The Publishers' Weekly. FOUNDED BY F. LEYPOLDT. FEBRUARY 4, 1888. The trade are invited to send "Communications" to the editor on any topic of interest to the trade, and as to which an interchange of opinion is desirable. Also, matter for "Notes and Queries" thankfully received. In case of business changes, notification or card should be immediately sent to this office for entry under "Business Notes." New catalogues issued will also be mentioned when forwarded. Publishers are requested to furnish title-page proofs and advance information of books forthcoming, both for entry in the lists and for descriptive mention. An early copy of each book published should be forwarded, to insure correctness in the final entry. The editor does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed in contributed articles or communications. All matter, whether for the reading matter columns or our advertising pages, should reach this office not later than Wednesday noon, to insure insertion in the same week's issue. “Every man is a debtor to his profession, from the which, as men do of course seek to receive countenance and profit, so ought they of duty to endeavor themselves by way of amends to be a help thereunto."-LORD BACON. MOCK DISCOUNTS AND REAL ONES. WHAT the booksellers require is simply a discount that means something. What we have now is a system of mock discounts which mean nothing or less than nothing. Discounts ought to be large enough to cover the actual expenses of selling books in a fairly appointed book-store, and an adequate profit on investment and pay for work; they ought not to be so large as to offer room for complaint to the retail buyer as to the prices of books, or to tempt rival booksellers to fling a part of the discount at each other's customers. When a publisher gives a bookseller a discount of from a third to forty, and then gives that same bookseller's customer a discount of from a quarter to a third, there is scarcely enough margin left for the bookseller to get his goods to his store, certainly not enough to cover the actual cost of selling. When it is suggested to a publisher that he should lower his retail prices and shorten his discounts, his reply is inevitably that this is just what the retail trade don't want. He knows that retailers are always pushing him for larger and larger discounts, as is natural enough, and he fears that any reduction of prices and discounts would be simply the beginning of a new pressure for the old system, the result of which would be an absolute loss to him on his books. This has, indeed, been the tendency of things in the educational trade under net prices. The dilemma is one frequently found in business—of wise, farsighted interest opposed by unwise individual and momentary demands. But the system of long discounts, has nearly reached the reductio ad absurdum of long time and credits in the past generation; when such a system gets at its worst, it breaks to pieces somehow, and a new system takes its place. Every successful merchant has to resist the pressure for credit, long time, and large discounts. After all, the most effective way to introduce good business methods into a trade, is for the leaders of the trade individually to follow sound business methods against the pressure of mere temporary interest. It is not easy to reconstruct human nature, and neither publishers nor booksellers are yet free from human inconsistencies. An amusing instance occurred in our correspondence columns last week, when one bookseller earnestly advocated the making of a uniform discount to all retailers whether they bought few copies or many of a book; while another as stoutly urged a liberal discount on first orders and large orders, to make it worth while for a retailer to push a book. The laws of trade which provide that a larger buyer shall have certain advantages over a smaller buyer can scarcely be done away with; there are other ways of meeting the difficulty involved. It has always been our opinion that reform in booktrade methods must come from the larger publishing houses, which can best afford to put aside the temptations of temporary interest and hold to that wiser policy which prefers to build up a steadfast and large trade permanently rather than to look to the spasmodic and feverish successes of the moment. THE Copyright agitation has had one good effect in bringing together on a subject of general interest members of the trade holding different views on other trade subjects. We trust this will not be without its effect in giving a sounder - not by tone to the trade in other directions means of restrictive associations, against which public sentiment is more and more pronouncing, but by a simple return to sound methods of business, in which the practice of each house shall be supported by the public opinion of all. There will be houses, in the course of any such reform, to profit