Dear Sirs:
I send to-day
the map of Wessex of which I wrote [on 16 Oct.]. It is
the only one in existence, & another could hardly be
made at this time, so that when done with I should like
to have it back.
My idea was that
it could be copied on thin paper, either the same size or
somewhat reduced, & folded in the volumes. If it were
taken in hand by an artist he could put ships &
fishes in the sea, & trees & animals in the
forests & moors, as in old maps by Speed, &c. to
give it a more finished appearance. But of course, as far
as utility is concerned, it could be reproduced as it
stands.
I will send on
the first volume of the novels—Tess—in a
day or two. It contains a newly written general
preface to all the books-novels & poems—a
postscript to the Tess preface, & a few
corrections to the old text. After dispatching this I
will go on with the second one.
In respect of
your proposition to publish an edition of 500 sets for
England instead of 250, & to pay me a royalty of
1s/6d on every volume sold beyond the 250 sets already
arranged for, it quite meets with my approval. Yours very truly Thomas Hardy.