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LANE S. HART, Harrisburg, Pa.
Witman, Legend of the Mound......... 1.50 Zahner, Transmission of Power.

D. VAN NOSTRAND, N. Y.

50

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ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS.

RESOLVED, That this Convention recognize the Publishers' WEEKLY as the established organ of the entire trade, and recommend it to publishers as the medium through which they should make their " first announcement" of books they propose to publish, and the full title of all books immediately on publication.-AMERICAN BOOK-TRADE ASSOCIATION.

CLAXTON, REMSEN & HAFFELFINGER, Phila.

An Essay contributing to a Philosophy of Literature. By Brother Azarias. 4th rev. ed.

12°.

The Art of Reading. By Ernest Legouvé (Member of the French Academy). Tr. by Edward Roth. With index of illustrative notes, mainly biographical, and a portrait of the author.

DAVIS, BARDEEN & CO., Syracuse, N. Y.

On the Province of Methods in Teaching. By James H. Hoose, A.M., Ph.D., Principal of the Cortland State Normal School, author of "Studies in Articulation," 16°, pp. 200. Cl., 75 cts. (Ready Feb. 1.)

PORTER & COATES, Phila.

etc.

As It may Happen. By Trebor. 12°. Cl., $1.50. Voices from Babylon. By Joseph A. Seiss, D.D., anthor of "A Miracle in Stone." 12°. Cl., $1.50.

PUBLISHERS' PRIORITY CLAIMS. From the New York Commercial Advertiser for the week ending January 2. DECEMBER 24.

D. Appleton & Co.:-The Art of Scientific Discovery. -Health Primers: Alcohol; Exercise and Training, etc. -The Day of Wonders, by M. Sullivan.-Pretty Arts for the Employment of Leisure Hours.-Elements of Com

Augustine, St., Confessions.

RECENT ENGLISH New Translation. 12°. ......5S.

Rivingtons.. Blunt, J. H.-Annotated Bible: being a Household Commentary. Vol. 1. 4°. Rivingtons ..31s. 6d. Burke, U. J.-The Boy's Walton: a Discourse on Fishing. 12°. Marcus Ward..... Delbos, L.-Chapters on the Science of Language. Cr. 8°. Williams & Norgate... 35. Dogs of Assize: a Legal Sketch Book in Black and White: Six drawings by W. J. Allen. Fol. S. Low....... 6s. 8d. Goulburn, E. M.-Introduction to Study of Holy Scriptures. 120. Rivingtons..

parative Anatomy.-Commercial Products of the Sea.Popular Lectures on Scientific Subjects.

DECEMBER 28.

D. Appleton & Co.:-Fairy Tales: their Origin_and Meaning, by John Thackeray Bunce.-Umsonst, by Elise Polko. The Blood of the Finoels, by Andre Theuriet."And She Will Come," by Wilhelmine von Hillern. Harper & Bros. :-Strahan's Handy Cyclopædia.-The Last of Her Line.-Bryce's Literary Atlas.-Bible Biographies. Fairyland of Science.-True Under Trial.Marshall's Epigrams.-Around Oxford. -Adventurous Lives.-Fairy Tales, by Thackeray Bunce.

J. B. Lippincott & Co.:-Mrs. Cardigan.-Queen of the Meadow.-Under which Lord ?-Probation.-Love Loyal. Within Sound of the Sea.-Und sie kommet doch, by Wilhelmina von Hillern.

Roberts Bros. :-Life and Letters of Baroness Bunsen. -The Gamekeeper at Home.-Hamerton's Life of Turner.-Mary Wollstonecroft's Letters to Imlay.- Life and Adventures of Arndt.-Seeley's Life of Stein.-The Dramatic List, by C. E. Pascoe.-Gwen: a Drama in Monologue.-Canterbury Chimes.

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.... 25.

Mozley, J. B.-Theory of Development. Cr. 8°. Rivingtons Nichols, T. L.-Social Life: its Principles, Relations, 12° Brook

35.

Ramage, C. T.-Bible Echoes in Ancient Classics. Cr. 8s. 6d.

