Unpublished and Unknown LS by Darwin about Plant Experiments

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DARWIN, CHARLES. (1809-1882). English naturalist; first to suggest a theory of evolution by natural selection. LS. (“Ch. Darwin”). 1½pp. 8vo. Down, Beckenham, Kent, June 15, 1870. (Likely to Italian botanist and pharmacist GAETANO DURANDO (1811-1892)].

“When you were at Down, you were so kind as to say that you were willing to assist me in my experiments. I am now particularly anxious to obtain as soon as possible some seeds (named on the next page) which have been matured in Algiers.

Seeds imported from Europe w[oul]d be of no use to me. I sh[oul]d add that Dr Hooker has applied for me to Col. Playfair, so that if you see him you w[oul]d perhaps be so kind as to confer with him on the subject. If you or Col. Playfair can aid me in this way, & send me any of the seeds immediately, you will do me an essential kindness. Pray believe me my dear Sir, Yours very faithfully…

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Nolana prostrata

Hibiscus Africanus

Canna Warzeniczi [sic.]

Iberis Amara

(any red var[iety] of Ib[eris] umbellate such as var[iety] Kermesiana)

Mimulus luteus, pale yellowish garden var[iety] blotched with purple or brown.”

From 1868 to 1870, Darwin’s chief concern was publishing his monumental and controversial work, The Descent of Man. Despite undetermined health problems that rendered him a semi-invalid, Darwin continued to work on his book, published in 1871, while maintaining an active correspondence with friends and colleagues. Although best known for his works on evolution, Darwin authored many works on plant physiology including On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, Insectivorous Plants, The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom, The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species, and The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms.

Charles Darwin

Our letter mentions Darwin’s closest friend, the botanist J[oseph] D[alton] Hooker (1817-1911), a pioneer in geographical botany, a discipline concerned with the distribution of different plant species. In practicing geographical botany, he conducted botanic surveys of Great Britain, the Antarctic, the Himalayas and India, Palestine, Morocco, and the Western United States. Hooker’s friendship with Darwin began when the latter returned from his voyage aboard the Beagle and asked Hooker to classify the plant specimens collected on his journey. Darwin corresponded with Hooker frequently, discussing his theories on the transmutation of species and natural selection. Hooker read and critiqued Darwin’s works and was married to the daughter of Darwin’s botany tutor and mentor.

Durando studied medicine and botany in Italy and France, collecting plants from both countries before moving to Algiers in 1850. There he worked as a hospital pharmacist and gave free botany lectures while collecting plant specimens, some of which our letter is requesting. It is known that Darwin “raised plants of a red variety of Iberis umbellata from seed bought in England, and crossed them with pollen from plants raised from seed sent from Algiers… and had carried out crossing experiments with N. prostrata in 1862 and 1867 (Cross and self fertilization [The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876]), but mentions no further experiments,” (“Letter to J.D. Hooker [13 June 1870?],” Darwin Correspondence Project, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7210.xml). Darwin also “carried out crossing experiments with Hibiscus africanus (a synonym of H. trionum, bladder ketmia” and Canna warszewiczii but did not record in any of these experiments using seeds from Algiers, (ibid.).

Our letter appears to be unknown and unpublished. The Darwin Correspondence Project notes that no correspondence between Darwin and Durando has been found but in a letter to Hooker from June 29, 1870 (two weeks after writing ours), he states “I have heard from Durando & he can send me only seeds of the Iberis,” apparently the reply to the present letter.

Our letter also mentions Robert Lambert Playfair (1828-1899), a lieutenant-colonel who was the consul-general of Algeria as well as the author of books about Algeria and Morocco.

Written on very thin paper, which Darwin likely used to save postage on letters sent to Africa. The letter is written on the recto and verso of one leaf of a folded sheet with 10 lines of notes on one- half of the attached leaf. The bottom portion of the second leaf is missing though the retained postmark has been cut out and pasted on the second leaf. With some light repairs, creases, and tears, especially at the edges. Fragile and in fair condition.

Provenance: José Pérez de Barradas y Alvarez de Eulate (1897-1981), Spanish prehistorian and anthropologist, by descent. His collection included letters addressed to the Spanish anthropologist, zoologist and geologist Antonio Machado y Núñez (1815-1896), a professor in Cadiz, Seville and Madrid, who was one of the main introducers and advocates of Darwinism in Spain.

Unpublished and Unknown LS by Darwin about Plant Experiments