From John Murray 19 September [1867]1
50, Albemarle St. | W.
Sept 19
My Dear Sir
I have made up the account of the new Edition of Darwin on Species—of wch I have now disposed of about 700 copies—& have much pleasure in enclosing a Cheque for £250" being ds. of the estimated profits—allowing £50" for advertising of wch £30’ have been actually expended—2
I enclose also the account of The Orchids,3 by wch you will perceive that the deficiency has been considerably reduced—
I remain My Dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | John Murray
I hope I have found a suitable Index-maker.4 I will ask for a sample for your approval
Chas Darwin Esq
[Enclosure]
Dr Darwin on Orchids Cr 1862 1862 June To Balance Deficiency5 45 5 1 June By 685 on hand Sept " Electros6 3 6 – 4 Presented 1867 520 516 on hand June 1867 June " Binding 100 Copies 3 – 5 165 Sold viz
" Advertising 5 Years 20 10 – 52 Trade 25 as 24 6/ 15 – –
113 do " " 6/57 34 19 5
165
1867
June 30 By Balance Deficiency 22 2 1
72 1 6 72 1 6 1867 June 30 To Balance Deficiency 22 2 1 June 30 By 516 on hand
CD annotations8
Verso of last page:
‘250 12 238’
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
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.
Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.
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.
Plant, Marjorie. 1965. The English book trade. An economic history of the making and sale of books. 2d edition. London: George Allen & Unwin.
Summary
Sends CD cheque for £250, two-thirds of the profits on the sale of 700 copies of Origin, 4th ed.
Hopes he has found a suitable indexer for Variation.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-5630
- From
- John Murray
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Albemarle St, 50
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 350, 524
- Physical description
- ALS 1p †, encl 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5630,” accessed on 19 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5630.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 15