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 |
To John Murray 8 January [1867]
Summary
CD annoyed at large size of Variation. Suggests printing detailed parts in small type. JM can, of course, decline to publish altogether.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 8 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 155–157) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5350 |
To John Murray 10 January [1867]
Summary
Relieved by JM’s note and by his agreement on type size. Is alarmed by what the verdict [on Variation] of JM’s friend will be. He is not a man of science. An unscientific reader would have condemned the Origin. An eminent semi-scientific man thought the Journal of researches not worth publishing.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 10 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 166) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5356 |
To John Murray 15 January [1867]
Summary
Approves of type [for Variation]. Pleased to hear from Hooker that he is not surprised that MS is big.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 15 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 161) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5363 |
To John Murray 27 January [1867]
Summary
Hopes JM’s friend will give his judgment [on Variation] soon; and urges JM to come to a decision about publishing. CD believes it will have "a fair sale".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 27 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 153–154) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5379 |
To John Murray 29 January [1867]
Summary
CD agrees to JM’s proposal of half-profits. Thinks it a mistake to print only 750 copies. The agreement on half-profit is for first edition only. CD estimates his book at a higher value than JM does.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 29 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 162–163) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5382 |
To John Murray 31 January [1867]
Summary
Is convinced his chapter on man [for Variation] will excite plenty of attention and abuse, which he supposes is as good as praise for selling a book.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 31 Jan [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 164–165) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5384 |
To John Murray 18 March [1867]
Summary
The compositors have invented a title [for Variation] which CD thinks is better than the advertised one. CD can form no opinion on number of copies. Asks that clean sheets be sent to German and Russian publishers for translation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 18 Mar [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 167–168) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5446 |
To John Murray 20 March [1867]
Summary
The new title is fixed. Thanks for clean sheets. As to number of copies, now that JM proposes 1500, CD is frightened.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 20 Mar [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 169–170) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5450 |
To John Murray 4 April [1867]
Summary
Asks JM not to send stereotypes [of Variation] to Schweizerbart until he has heard that Carus will translate it.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 4 Apr [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff. 32–33) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5486 |
To John Murray 10 April [1867]
Summary
CD writes about stereotypes for German and Russian editions of Variation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 10 Apr [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff. 34–35) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5497 |
To John Murray 4 August [1867]
Summary
Asks whether JM is interested in publishing A. E. Brehm, Illustrirtes Thierleben [4 vols. (1864–7)], which has had immense sale on the continent.
Is making good progress with proofs [of Variation].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 4 Aug [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 171–172) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5594 |
To John Murray 6 August [1867]
Summary
Sends the four volumes [of Brehm’s Thierleben] for Murray’s consideration.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 6 Aug [1867] |
Classmark: | S. J. Hessel (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5599 |
To John Murray 20 September 1867
Summary
Thanks for "pleasant remittance" of £250 for 4th edition of Origin.
Glad to see that Orchids sells a little.
Hopes Variation will be more successful.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 20 Sept 1867 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 173) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5632 |
To John Murray [24 September – 31 October 1867]
Summary
Instructions for the index to Variation
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | [24 Sept – 31 Oct 1867] |
Classmark: | Heritage Auctions (dealers) (2006) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5633F |
To John Murray 19 October [1867]
Summary
An absurd error ("Election" for "Selection") in the advertisement of Variation. Dallas is the best man for index.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 19 Oct [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 174–175) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5654 |
To John Murray 2 November [1867]
Summary
Dallas’ index [for Variation] well done but rather too full.
A hybrid from an ass and a bull is utterly incredible.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 2 Nov [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 176–177) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5667 |
To John Murray 31 December [1867]
Summary
Introduces Clair Grece who wishes to translate a work on English grammar from the German.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 31 Dec [1867] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff. 64–65) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5743 |