Browse Items (26 total)

A stonemason who has read Origin and Descent would like to read Charles Darwin’s other books but is too poor to afford them

St George Jackson Mivart (1827–1900) was a comparative anatomist and one of Darwin’s most vigorous English critics. In this essay from 1873, he rejects any similarities between humans and apes, criticising the arguments of Descent and of Expression,…

Robert Francis Cooke (1816–91) was a Partner in John Murray’s publishing company, which published many of Darwin’s books.

He notes that D. Appleton (American publishers of works by Darwin, Thomas Henry Huxley, and Herbert Spencer) has been sent…

This letter mentions translations, illustrations, and other arrangements for Expression.

Murray’s must publish [Expression] tomorrow with only 4000 copies, because the plates for 3000 additional copies have not yet been delivered. The trade and public will be dissatisfied. It may be advisable to get police to defend the house.

Picture of Jenny, the orang-utan observed by Darwin.

'I have delayed somewhat longer than I intended, acknowledging the copy of your new volume, which you have been kind enough to send me. I delayed partly in the hope of being able to read more of it before writing to you; but my reading powers are so…

This map of the British Empire in 1869 shows some of the places where Darwin sent questionnaires

Moseley was a naturalist on the Challenger expedition, (1872–6). With this letter, he sends Darwin a Japanese book illustrating the expression of emotions. Although Darwin’s own copy of the book does not survive, we know that he received it as he…