for the moment by bad business methods, but it is only by sticking steadfastly to a sound system, despite these annoyances, that good results can be expected. POSTAL MATTER. BOOKS TO BE EXCLUDED FROM SECOND THE House Post-Office Committee has agreed to report favorably a bill to exclude from secondclass (newspaper and periodical) rates of postage all publications in the nature of books, complete whether sold by subscription or otherwise. The or in parts, bound or unbound, or in series, Committee will report adversely Mr. Nichols' bill making the postage on third-class matter I cent for each four ounces or fraction thereof, and also adversely Mr. Bingham's bill making the rate of postage on second-class publications, when deposited in letter-carrier boxes for delivery by carriers, uniform at 1 cent a pound. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. GEORGE ROUTLEDGE. City Press, London, January 14, 1888. AN interesting gathering took place at the Albion, on Thursday evening, January 12, when Mr. George Routledge, who has recently retired from business, was entertained by his numerous friends at a farewell dinner. The Albion, it will be remembered, was the scene of some of Mr. Routledge's earliest achievements, when book auctions there were the order of the day. The chair was occupied by Mr. H. Sotheran, and the company included: Mr. G. Routledge, Mr. F. Miles, Mr. A. Taylor, Mr. R. Routledge, Mr. J. C. Barnard, Mr. Harrison Weir, Mr. E. Routledge, Mr. G. Leighton, Major Lambert, Mr. J. Hodge, Mr. R. Clark, Mr. W. Kent, Mr. H. Spalding, Mr. J. Brougham, Mr. J. E. Cornish, Mr. J. Willing, Mr. E. J. Stoneham, C.C.; Mr. H. H. Hodgson, Mr. J. C. Francis, Mr. W. W. Jones, Mr. Dean, Jr., Mr. L. A. Routledge, Mr. T. Fisher, Mr. G. Routledge, Mr. W. Faux, Mr. D. Stott, Mr. E. Hanson, Mr. E. Dalziel, Mr. W. Bone, Mr. J. Hodge, Mr. Dean, Sr., Mr. E. Evans, Mr. J. Walker, Mr. T. F. Unwin, Mr. H. O. Smith, Mr. J. Kinder, Mr. P. C. Peebles, Mr. J. Diprose, Mr. C. J. Crafter, Mr. J. F. Dunn, Mr. A. Blackett, Mr. G. Dalziel, Mr. M. Bell, Mr. J. Bumpus, Mr. W. Glaisher, Mr. A. Denny, Mr. J. Heaton, Mr. G. Unwin, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. J. Straker, Mr. J. G. Rimell, Mr. T. G. Stutter, Mr. C. M. Robertson, Mr. A. J. Petherick, Mr. T. Harwood, Mr. A. Chatto, Mr. A. E. Miles, Mr. Clay, Mr. E. Bumpus, Mr. J. C. Cornish, Mr. J. R. Burn, Mr. G. B. Routledge, Mr. Denny, Jr., Mr. J. Heaton, Mr. H. C. Sotheran, Mr. J. P. Copeland, Mr. R. G. Routledge, and Mr. G. Chater. After an excellent dinner, the chairman submitted the usual loyal toasts, observing that he remembered hearing the proclamation of Her Majesty's accession to the throne from the steps of the old Royal Exchange, Colonel R. Routledge, in responding to "The Navy, Army, and Reserve Forces," said he raised his volunteer corps in his own warehouse and at the houses of neighboring printers and publishers, some of whom had otherwise assisted him in the good work. (Hear, hear.) The chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, "Our Old Friend and Worthy Guest," read numerous messages of regret at being unable to attend the banquet from Prof. H. Morley, Dr. W. H. Russell, Alderman Sir J. Staples, K.C.M.G.; Mr. Gent, Mr. Knight, Mr. W. Kent, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Layton, and others. Sir J. Staples, who was absent through serious illness, wrote that he had known Mr. Routledge since 1842. The Chairman said, as one of Mr. George Routledge's intimate friends, he had been asked to preside that evening. Their roads had parted years ago. Mr. Routledge's was directed to the publication of new works, his own to the sale and purchase of old books. He first became acquainted with Mr. Routledge about 1836, when he was in business in Ryder Court, Leicester Square. He recollected well the little corner shop, to which he had paid many visits. While there, Mr. Routledge entered into the market as a buyer of remainders, which were no sooner purchased than sold. Whether he (the chairman) went north, south, east, or west, he was constantly coming across his friend with samples of recent purchases under his arm. Many was the contest he had witnessed in that room between Mr. H. E. Bohn and Mr. G. Routledge, whom he might describe as Jack the Giant Killer. (Laughter.) Having traced Mr. Routledge's career up to the time when he removed to the Broadway, the Chairman remarked that, although this was really a narrow way, it was a broad way to fortune. (Laughter.) Thousands upon thousands of good books came forth from that house, especially one of the latest series, being the Universal Library. What artisan would not forego during the week two pints of beer to secure one of those books? (Cheers.) He hoped that Mr. Routledge would live many years to enjoy the fruits of his energy. (Loud Cheers.) Although he had devoted the greater part of his time