To John Murray 14 April [1865]
Summary
Thanks for advertisement, and pleased Murray likes title (of Variation).
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 14 Apr [1865] |
Classmark: | John Wilson (dealer) (2005, item 20910) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4813F |
To John Murray 2 June [1865]
Summary
There is no chance of publication [of Variation] by autumn, because of CD’s illness.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 2 June [1865] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 130) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4850 |
From John Murray 21 February [1866]
Summary
Informs CD third edition of Origin is exhausted. Proposes a new edition. Has CD any changes? Since demand is slowing up, proposes printing only 1250 copies and deferring payment of CD’s share until sales have repaid manufacturing costs.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Feb [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 333 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5014 |
To John Murray 22 February [1866]
Summary
CD is pleased [about need for a new edition of Origin] but even more grieved – for it will delay his next book [Variation]. Progress of natural history will make many changes necessary in Origin. Nevertheless, proceeds with 32 more woodcuts for Variation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 22 Feb [1866] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 139–142) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5016 |
DCP-LETT-5017A
Summary
Undertakes to pay two-thirds of profits of the [fourth] edition of Origin as soon as one-half of the copies are sold.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb [1866] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5017A |
From John Murray 25 May [1866]
Summary
Printing [of 4th edition of Origin] nearly complete. Will print 1000 copies which, at present rate of sale, may last three to five years.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 May [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 334 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5099 |
To John Murray 28 May [1866]
Summary
Has corrected and improved Origin.
Now hopes to make real progress [on Variation].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 28 May [1866] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 143–144) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5103 |
From John Murray 30 May [1866]
Summary
On reflection, in view of the extensive additions CD has made to Origin, has decided to print 1500 copies [of 4th ed.].
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 30 May [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 335 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5105 |
To John Murray 15 July [1866]
Summary
4th edition of Origin will soon be bound. Suggests sending copies to scientific periodicals that might notice it. Hopes JM will specify in advertisements that the work is corrected and enlarged. Hopes pages will be cut. Only insanity accounts for this not being done in England.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 15 July [1866] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 145–146) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5155 |
From John Murray 18 July [1866]
Summary
Proposes to delay issue [of 4th ed. of Origin] until November to obtain better market conditions. Now printing 1250 copies.
Explains practice of not cutting pages is due to propensity of English public to read books without buying them.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 18 July [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 336 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5161 |
From John Murray 23 July [1866]
Summary
Will attend to CD’s wishes regarding six presentation copies [of Origin, 4th ed.] for England and America.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 23 July [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 337 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5164 |
To John Murray 16 October [1866]
Summary
Arrangements for woodcuts [in Variation]. Hopes to be ready to print early in 1867.
Encloses letter from Asa Gray [5160] about Appleton’s refusal to alter their plates for a new edition of Origin.
CD asks JM to consider Gray’s plan to have the English edition compete with the American.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 16 Oct [1866] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 147–148) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5245 |
From John Murray 18 October [1866]
Summary
JM states he will publish [Variation] on same basis as Origin, i.e., paying CD two-thirds of the profits.
In response to Asa Gray’s suggestion, he could supply Ticknor & Fields with 250 copies [of Origin, 4th ed.] at half-price.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 18 Oct [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 338 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5246 |
To John Murray 23 October [1866]
Summary
A letter from Asa Gray informs CD that Ticknor & Fields will not publish a new edition of Origin to compete with Appleton’s unrevised edition. They recommend sending copies of the English edition for the American market.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 23 Oct [1866] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 151–152) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5253 |
From John Murray 25 October [1866]
Summary
Under circumstances [reluctance of Ticknor & Fields to compete with Appleton], best course is to offer Appleton the 250 copies [of 4th English edition of Origin].
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 Oct [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 339 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5255 |
To John Murray 21 and 22 December [1866]
Summary
Submits the MS of Variation, all excepting the section on Man.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 21 and 22 Dec 1866 |
Classmark: | Herb Sewell (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5314F |
From John Murray 22 December [1866]
Summary
The presentation copy [of Origin, 4th ed.] was sent to B. D. Walsh in August. Will send another.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 22 Dec [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 340 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5317 |
From John Murray 24 December [1866]
Summary
Two parcels of MS [of Variation] have arrived. Will proceed with printing immediately after Christmas.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Dec [1866] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 341 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5322 |
From John Murray 2 January [1867]
Summary
William Clowes [printer for J. Murray] estimates that Variation will come to a first volume of 648 pages and a second volume of 624 pages – which is too much for volumes the same size as Origin. Murray proposes a larger size.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 2 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 342 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5345 |
To John Murray 3 January [1867]
Summary
Sorry about enormous size of Variation MS, but cannot shorten it now. If JM is afraid to publish, CD will consider agreement cancelled. Suggests he ask someone with judgment to read the MS. Has written concluding chapter on man. Whether it will be included depends on size of volume.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 3 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 158–160) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5346 |
letter | (291) |
Darwin, C. R. | (201) |
Murray, John (b) | (90) |
Murray, John (b) | (201) |
Darwin, C. R. | (90) |
John Murray | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (291) |
Murray, John (b) | |
John Murray | (1) |