From R. F. Cooke 28 July 1881
50, Albemarle Street, | W.
July 28. 1881
My dear Sir
Your letter has taken quite by surprise, as we had no idea that you intended to publish your “Worm” volume at this period of the year & we wish to remonstrate with you about doing so.1
The paper has to be made & so have the Stereotypes for America & this has to be done before we can print off any copies.
Again Messrs. Appleton will require to have the plates sometime before we publish, so that they may be able to print off their edition for a simultaneous publication, or nearly so, in both countries.2
This must delay the work here for some 5 or 6 weeks & it will ruin the success of the book to publish then.
Can you not then agree to defer the publication until October, when we shall be able to secure a good start, which will gratify both the author & publisher & please the booksellers.
We propose to print 1000 Copies & ask Messrs. Clowes to keep the type standing.3
With kind compliments | Yours faithfully | Robt. Cooke
Chas. Darwin Esq
Footnotes
Bibliography
Earthworms: The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1881.
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
Surprised by CD’s intention to publish [Earthworms] so soon. Remonstrates against doing so. Asks deferment until October to co-ordinate with American publication and ensure best profit.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13255
- From
- Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Albemarle St, 50
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 515
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13255,” accessed on 26 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13255.xml