8°. 14S.

6s. 6d. Hausrath, A.-A History of the New Testament Times. Vol. I. 8°. Williams & Norgate.. .. IOS. 6d. Hendrik, H., Memoirs, written by himself. Cr. 8°. Trübner.. 3s. 6d. Introduction to the Study of Painted Glass, by A. A. Cr. 8°. Rivingtons ....2s. 6d. Kinahan, G. H.-Manual of the Geology of Ireland. 8°. C. Kegan Paul & Co.. ..15s. Kingzett, C. T.-Animal Chemistry. 8°. Longmans.

18s. Knot Tied (The); Marriage Ceremonies of all Nations. 12°. Tegg

.....2S.

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8°. Black.

Sewell, W.-Microscope of the New Testament.
Rivingtons..

Simmonds, P. L.-Commercial Products of the Sea. 8°. Griffith & Farran. 16s.

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..155. Stevenson, D.-Life of Robert Stevenson. 4°. Black. Thomas, D.-Problemata Mundi: Book of Job considered, etc. 8°. Smith, Elder & Co... Thomas, J. W.-Treatise on Coal, Mine Gases, and Ventilation. Cr. 8°. Longmans.. Ios. 6d. 4S. Thomson, W.-Elasticity. 4°. Black. Wheeldon, J. P.-Angling Resorts near London: the Thames and the Lea. Cr. 8°. Trübner... ..... 5S. Willis, R.-William Harvey: a History of the Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood. 8°. C. Kegan Paul & Co..

14S.

The Publishers' Weekly.

F. LEYPOLDT, Bibliographical Editor.
R. R. BOWKER, General Editor.

JANUARY 4, 1879.

so soon as some others, but it will feel more and more with each season the general improvement of business.

The book trade is of course at a disadvantage not peculiar to itself but more noteworthy here than in most lines of business-the demora lization of the trade system involved in cutting throats and promiscuous discounts. This has been partly a rough method of bringing price

PUBLISHERS are requested to furnish title-page proofs and down to “hard pan," but it is a dangerous method,

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 correct ness in the final entry.

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." Notes from librarians will also be gratefully 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.

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and the preferable way is the reduction of nominal prices which has been going on without much fuss, publisher by publisher and book by book. One of several causes for the failure of the A. B. T. A. movement was the unwillingness of the retail representatives at Philadelphia to indorse that reduction of advertised prices and of nominal trade discounts which was logically involved in the "retail-price rule" and on which the refusal of discounts was to be justified to the public. We do not look to any renewed attempt at legislation or general compact to cure this evil, but rather to the return to common-sense and to square individual dealings which will be promoted by the return of general business soundness. A large proportion of books are now published at 'hardpan" advertised prices, many indeed phenomenally low, and even on such goods as Sundayschool books we venture to prophesy that a sounder system of discount will replace the present.

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The Stationers' Board of Trade, in which so many publishers are represented, has done signal service in promoting sound business methods, and has so thoroughly earned the respect and gratitude of the publishing trade that it would be idle to desire a separate similar organization. But we do hope for the organization, and that during the year, of some sort of book-trade guild, not at all legislative in its character, but bringing the trade together as, for instance, at an annual dinner. The proposed Book-Trade Provident Association, whose pro. moters could not give the necessary attention to it during the fall rush, is one step in the

THE past year, it is generally conceded, has been the poorest in return of any within the experience of most men now in the trade. The business depression at large-due to the continuance of the general causes which have been operating for several years, and in a measure to such local interferences as the mud blockade of the early part of the year at the West and the dreadful scourge, still present to our memories, with which the South has been visited-has been felt peculiarly in the book trade, which suffers especially in the pinch of general economy. But with resumption an accomplished fact; with crops larger than ever before-too large, indeed, to show their full return the same year; with prices at "bottom;" with no really threat-right direction, and is likely to be carried ening political distractions; with a general through this year. expectation of and readiness for an increase of business, the coming year promises to be one of reasonable prosperity. The people have been paying their debts and now have some hope of a margin above mere living expenses again, and if inordinate hope is not indulged in, if extravagance (which keeps business "moving," but moving to its ruin) is steadfastly avoided, if there is good hard work and careful management, the outlook is more promising for some years. The book trade is perhaps not likely to receive its share of the new prosperity

