From John Murray 25 September [1873]1
50, Albemarle St. | W.
Sept. 25th.
Dear Mr Darwin
I thank you for sending me your Cheque & I enclose stamped receipt for it.2 Also I enclose Statement of the Sales of your “Orchids” made up to the present time showing a balance of £36.19.6 coming to you as your share of half profits for wch amount you will find my Cheque within—
Annexed to this account is a statement of the Stocks of your different works—3
I have not settled with you for the actual Edition of Origin of Species because not 300 copies have yet been sold out of 2000 printed—4
As for Expression I rashly printed 2000 copies—in the full tide of success when the book was selling like wild fire. At that very time came a sudden stagnation—& not only have I not yet touched the Edn but I have 404 copies left out of the 7000 previously printed & paid for. We must have patience— My Sale in Nov may alter the state of affairs
I remain My Dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | John Murray
I shall be prepared for your new works notwithstanding
Chas Darwin Esq
[Enclosure]
Dr Darwin on Orchids Cr 1862 1862 June To Printing 1500 No 89 1 9 June By 1500 Copies
" 48 Reams paper 51 17 4 5 Stats Hall5
" Binding 1000 Copies 30 4 2 12 Allowed Author
" Sowerby.6 Illustrations 21 – – 30 Reviews
" Cooper7 do 53 2 – 732 685 on Hand June 1862
" Advertising 27 4 – 768 Sold viz
" Comn to agents 2 8 – 358 Trade 25 as 24 6/ 103 4 –
410 do " " 6/5 126 8 2
1862 768
June By Balance deficiency 45 5 1
274 17 3 1862 June To Balance deficiency 45 5 1 June By 685 on hand Sep " Electros 3 6 – 4 Reviews 4 1867 June " Binding 100 copies 3 – 5 528 516 On Hand June 1867
" Advertising 20 10 – 165 Sold viz
52 Trade 25 as 24 6/ 15 – –
113 do " " 6/5 34 19 5
1867 165
June By Balance deficiency 22 2 1
72 1 6 72 1 6 1867 June To balance defy 22 2 1 June By 516 on hand
Carried over
Dr Darwin on Orchids Cr 1867 1867 June To Balance deficiency 22 2 1 June 516 in hand 1869 June " Electros 2 10 – 1 Author in Sheets 1873 June " Advertising 6 years 22 – – 82 81 On Hand June 1873
" Binding 400 Copies 12 1 8 434 Sold viz
" ComQQQQ “Allen” agents . 12 2 252 Trade 25 as 24 6/ 72 12 –
" Balance profit 73 19 – 182 do " " 6/5 56 2 11
1869
May By Reinwald for 4 10 –
a Set of Electros8 – – –
133 4 11 133 4 11
1873
June By 81 on hand
" Author’s 1.3 Profit
36 19 6
Stocks on Hand. June 30. 1873
* 1716 “Origin of species” 7/6 Edition 2000 No printed March 1873 for which Author has not yet been paid 26 “Variations Animals” &c 1250 No printed in 1868 75 “Man” 1000 No " 1871 2404 “Emotions” 7000 No printed Decr 1872 for which Author was paid £1050— 2000 No printed 1873 for which Author has not yet been paid
* Memm 57 Copies 14/– edition still on Hand
CD annotations
Footnotes
Summary
Acknowledges CD’s cheque.
Sends CD cheque for profits on Orchids and a statement of stock on hand of CD’s works [missing].
Origin and Expression sales are stagnant.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-9071
- From
- John Murray
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Albemarle St, 50
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 437, DAR 210.11: 1
- Physical description
- 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 9071,” accessed on 22 April 2018, http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/DCP-LETT-9071
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21
