Description

Talbot is writing to ask Prain's assistance and advice. He would like to publish an illustrated Forest Flora of the [Bombay] Presidency. The drawings will be similar to those sent for Prain's instruction some years ago to Calcutta. He received from Gage the enclosed specimen page of what he can get done, but Talbot does not think it suitable [possibly published document folio 201]. He asks how much it would cost to produce a 500 copy edition: two volumes, with 750 pages each and 600 to 700 drawings. He estimates that it would cost £500. If the scenario is practical and could be satisfactorily arranged for at home, he would require a specimen page or two to accompany his report to Government. At present he is in the 'agonies' of Annual Reports and budget estimates, as well as a Reorganisation Scheme that has taken 17 years to incubate. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.