The public question most prominent before the publishing trade proper is that of international copyright. There are many reasons for prophesying that business policy will join with just principle to promote if not to assure agreement upon some practicable measure this year. The reduced cost of manufacture in this country removes one difficulty and the Canadian complications add a new motive, but that there are still honest difficulties and conflicting interests cannot wisely be overlooked in any practical treatment of this not easy question. It is

seriously involved, for instance, with tariff relations, which also are likely to come up for considerable discussion this coming year. The postal question is another both of trade and public importance, which it is to be hoped will be partly solved by the bill now likely to be passed.

In the treatment of these and other questions, the PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY will continue to give full information and also to serve the interests of the trade by the discussion of their bearings, representing not any selfish or immediate ends of the trade, but presenting the broader view in which the interests of the trade and the public are finally one. It has not been possible as yet to carry out some of the plans for the WEEKLY announced at the beginning of the fall as in contemplation, chiefly because the volume of business has not justified further expenditure,

but it is hoped to put these in practicable shape this year. We point to the very useful change in the character of the weekly lists, as evidence

that the WEEKLY will better and better serve the interests of the trade, as an independent organ dependent on its enterprise for its support, ac

are inclined to think the proportion might be larger on the new basis, in which the author takes the cost, the risk and the work, and pays the publisher his pretty bonus of ten per cent. Seriously, the talk about the underpayment of authors has, from the commercial side, a very false start; the trouble is, not that the author does not get a fair percentage of the return, but that the return is not sufficient to give him what the intrinsic value of his work may deserve. À publisher who nets ten per cent above the cost and the trade discount on all his issues does probably better than the average, while the author's percentage is commonly based on the retail price which the publisher does not get.

A CANADIAN journal "talks back" vigorously on the copyright question, and, in so far as the reprinting of American books is concerned, gives fair tit for tat." But we do not know that American publishers have defended the sending of American reprints of British copyright works into the British dominions, and in any event smuggling on one side would scarce

cording as experience and trade support put the ly be a good defence against smuggling on the

means in our hands. While certain proposed changes in the administration of the WEEKLY may be announced presently, it is its general purpose to make haste slowly, serving the trade as it has heretofore served it, with the added usefulness for which its patronage may give opportunity.

THE plan of the Title Slip Registry, which was not fairly started, as had been intended, last fall-chiefly because of the difficulty of introducing a new system at the busiest season of the year, will now be put in what we hope may be permanent operation. The favor accorded to the annotated list system, recently introduced into the WEEKLY, and the subscriptions so far received for the printed title-slips, encourage the belief that the plan will succeed by reason of its usefulness and economy. Publishers will therefore oblige by sending early copies or sheets of their books, for registry, as long before publication day as is practicable, when they will receive prompt attention. scriptions for the slips are solicited from booksellers as well as from libraries, and an explanation of the plan, with sample slips, will be sent at desire.

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other.

THE RICH PUBLISHERE AND THE POOR AUTHERE.

(From the World, Dec. 30, 1878.)

[The scene opens in the gilded halls of a publishing house, with luxurious furniture, warm fire, easy chairs, etc.]

The publishere sat in his counting-room
A-counting his dross of gold,

And reckoned his profits how large they'd be
When the books on his shelves were sold.

""Tis a goodly trade and I like it well,"
He murmured low to himself,
"Brains are so cheap and they never shine
Till they shine in calf on my shelf.
I back them up with paper and guilt,"
And he laughed at his joke in glee,
"For there's ten per cent for the poor authere,
And there's ninety per cent for me.

"With the honor and glory I leave to them
Goes a little starvation," he said,

"But that does them good, while I wisely grind Their brains to make me bread."

[The scene changes materially.]
The authere sat in his garret room,
His palace beneath the sky:

He worked and wrote, one half for fame,
One half that he might not die.

