To Smith, Elder & Co. [9 October 1843]
Down Bromley Kent
Monday
Dear Sir
Thank you for informing me about the Box
I have forwarded your account1 to the Treasury & will inform you when I receive an answer.—
I was going to suggest advertisements to you in the leading Papers.— the extent I leave to your discretion— I shd think it wd not be worth while to specify the several Parts, but merely prominently put forward “the Completion of the Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle under the superintendence of C. Darwin &c &c”2 But I leave this to your better judgment: Would it be worth while to add “with — quarto engravings”?
I presume you wd advertise at same time in single line “The Structure & distribution of Coral Reefs by Charles Darwin”—
My second little work on “Volcanic Islands” is almost ready for press; indeed I could send it in a fortnight’s time.—3 As half a dozen words wd announce it as in the Press—perhaps it wd. be worth doing.—“the Second Part by the same author on ‘Volcanic Islands’, is in the Press”—or some such form—but I leave this to you.— Almost immediately when I know the exact size of this little volume, I shall have to consult with you on its publication.—
Believe me | Yours very faithfully | C. Darwin
PS | The Gardeners Chronicle & Athenæum appear to me good Papers to advertise in. The former has but few advertisements & a large sale,—5000 weekly.—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Volcanic islands: Geological observations on the volcanic islands, visited during the voyage of HMS Beagle, together with some brief notices on the geology of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope. Being the second part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy RN, during the years 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1844.
Zoology: The zoology of the voyage of HMS Beagle, under the command of Captain FitzRoy RN, during the years 1832 to 1836. Edited and superintended by Charles Darwin. 5 pts. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1838–43.
Summary
Says he is forwarding the Smith, Elder & Co. account to the Treasury. Discusses advertisements of Zoology and Coral reefs. Volcanic islands "is almost ready for press".
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-702
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Smith, Elder & Co
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Sotheby’s (dealers) (23–4 July 1979)
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 702,” accessed on 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-702.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 2