DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882), British naturalist and paleontologist. Letter signed, addressed to "My dear Sir", Down Beckenham Kent, june 15, 1870. 1 ½ page in-8 + ½ page in-8; retained postmark cut out and pasted on second leaf (creases, tears with no lack of text, snag on one identifiable word). Very interesting letter in which Darwin asks his correspondent, who had offered to help him when he came to see him earlier, to send him some seeds from Algiers. It consists of two parts: the letter itself (1 leaf), and 10 lines of notes on a half leaf; small holes in the margins suggest that the two leaves were originally joined by a seam. "When you were at Down, you were so kind as to say that you were willing to assit 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 [for ?] 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". The second sheet contains a 10-line list of the desired plants, with a few details. Provenance: José Pérez de Barradas y Alvarez de Eulate (Cadiz, October 3, 1897 - Madrid, January 30, 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.