For mind needs matter and brains need beef,
Even genius is fed from the pot;

So he wrote and grumbled, and grumbled and wrote,
At the beggarly pittance he got.
Till a new idea, like a sun shining out

Made his pathway to fortune quite clear;
"I will pay no more this ninety per cent,
But will act as my own publishere."

[Two years are supposed to elapse.]
And now he sits in his gilded chair
And rides in his carriage dear,
And often climbs up a three pair back
To give alms to a publishere.

[The morial presents itself.]
So now all you good folks take warning
By the fate of this wise authere,
For ninety per cent is too much for binding,
As nine tenths to a publishere.

CANADIAN WICKEDNESS. (From the Montreal Gazette, December 12th.) OUR American cousins, possessing as they do so many excellent qualities and so great material resources, might be very happy if they were not tormented with a desire to sit on both sides of a fence at the same time-a feat in itself difficult even to our highly gifted neighbors.

It is a matter of notoriety to our readers that United States publishers have always seized and reprinted any English books they wished for; that these reprints have been exported into every British colony; that they are with difficulty kept out of England itself; and that every effort which England has made to secure international copyright has utterly come to naught. With cynical frankness, Senator Morrill, in his report to the United States Senate in 1873, asserts that to give the foreign author any consideration would injure the printers and papermakers of the United States, and raise the price of books to the people, and that therefore an international copyright was impossible. The English press railed, the English Government coaxed, but all in vain. The proposition is a sound one; it is cheaper to steal brooms than to buy them.

Matters being in this state, two years ago the Canadian Government revised the copyright law of this country, and the new act provided that two classes of persons only could hold copyright in Canada: Ist. Any person domiciled in Canada or in any part of the British possessions; and, 2d. A citizen of any country which might have an international treaty

with Great Britain. The essence of the act is in the word domiciled. Mere colorable residence will not do. Therefore, it soon became evident to Canadian printers that, so long as the United States Government refused international copyright, so long the whole range of United States literature might be reprinted with impunity, and, inasmuch as the frontier is long and travel incessant, and the facilities of the post-office are very great, these reprints would incessantly find their way across the border. Here, then, Senator Morrill was beaten with his own stick. The very thing so nice and proper for United States citizens ought clearly to be equally nice and proper for Canadian citizens.

The New York publishers, however, who for a century have grown rich on English literature, no sooner found that the Canadian reprints of their copyright books began to appear in the Western States than they were horror-stricken at the enormity of Canadian wickedness. The Sun took the matter up, interviewed the leading publishers, and exhorted the impenitent Canadians in the same style which the English

authors had found so ineffectual in Senator

Morrill's case. The interview with Mr. G. W. Carleton is excessively amusing.

Mr. Carleton goes on at white heat. But he has conceded that the Canadian has a right to sell these reprints in Canada. Now if American citizens send money to Canada and buy these books, and import them into the United States, as Mr. Carleton says they do, it seems to us that the "devils" and the fellows" are on his own showing not Canadians at all, but his own countrymen. Canadians are doing precisely what he is doing himself. His edition of Dickens is advertised everywhere. If a Ca

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nadian were to send him the money for a set, or for a volume of Swinburne's poems, would any fine scruples prevent him sending them by post or express? We think not. We never heard of an American publisher whose feelings were so tender. If such there be, it would be worth a pilgrimage to see him. Mr. Carleton, after flopping round and flinging about naughty words in this style, finally settles down to, All this must lead to an interational copyright law at an early day, I hope," in which pious sentiment we heartily concur. The English authors will now, we trust, see that the Canadian Copyright Act is not the dreadful thing they supposed it to be when they raised such an outcry about it, and will learn that when they sit down to trade knives with Brother Jonathan they should not commence by giving away their own jackknife first.

THE PARIS EXPOSITION.