as a good citizen of London, he had nevertheless found time for work in his native county, Cumberland, where he had served the Queen in various capacities, as sheriff and justice of the peace. He was a thorough English country gentleman. (Cheers.) He had also done the state some service, for he believed he was correct in saying that of sons and grandsons Mr. Routledge had no fewer than twenty-four. (Laughter and cheers.) That number, as a bookseller, he had no doubt would shortly be made up to twentysix. (Laughter.) The toast was drunk with musical honors. Mr. George Routledge, who in rising to respond was received with loud cheers, said My dear friends, I cannot find words which in any way express the grateful thanks which I owe you all for the magnificent reception you have given me this evening. As long as I live I shall remember it as the crowning point of my long business career, and it is impossible to convey to you the proud satisfaction which I feel that in retiring into private life I carry with me the respect and esteem and, maybe, something more of so many kind and valued friends. In proposing my health, the chairman-one of the oldest friends in the bookselling trade that I have-has alluded in too flattering terms to the small services I have been enabled to render to literature and the reading public. Will you bear with me while I endeavor to relate some few of my experiences as a bookseller and publisher? (Cheers.) I commenced my apprenticeship with Mr. Charles Thurnam, at Carlisle, in June, 1827, and finished it on September 3, 1833. Thurnam had much the best business in the county of Cumberland, and it was a very common saying, "that if anything was wanted from London, go to Thurnam's," and he richly deserved this character for energy. Although there were few railways at that time, certainly not one from London to Carlisle, he had on an average five parcels per week by the mailcoach, the carriage costing 4d. per pound. In fact, when any book or other articles were applied for, Thurnam never spared any trouble to complete the order. It is now more than fifty-four years since I left that city. I have met with very few persons equal to Thurnam, as an expert man of business. I have never forgotten his teaching, and have greatly profited by it. I entered the establishment of Messrs. Baldwin & Cradock in October, 1833, and left them in September, 1836. My first salary was £60 a year; I never had more than £80, not much room for saving; however, I managed to keep myself without further aid from my family. (Hear, hear.) The firm had been long established, but was crippled for want of capital, and although a very old and respectable one they were obliged to succumb to circum number. We started another series about this stances. I was very pleased that I had the power afterwards of rendering them some assistance in selling their publications and in other ways. (Cheers.) Mr. Baldwin's son died in our service about fifteen years ago. My work was to collect books from other publishers for the country booksellers to whom Baldwin & Cradock were agents. At a later period I had charge of the binding department, which was to get the books bound during the day that had to be despatched by the coaches leaving at eight o'clock the same evening. I may remind you that the books were chiefly bound in paper boards with a white label. My experience of publishing at this date was that books were published at too high a price, and the sale small. I felt that there was room for a change. In September, 1836, I first began business on my own account in Ryder's Court, Leicester Square, as a retail bookseller and purchaser of books at sales, supplying new books as they were ordered-following the system of my old master, Mr. Thurnam, to be ready and prompt to fulfil all the orders I could obtain. As a specimen of this system, a gentleman called, wanting a single number of the Penny Magazine, but he must have it within an hour. I answered, "You shall have it, sir." I went myself to Ludgate Hill for it, and kept my promise. The result was this gentleman became a regular customer. So you see. prompt habits pay in the long run. (Cheers.) During this year I published my first book, "The Beauties of Gilsand Spa," which is situated on the borders of Cumberland and Northumberland, and where Sir Walter Scott got engaged to his future wife. This book was a failure, as it depended upon a local sale entirely. In November, 1837, my countryman, William Blamire, late M.P. for the county of Cumberland, having Sir James Graham for his colleague, and at this time Chief Tithe Commissioner, called at Ryder's Court to ask me how I was succeeding in business. I told him I was not yet able to occupy all my time, and that I should like some extra employment. I asked him if he could give me a situation in the Tithe Office. A few days afterwards he appointed me to take charge