Tylor papers PRM ms collections Box 13 Macmillan
Letters from George Macmillan to Edward Burnett Tylor about Spencer and Gillen's first book, Native Tribes of Central Australia:
Macmillan M1
Macmillan's & Co Ltd.
St Martin's Street.
London, W.C.
20th January 1898
Dear Professor Tylor,
Many thanks for your letter and the two letters enclosed from Professor Baldwin Spencer which I have read with much interest and now return. Thank you also for the reference to the article in "Nature" When you were here you spoke of it as being two or three years ago, and that put us off the scent.
Within the last few days I have had a long letter from Spencer himself to whom J.G. Frazer had written in August to say that we were quite prepared to publish his book. He has sent some of his photographs, and I do not anticipate any great difficulty about reproducing them, although from the commercial point of view we may feel bound to limit their number a little more than he would wish. He tells me that he has put all the business arrangements for the book in the hands of J.G. Frazer with whom therefore we are to negotiate, but no doubt he would be only too glad to have the advantage of your help in revising the proofs. He says that he hopes to forward me the complete typewritten manuscript very shortly.
I am
Yours very truly
George A. Macmillan
Professor Tylor
Museum House
Oxford.
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Macmillan M2 [typewritten]
[Note in Tylor's handwriting] April 5 I had better [illegible] do proofs No notice wanted
Macmillan's & Co Ltd.
St Martin's Street.
London, W.C.
8th March 1898
Professor Tylor,
The Museum House,
Oxford.
Dear Professor Tylor,
I do not understand that there is any idea of Mr. Frazer doing more than read the proofs of Mr. Baldwin Spencer's book. Nothing has been said about an Introduction, and I do not suppose that anything of the kind is intended. As you say the book ought to stand on its own bottom. We did suggest in writing to Mr. Spencer that he should ask you also to look through the proofs, and if that is his desire we should naturally be very glad for the book to have the advantage of your revision. But I think you will understand that we cannot act in such a matter wtihout the author's direct sanction. I hope whenever the book comes out that you will have an opportunity of calling attention to it in "Nature" or some other important periodical, for that after all is the most effective way in which you can help Mr. Spencer. I am sure you need feel no anxiety whatever about Mr. Frazer modifying Mr. Spencer's text to suit his own views on Totemism, or any other subject. No man could possibly be more scrupulous than he is in all such matters.
I am, Yours very truly
George A. Macmillan
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Macmillan M3 [typwritten]
S.J.L.
Macmillan's & Co Ltd.
St Martin's Street.
London, W.C.
25th April 1898
[handwritten] Central [insert] Native [end insert] Tribes of Central Australia
Professor Tylor,
The Museum House,
Oxford.
Dear Professor Tylor,
We have now received Professor Baldwin Spencer's manuscript, together with the illustrations, and we propose to put it in type at once. I think you should see the enclosed letter which accompanied it as the last paragraph refers to yourself, and I should like you to see what Mr Frazer, who has already seen this letter, says in his reply. as to your reading the proofs. We shall certainly act upon Mr Frazer's strong advice and send the proofs and copy out to the authors, but I hope you will allow us to send duplicate proofs to you as well as to Mr. Frazer, and that you will then be willing to post on to Professor Spencer any important suggestions you may have to make.
I am glad to say that we do not anticipate any necessity to cut down the number of illustrations, so that we shall not have to trouble you about the selection as far as I can see at present.
Please return the enclosed letters and believe me
Yours very truly
George A. Macmillan
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Macmillan M4 [typewritten]
[Note in Tylor's handwriting] Apr 30
S.J.L.
Macmillan's & Co Ltd.
St Martin's Street.
London, W.C.
29th April 1898
Professor Tylor,
The Museum House,
Oxford.
Dear Professor Tylor,
I hope I may assume from your silence that you will be willing to read the proofs of Professor Baldwin Spencer's book, and I am therefore sending you a first batch by to-day's post. The arrangement we are making with him is that a supply of proof, with the copy, will [handwritten insert] shall [end insert] go out to him by each Friday's mail, and we will as a rule send duplicates to Mr Frazer and to your-self a few days sooner. If you will be good enough to look through these proofs and send out to Professor Spencer by the following mail any corrections or suggestions you have to make he will await these before returning his own proof for revise. We have told him as a rule to wait two mails before returning his proofs so as not to put too great pressure upon his friends on this side.
I am, Yours very truly
George A. Macmillan
Transcribed by AP April 2013
