To John Murray 2 May [1862]
Summary
Has returned last page of index [of Orchids]. Hopes JM will reconsider price – 10s seems high. Suggests two reviewers likely to be favourable. Sends list for presentation copies.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 2 May [1862] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 118–119) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3531 |
To John Murray 13 June [1862]
Summary
CD orders electrotypes for German edition of Orchids.
Asa Gray doubts an American publication is possible but will review it in Sillimans Journal.
[British] botanists have praised it. Other reviews.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 13 June [1862] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 120–122) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3602 |
To John Murray 18 [June 1862]
Summary
Superb, but exaggerated, review [of Orchids, by M. J. Berkeley] in London Review [& wkly J. Polit. 4 (1862): 553–4]. Asa Gray thinks almost as highly. "I have not been a fool, as I thought I was, to publish." The Athenæum review will hinder sales greatly.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 18 [June 1862] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 123) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3609 |
To John Murray 20 [June 1862]
Summary
It is not certain cuts are wanted by an American publisher [of Orchids].
Has fixed price of £10 for Schweizerbart [Stuttgart publisher].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 20 [June 1862] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 124) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3615 |
From John Murray [1 July – 23 August 1862]
Summary
Account of Orchids.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [1 July – 23 Aug 1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 525 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3635F |
To John Murray 24 August [1862]
Summary
CD is well content with sale of 768 copies [of Orchids]. Hopes and expects remainder will ultimately be sold.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 24 Aug [1862] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 125–126) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3699 |
To John Murray 7 October [1862?]
Summary
Reports misprint in announcement of his book [Orchids].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 7 Oct [1862?] |
Classmark: | Christie’s (dealers) (27 March 1985) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3753A |
To John Murray 22 January [1863]
Summary
Asks that a copy of Origin be sent to Thomas Rivers.
Curious about sale of Orchids. It is too stiff for the public. "If praise from Botanists would sell, it would go off well."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 22 Jan [1863] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 127) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3936 |
To John Murray 31 March [1865]
Summary
Has made progress [on Variation]. Hopes it will go to press in the autumn. Lists his needs for cuts to be made – altogether 50.
Supposes Origin has ceased selling. Would be sorry to have labour of another edition. A new French edition is wanted.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 31 Mar [1865] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 131–135) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4801 |
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 |
letter | (291) |
Darwin, C. R. | (201) |
Murray, John (b) | (90) |
Murray, John (b) | (201) |
Darwin, C. R. | (90) |
John Murray | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | |
Murray, John (b) | (291) |
John Murray | (1) |