[DARWIN, CHARLES] | MANUSCRIPT LIST OF DARWIN'S PUBLICATIONS TO 1869, WITH AUTOGRAPH CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS IN HIS HAND

[DARWIN, CHARLES]

MANUSCRIPT LIST OF DARWIN'S WORKS, SUBMITTED AS PART OF HIS APPLICATION TO THE FRENCH ACADÉMIE DES SCIENCES, CIRCA 1870

Autograph manuscript list of Darwin’s publications through 1869, [likely written in Emma Darwin's hand], with autograph corrections and additions in Charles Darwin's hand, 6 pp (2 pp on single sheet 206 x 135 mm, and 4 pp on bifolium 206 x 270 mm). Together with the contemporary envelope in which the list was sent, with autograph note in French from Darwin's proposer by Armand de Quatrefages ("A De Q"), reading "[Trans:] Darwin 1809-1182. List of works. Autograph list sent to me by Darwin on the occasion of his application to become member of the Ac[adémie] des Sc[iences], which I supported."

Darwin was successfully elected a corresponding member of the French Académie des Sciences in 1878, after two unsuccessful applications in 1870 and 1872. The present list, which details all of Darwin's publications through 1869 (some 31 items, including On the Origin of Species; Journal of Researches; Zoology of the Beagle, etc) sent to Armand de Quatrefages in July of 1870, accompanied Darwin's first unsuccessful application, and was sent along with a letter to Quatrefages (separated from the present manuscript long ago, and now Ms B D25.11 in the collection of the American Philosophical Society), reading in full:

"My Dear Sir,

A German friend lately asked me for a complete copy of my publications, & I have thought it best to send you a copy, though fuller than you require. I am sure that I feel very grateful & much honoured by the intereste which you have taken about my election. I saw in one of our newspapers the number of votes which I obtained & which I owe to you, & the number was far higher than I had expected.

With very sincere respect & cordial thanks, I remain yours very truly obliged, Ch. Darwin."

LITERATURE:

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7285,” accessed on 30 October 2019, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/DCP-LETT-7285.xml. Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 18

PROVENANCE:

Artcurial, Paris, (24 November 2008, lot 120 and 19 November 2018, lot 736)