of the documents in his department. I remained in that office four years. at a salary of £80 a year, which was increased up to £125, the hours from nine until four, which gave me a little time to look after my book business. I also found that I could increase my income by doing some stationery business in connection with the office, which became very profitable, and gave me more capital to speculate with in the purchase of remainders. which I chiefly sold myself to the London and country booksellers. (Cheers.) Remainders becoming more scarce, I had to turn my attention to publishing, and in 1843 I removed to 36 Soho Square, and began publishing “ Barnes' Notes on the Old and New Testament," in 21 volumes, pub-"Penny Cyclopædia," and by adding an account lished at intervals. I engaged Dr. Cumming to edit the work, and write prefaces, which turned out a profitable speculation. The two volumes of the Gospel reached a sale of 4000 copies. In 1848 the Railway Library' was begun, the first volume being the "Pilot," by J. Fenimore Cooper. The number of volumes in this series has reached up to 1064 volumes, and is still continued. I may remark that during the performance of the Colleen Bawn' at the Adelphi Theatre 30,000 copies were sold of the novel. More than 100,000 copies have been sold of the "Romance of War," by the late James Grant. We hold the copyright of all his novels, 53 in " of the Duke's death to it we were enabled to pub- If the profitable trip to the States. (Laughter.) In February, 1859, we brought out Part I. of an extensive work on Natural History, in five large volumes, by the Rev. J. G. Wood, the drawings on wood by Wolfe, Zwecker, Harrison Weir, and other well-known artists on natural history subjects; the drawings were engraved by Daziel Brothers. The plant of this work has cost £16,000, and has paid us very well. (Hear, hear.) From this date we have published a great number of juvenile books, and several hundred novels, and other standard works. In 1868 Longfellow visited this country, bringing with him an unpublished work, "The New England Tragedies." We gave him £1000 for this small volume, and £500 for his translation of Dante, and with other poetical works, published at intervals, he has received about £3000 for copyright in this country. In April, 1883, we commenced the Universal Library, edited by Professor Henry Morley, in is. monthly volumes, bound in cloth, comprising standard works of the best old authors, such as Sheridan, Dante, Emerson, Homer, and others. lished up to this time, and the sale has exceeded our expectations. (Hear, hear.) I am afraid I am boring you with these statements. ("No, no.") However, I will take the liberty of giving you one more. In 1836 one book only was published, but at this date the number now exceeds over 5000; so that for 50 years I can say that I have published 100 books each year, or two a-week. (Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, I have brought my remarks to a close, and I have to thank you for the attention with which you have listened to me. When a man talks about his own life, he is apt to be somewhat discursive, and to exhaust the patience of those whom he addresses. (“No, no.") Your kindness to me touches me deeply; if your object in entertaining me was to give me pleasure, I can assure you, you have more than succeeded. I give you my most earnest thanks for the courtesy, kindness, and support which I have received from you and your predecessors during the last fifty years. That, gentlemen, can never be forgotten either by me or those who follow me. Gentlemen, let me wish you all the happiness and prosperity that you yourselves can desire, and I add from the bottom of my heart, God bless you all. (Loud cheers.) payments were not regularly paid, stereotype plates and stock were to be given up; however, this agreement was carried out to the letter. (Cheers.) We then agreed for a further term of years at £1000 a year, but before its termination Lord Lytton died. We then purchased from the present earl all the copyrights and plant, from first to last, that he had written. We have for this author's works nearly paid the sum of £40,000. This speculation the trade said at the time was rash, and would fail. I have never regretted it (cheers) and it certainly raised the position of the firm as publishers, and has been successful in every way as a speculation. On April 5, 1854, I went to New York to open a branch of our business there. taking with me our present manager, Joseph Blamire. We took premises in Beekman Street, but have had to remove several times since, requiring more room. We have now had a business in the United States for 34 years, and I have no reason to regret having started there. I have great pleasure in saying that our manager is a countryman of my own, and has given great sat-Fifty-eight volumes of this series have been pubisfaction. During