Charles Darwin | Autograph letter signed to to A.C. Horner, on earthworms, 25 December 1881

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5,000 - 7,000 GBP

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Charles Darwin

Autograph letter signed, to “Dear Sir” [Arthur Claypon Horner], thanking him for his letter about his book on worms (“…I have already made some corrections in conformity with them in the 5^th thousand…”), admitting that “I tried to get (but failed) egg-capsules to experiment on with salt-water & I know that salt-water soon kills the adult worm”, and discussing one of the diagrams in the book, 3 pages, 8vo (203 x 127 mm), headed stationery of Down, Beckenham, Kent, 25 December 1881, stained and creased, minor repairs at folds

EARTHWORMS AT CHRISTMAS. Arthur Claypon Horner (1850–93) was a physician and naturalist with a practice in Tonbridge, Kent. He had written to Darwin on 23 December with detailed criticisms and comments on his final book on earthworms. This reply by Darwin written on Christmas Day is unpublished.

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Sale in our New York rooms, 24 September 1986, lot 21 (part lot)

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