1878, informs us that the packing of the unsold M. EM. TERQUEM, under date December 14. goods displayed in the American book exhibit at the Paris Exposition has been completed, and that the cases, twenty-two in number, will be shipped in the Supply for New York, and in the Constitution for Philadelphia. Both vessels are expected to sail from Havre about the middle of this month, and will probably reach America late in February. A return invoice has been sent to every exhibitor, so that there may be no difficulty in claiming the goods after their arrival here. A considerable proportion M. of the goods sent have been sold abroad. Terquem is informed by Governor MacCormick that our government will open an office either at Washington or in New York to distribute the medals and diplomas awarded. M. Terquem intends to be in New York before March.

LITERARY AND TRADE NOTES.

THE 78th part of Braithwaite's Retrospect, for January, will be ready for delivery about the 20th inst., by W. A. Townsend.

PROF. A. W. WARD has undertaken to write on Chaucer, and Mr. Henry James, Jr., on Hawthorne, for the admirable series of English Men of Letters, edited by John Morley.

MR. A. HILDEBRANDT, of Manchester, is to be the publisher of the proposed monthly Technological Index, to contain "all the material requisite for easy reference to all articles of scientific or technical interest."

MESSRS. RIVINGTON'S new volume of their

Historical Biographies, "The Duke of Wellington," by R. Waite, is just ready for publication. It contains a portrait of the Duke, eight plans of the principal battles, and three maps.

paration a set of thirty large plates illustrative of Old Testament history, and designed to display the references and facilitate the study of Rawlinson's "Historical Illustrations of the Old Testament."

MESSRS. W. COLLINS, SONS & Co. have in pre

PORTER & COATES have nearly ready an interesting book by "Trebor," entitled "As it may happen," and "Voices from Babylon," by Jos. A. Seiss, whose " Miracle in Stone" made quite a sensation and passed through several editions.

J. FAIRBANKS & Co. have just ready a volume

of papers on social topics by T. DeWitt Talmage, entitled Foes of Society." Next week they will issue "The Mask Torn Off," by the same author. F. O. Evans & Co. are the New York agents for these books.

S. W. TILTON & Co., Boston, have recently issued two interesting art-books for amateurs, "Art Needlework for Decorative Embroidery," edited by Lucretia P. Hale, and the first series of "Flaxman's Outline Designs," for artstudies and decorative purposes.

WE regret to announce the death of Uzal D. Ward, treasurer of the American and Foreign Bible Society, aged sixty-one years. Mr. Ward was for thirty years identified with the book trade in this city, his place of business at the time of his death being at 150 Nassau street.

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DAVIS, BARDEEN & Co. have just ready the first number in School Room Classics, entitled Unconscious Teaching," by Rev. F. D. Huntington, Bishop of Central New York. Early next month they will issue" On the Province of Methods in Teaching," by Jas. H. Hoose, principal of the Cortland State Normal School, and favorably known as the author of "Studies in Articulation."

CLAXTON, REMSEN & HAFFELFINGER will have

"THE history of the Israelites, and Judeans," by N. E. DeGroot, will be published shortly in this city by the author, who has applied the recent discoveries in the East to elucidate several disputed points in ancient history and chro-ready shortly the promised book on "The Art nology. The work will be issued in two volumes, at $4.

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of Reading," by Ernest Legouve, member of the French Academy. The work will be translated by Edward Roth, and will have an index of illustrative notes mainly bibliographical, and a portrait of the author. About the middle of next month a new revised edition will be ready of Brother Azarias' "Essay on the Philosophy of Literature."

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Especially useful to Accountants, Merchants, Lawyers,
Draughtsmen, R.E. Agents, Teachers and Scholars.
A Ruler, Paper-cutter, Pen or Pencil-case, Foot Measure,
Gauge for Lines or Money Columns, LETTER SCALE,
Square, Protractor for Angles or Degrees, combined in one
durable and ornamental article. Circles, Diagrams, &c.,
may be described by using the perforations. Directions with
each Rule. Sold by all Stationers, News & Notion Dealers.
LIBERAL DISCOUNT TO THE TRADE.
Sent by Mail on receipt of Price, 50 cents (or P. O. stamps.)
PERRIS & BROWNE, Sole M'f'rs, 164 Fulton St., N. Y.

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