editor of the Jahrbuch für Mineralogie und Palaeontologie.7

I look forward to your kind reply and remain with the highest esteem and admiration Yours | truly | E. Schweizerbart.8

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original German, see pp. 105–6.
See Correspondence vol. 10, letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 16 October 1862. The firm had published two German editions of Origin (Bronn trans. 1860 and 1863), and a German edition of Orchids (Bronn trans. 1862).
On the reception of Origin in Germany, see the letter from Ernst Haeckel, 28 January 1866 and n. 5.
Heinrich Georg Bronn’s prospectus for the first German edition of Origin was published in Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Palaeontologie (Bronn 1860a); Bronn was co-editor of the journal.
A thousand copies of the second German edition of Origin (Bronn trans. 1863) were printed. See Correspondence vol. 10, letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 7 June 1862.
See also letter from Rudolf Suchsland, 16 March 1866. Suchsland had criticised Bronn’s translation of Origin, and had asked permission on behalf of his father, Friedrich Emil Suchsland, to publish a new translation.
After Bronn’s death in 1862, Hans Bruno Geinitz replaced him as editor of the Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Palaeontologie (Jubiläums-Katalog, p. xvii). In the event, Geinitz was unable to undertake the revision, and the third German edition of Origin (Bronn and Carus trans. 1867) was overseen by Julius Victor Carus (see letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 10 May 1866).
In his business communications, C. F. Schweizerbart continued to use the signature of his uncle, Wilhelm Emanuel Schweizerbart, from whom he had purchased the publishing firm in 1841 (Jubiläums-Katalog, pp. x–xi).

Bibliography

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

Jubiläums-Katalog: Jubiläums-Katalog der E. Schweizerbart’schen Verlagsbuchhandlung (Erwin Nägele) G.m.b.H., Stuttgart, 1826–1926. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart. 1926.

Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.

Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.

Summary

Describes plans for new German edition of Origin [1867].

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-5038
From
E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Stuttgart
Source of text
DAR 177: 71
Physical description
ALS 2pp (German)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5038,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5038.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 14

letter