this visit I opened friendly relations with that great historical writer, W. H. Prescott; he was hospitable and kind in the extreme, and soon afterward we became his publishers in this country. I also visited Professor Longfellow at his residence at Cambridge, near Boston. Mr. Samuel Lawrence, the famous English portrait painter, was in the States at this time and I engaged him to take a portrait of the poet, which I presented to Mrs. Longfellow, the most beautiful lady in the States, who very unfortunately was burned to death by dropping a match on her dress. I also had an agreeable interview with that most genial and kind-hearted man Dr. Wendell Holmes, whose poems we were first to publish in this country. (Cheers.) In 1885 we published a beautiful edition of Longfellow's poetical works, with one hundred illustrations from drawings by Sir John Gilbert engraved on wood by the Brothers Dalziel, with a portrait on steel by Samuel Lawrence. We spent over £1000 on these illustrations and £283 more on future editions. We published similar books to this for several years after as Christmas books, but the novelty having gone off they became less remunerative; the production being so costly, we had to discontinue them. In 1857 we commenced publishing Shakespeare in 50 Is. monthly parts, under the editorship of Howard Stanton, for which he was paid £1000. The drawings on wood, about 1000 in number, were drawn by Sir John Gilbert and engraved by the Brothers Dalziel. The plant of this work cost £10,000. This is without the cost of printing and binding. In 1858 Rarey, the American horse tamer, came to this country to show people how to tame savage horses. He gave private performances to those who had paid ten guineas, and they had to be sworn not to divulge what they had seen; he must have made a large sum of money by those performances. Mr. Symons, of Manchester, who had just returned from New York, brought a book which Rarey had published in the States, containing everything that was in his lecture. We agreed with this gentleman to publish the book on half-profits. In a very few weeks we had sold 110,000 copies, which put an entire stoppage to Rarey getting any more 10 guineas. (Laughter.) Mr. Symons by bringing this six-penny book from New York got as his share of the profits the large sum of £326 17s. 6d., which I think was a very The chairman proposed "Literature and Art," and referred to the beautiful children's books published by the firm of Routledge & Sons. Mr. E. Routledge replied in humorous terms. He said he was very much impressed by the amount of " copy there was in his father's speech-(laughter)-and he said the other day to the author of his being, "Don't you think there is something in this speech that might ultimately make a book?" (Laughter and cheers.) It would be very interesting for the firm of George Routledge & Sons to publish a work entitled, "Fifty Years of a Publisher's Life, by G. Routledge.' (Cheers.) Having assisted at something like sixand-twenty Albion sales, he might say, if it did not jar with the harmony of the meeting, "Gentlemen, the first book in the catalogue is A Life of George Routledge, 55, 35. 4d.: give your orders." (Laughter.) He suggested that his father should employ some of his well-deserved leisure in writing down the records of his career, and he and his brother, with that magnanimous disposition which invariably distinguished publishers, would undertake to issue the work at their own risk-(laughter)—and if the printer did not place the estimate too high, he thought they might get out of this rash speculation without a very large loss. (Laughter.) Literature was a very excellent institution; they all lived by it. As there were not many distinguished authors in the room, they would agree with him-at least printers and stationers would-that the authors out of whom they made the most money were those whose copyrights had ceased to exist-(laughter)-because generally the largest amount of paper and ink was used in the production of their works. (Laughter.) Whether this was the right view to take of literature was not for him to say. When they were told that his dear father had retired from business, let him assure them that it was nothing of the kind. Such was his love for the old place that he came to see them every day, lunched with them, and controlled the ship, and as long as he came they would give him a lunch free. (Laughter.) They would be convinced that the object of the firm of George Routledge & Sons was not only to benefit authors, stationers, bookbinders, and printers, but to bring the largest amount of profit to those retail booksellers he saw around him. (Cheers and laughter.) Mr. Harrison Weir responded for "Art." Mr. A. Taylor, replying for "The Visitors," said he was introduced to that room fifty-four years ago, and had known his dear friend George Routledge ever