From C.-F. Reinwald1 8 October 1878
15, Rue des Saints-Pères | Paris Paris.
Oct. 8. 1878
A Charles Darwin Esq | Down. Beckenham | Kent
Cher Monsieur
Depuis nos lettres du 13 Octobre et du 20 Novembre, et votre honorée réponse du 21 Novembre de l’année dernière nous avons fait traduire et imprimer votre ouvrage “On different Forms of Flowers”. Mr. le Prof. Heckel, fort de votre consentement, nous a fait abandonner nos pourparlers avec M Naudin, qui ne s’était pas décidé asez promptement pour le travail de traduction.2 Quoiqu’il en soit, le livre vient d’être achevé et nous vous envoyons aujourdhui un exemplaire par la Poste, en mettant, bien entendu, d’autres exemplaires à votre disposition, si vous croyez en devoir offrir quelques uns à vos amis de France ou de l’étranger.
La préface de Mr Coutance,3 que se trouve en tête de l’ouvrage, nous a été fournie par Mr. Heckel et dans la situation, où nous nous trouvions, a du être acceptée par nous sans difficulté. Nous espérons maintenant que ce volume fera son chemin comme tout ce qui sort de votre plume. Son sujet spécial rendra pourtant la vente plus lente, que celle des autres volumes; nous espérons malgré cela pouvoir vous assurer un percentage proportionné à son prix, lorsque nous aurons réussi à en vendre 700 exemplaires, qui couriront à peu près nos frais de production.
Notre édition de la Fertilisation croisée et directe se vend également avec lenteur, car jusqu’ici nous n’avons guère placé plus de 450 à 500 exemplaires. Nous espérons cependant qu’avec la reprise des affaires, nous serons bientot à même de vous faire le versement du percentage promis pour ce volume, ainsi que pour la seconde édition des Emotions, publiée l’année dernière.4 Notre édition de l’Origine des Especes faite avec le concours de M Edmond Barbier se vend toujours assez régulièrement. Lors d’une nouvelle édition, nous croirons devoir en faire un livre plus compacte et partout moins cher, ce qui à notre avis, devrait en accélérer la circulation.5 C’est du reste une question de l’avenir.
Veuillez bien agréer, cher Monsieur, avec nos sincères remerciments pour la confiance, dont vous voulez bien continuer à nous honorer, l’expression de nos sentiments les plus distingués | Votre très dévoués serviteurs | C Reinwald & C
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Cross and self fertilisation: The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876.
Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Forms of flowers: The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1877.
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Translation
From C.-F. Reinwald1 8 October 1878
15, Rue des Saints-Pères | Paris Paris.
Oct. 8. 1878
To Charles Darwin Esq | Down. Beckenham | Kent
Dear Sir
Since our letters of 13 October and of 20 November, and your honoured reply of 21 November of last year we have had your work “On different Forms of Flowers” translated and printed. Prof. Heckel having your approval, we gave up negotiations with Mr Naudin, who did not decide promptly enough for the work of the translation.2 In any case, the book has just been finished and we send you today a copy by post with the understanding that other copies are at your disposal should you feel obliged to offer some to your friends from France or abroad.
The preface of M. Coutance,3 which is found at the beginning of the work, was furnished to us by Mr. Heckel and in this situation, where we found ourselves, had to be accepted by us without difficulty. We hope now that this volume will gain ground like everything that comes from your pen. Its specialised subject will however make the sale slower than that of the other volumes; we hope in spite of that to be able to assure you a percentage of the price, when we have succeeded in selling 700 copies, which will just about cover the production cost.
Our edition of cross and self Fertilisation is also selling slowly, for up to now we have scarcely distributed more than 450 to 500 copies. We hope however that with the resumption of business, we will soon be able to pay you directly the promised percentage for this volume, as well as for the second edition of the Emotions published last year.4 Our edition of the Origin of Species made with the aid of Mr Edmond Barbier still sells regularly enough. When there is a new edition, we believe we ought to make a book more compact and much less expensive, which in our opinion would accelerate the circulation.5 It is moreover a question for the future.
Please accept, dear Sir, with our sincere thanks for the trust with which you continue to honour us, the assurance of our sincere regard | Your most obliged servants | C Reinwald & C
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Cross and self fertilisation: The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876.
Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Forms of flowers: The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1877.
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Summary
Forms of flowers, translated by Édouard Heckel, is published.
Cross and self-fertilisation has only sold 450–500 copies.
Origin sells regularly; he looks forward to a cheaper edition.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11720
- From
- Charles-Ferdinand Reinwald
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Paris
- Source of text
- DAR 176: 108
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp (French)
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11720,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11720.xml
