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Darwin Correspondence Project

From John Murray   23 February [1871]1

50, Albemarle St. | W.

Feby 23

Dear Mr Darwin

The Printers & other accounts connected with the production of your Book on the Descent of Man, having been received by me—including a heavy item of £126. for corrections, I am enabled to make you an offer   For the Edition of 2500—copies I am prepared to give you Six Hundred Guineas being—as far as I can calculate 23ds. of the clear produce.2

If this satisfies you, I will have the pleasure of sending you at once a Cheque for that amount

I am not without hope of a call from you3

I am My Dear Sir | Your faithful servant | John Murray

Chas Darwin Esqr

Footnotes

The year is established by the reference to Descent, which was published on 24 February 1871 (Freeman 1977).
CD recorded a payment from Murray of £630 on 2 March 1871 (CD’s Account books–banking account (Down House MS)).
CD was in London from 23 February to 2 March 1871 (CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)). See also letter to John Murray, 23 February 1871.

Bibliography

Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.

Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. The works of Charles Darwin: an annotated bibliographical handlist. 2d edition. Folkestone, Kent: William Dawson & Sons. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, Shoe String Press.

Summary

Descent publication costs, "including a heavy item of £126 for corrections" have been received. JM can now offer CD 600 guineas for the edition of 2500 copies.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-7507
From
John Murray
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
London, Albemarle St, 50
Source of text
DAR 171: 389
Physical description
ALS 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7507,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7507.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19

letter