since. Mr. F. Miles proposed "The Chairman" in eulogistic terms, observing that he hoped he would not retire like Mr. Routledge, but still continue in business. (Cheers.) The Chairman, having acknowledged the compliment, proposed "The Stationers, Printers, Wood-Engravers, and Bookbinders." Mr. Spalding replied for the stationers, and Mr. R. Clark for the printers. Mr. G. Dalziel said his firm had no means of putting their ideas before the public until the advent of Mr. George Routledge. (Cheers.) Mr. W. Bone, speaking for the binders, said no sooner did a book get in than a publisher wanted it. (Laughter.) He would take no excuse, and they must work night and day to get it out. (Laughter.) The remaining toast was that of the "ViceChairmen," Mr. D. Stott and Mr. T. Harwood. The company separated at a late hour. GEORGE MUNRO VS. STREET & SMITH. In the case of George Munro vs. Street & Smith, in which action was brought to restrain the latter from using the titles "Old Sleuth" and "Old Sleuth, the Detective," Judge Andrews, in granting a temporary injunction, made the following points: "The picture printed on the covers of defendants' Secret Service series is evidently a close imitation of the picture used in plaintiff's publications. It also appears by the affidavit of Mr. Halsey that it was stipulated in the contract between him and the defendants, that he should write for them under the pseudonym of 'Judson R. Taylor,' and not under the name of 'Old Sleuth. The claim, therefore, of the defendants, that they obtained from the author the right to use the words 'Old Sleuth' and 'Old Sleuth, the Detective,' has nothing to sustain it, and such use seems to be a fraud upon the author as well as the plaintiff. A preliminary injunction will be granted restraining the defendants from using such picture and the words Old Sleuth' and Old Sleuth, the Detective,' upon giving a suitable bond for the protection of defendants in case the plaintiff should not prevail upon the trial." In issuing the restraining order Judge Andrews enjoins the defendants, Street & Smith, "their servants and agents and all others acting in aid or assistance of them or either of them from manufacturing, selling, publishing or offering for sale any numbers of said Secret Service series, by 'Old Sleuth,' and others, or any book or pamphlet, containing on its cover or elsewhere any copy or merely colorable alteration of a copy of any said pictures of said Old Sleuth,' owned and used by the plaintiff, or containing on its cover or elsewhere, any picture or pictures representing. or purporting to be a likeness or representation of said fictitious character Old Sleuth,' or containing on its cover or elsewhere, the phrase 'Old Sleuth,' 'Old Sleuth, the Detective,' or the word Sleuth,' or the picture of Old Sleuth' now published upon the covers of said publications of defendants. " THE AMENDED CHACE BILL. To the Editor of The Evening Post: SIR I send with this the text of the Chace Copyright Bill, with which have been printed the two amendments now proposed by the Authors' and Publishers' Copyright Leagues. These amendments are printed in italics, and the clauses which they are intended to replace are cancelled with red lines. as the The changes proposed comprise : (1) The replacing of what is known non-importation clause (under which the importation of any copies whatever of a foreign work which has secured American copyright is prohibited and made a misdemeanor) by the equivalent provision in the domestic copyright act, under which the importation of foreign copies of Americon copyright works is prohibited "except under the written authorization of the owner of the copyright;" and (2) The replacing of the provision allowing a term of three months after the recording of the title-page, before the perfecting of the copyright by the deposit of the copies of the complete book, by a provision (similar to that in the British act) requiring simultaneous publication. ference of the Executive Committees of the AuThose amendments were agreed upon at a conthors' Copyright League and the Publishers' Copyright League, while they have also been approved by the Copyright Association of Boston. The bill as amended has been submitted to Senator Chace as the measure now recommended by these several representative bodies, and the Senator is now giving consideration to the changes that will be involved in the amendments proposed. The publishers came together in December last at the instance of the authors, and their Executive Committee has from the start been working in coöperation with the similar committee of the authors. It is, I believe, the first time in the history of the various efforts in behalf of international copyright that the authors and publishers have thus been able to bring themselves into cordial agreement as to the details of a measure to be recommended for the action of Congress. |