My dear Sir

If Mess^rs Clowes cannot keep up the type for a sufficient time for you to judge of the sale; though I sh^d expect whatever sale there may be w^d be too slow & gradual for any judgment.¹ In this case what do you say to the following proposal: To calculate the price of the book on 1000 copies, but to allow me to have 250 additional copies printed off, I paying the prime cost only of the paper & press-work.

You not to repay me until the 1000 are sold off, & the profits of the extra 250 to be divided between us in the usual manner—   I make this proposal from not thinking it probable that there will ever be a 2^nd ed. & thinking it just possible that more than 1000 copies will be ultimately sold.²

I presume the mere paper & press-work for 250 copies w^d not be a large sum; but I dare say you could tell me approximately

yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin