The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-30
Book Trade OF the U. states and Canada.

| Book Trade OF the U. States and Canada.
| Iron the Montreal Herald, Oct 20
| Nothing can be more unsatisfactory than the
present position of this trade under the British law
| of copyright. An English book, IT copyrighted
can only be read by Canadian on penalty OF pay
ing the large price charged by the London pub
Usher, with the addition of all the costs and charges
incident Its coming out 10 this country. On the
other hand, an American can obtain Just the same
books, at price very much less than Is charged
by the London publisher. IL this state OF things
really benefited the author, there might perhaps,
be an excuse tor It's continuance. But II is well
known that the restriction, while II prevents Cana
dams from buying cheap books, does not make
If thai be any satisfaction to the London authors
and publishers, from enjoying the works of the
British press at a quarter of dollar per volume
but they cannot be made TO pay 3Os for the three
volumes, over which the same matter Is extended
IN It's original shape. Such prices are unsuited TO
our position, and impossible
But the uncertainty which attends the rcstrlc-
ton is another great evil It does not appy TO any
book, until the Canadian custom house au;horl-
ties have been notified that II Is duly copyrighted.
In the OF large number OF works this notlfi-
cation is not made, and our booksellers are, of
course, at liberty TO import American editions. In
the case OF other works II Is not made I'LL after
long interval. From these circumstances, II hap
pens not unirequently, that our booksellers give
their orders to the New York publishers while
certain works are Tree, but before they receive
them a fresh mail has arrived, and notified the
custom house that the works ordered are copy
right Then, when they reach St. Johns, these
books are seized, their intended readers are an
noy ed, and the bookseller suffers grievous loss.
Ii may perhaps be remembered, tnat in conse-
qYence OF representation TO the imperial auhori-
ties they some time ago consented TO allow a mo-
dlhcaton OF the copyright law eiectlng these
colonies The Provincial Parliament, hoping TO
meet the views of the Colonial Secretary, passed
an act guaranteeing their copyright To all Brush
authors who would reprint their works IN the colo
- IrpH
free to be imported from the United States. Thus
act was dlsallowed. But the modIhcation adopted
BY Nova Scotia, as we understand, became law, so
that American reprints of English copy rights,
enter that colony on payment OF 70 per cent duty
Now II would be far better that we should have
this law in preference to the bunglng, uncertain,
troublesome barrier TO knowledge, at present
existing Yet nothing can show the absurdity
of the whole colonial system OF copyright, more
than this new arrangement IN the eastern pro-
vince The difference between the price OF an Anne
rlcan reprint, and the original English edition, sold
| AT Halifax Montreal, would not average less
than two thousand or three thousand per cent.
| Neither English author nor English publisher,
therefore, can be benefited by raising the cost of
| the reprint by 20 per cent-that will certainly not
make a single customer 90 TO their shop. Yet
they force the colonial legislature unwllllngly, to
impose this useless tax on the reading portion of
| their constituents
| From the Cincinnati Gazette, Oct. 2il
| The aggregate amount OF the book trade branch
Of industry IN Cincinnati is about one million dol
lars per year The business is not, by any means,
| confined 10 The sale of books made elsewhere; but
| IL composed, In a very considerable degree, OF
books manufactured, throughout, at home. There
are about thirty booksellers the city, three stere
OtyplDg establishments, and fifteen power presses
running, principally on book work, one of which
~ employ ed constantly ON German publications.
Six of The power presses are driven by water IN
one establishmeDt-that Of Morgan * Co; the
others generally by steam. The entire number OF
powe presses in The city, book, news and Job, is
| oi VIII I'M lp
fee The number Of blnderies IN the city Is ten.
Among our publishing HOUSES, the largest are the
Methodist book concern, j A: U. L. james,
Henry w. Derby d Co , and W B. Smith Il Co,
The annual business Of some of these, IN all de-
psrtmens, is not less, one year with another, than
from SI25, 900 10 Sl75,0O0 each.
The publications at Smith IL Co. are exclusively
school books of which they Issue between 100000
and 100000 copies per year Several OF their
school series have achieved high regulations IN all
parts Of the country, and they are now sending
East about I00, 600 copies ot them per year. In
addition to this, they have duplicate plates in New
York, OF some at the most celebrated OF their pub
| locations, from which large editions are struck TO
meet the demand OF the middle States. Mr. smith,
who has long been engaged IN this particular branch
Of the business, has been exceedingly active IN
| building IL zp, and by his energies has stimulated
others Ia like eXeriOns. In the different parts OF
| the establishment Of w. Ii. Smith ~ Co /, are EN-
| ployed regularly, an average OF from 80 10 100
hands.
| J.A.&U. p. James carry on, IN connection with
| their book publishing and selling, printing Office,
| a book bludey, printers ink manufactory, and
| steieotyplng operations. They employ, altogether
an average OF l25 and 80 hands. They have long
been engaged in this general business, aud publish
many standard WORK =, as well as school books and
| misce laneous publications, the sales OF which are
ell. cted In this city at their house, and by agent
| throughout the Mississippi Valley. OF one schoo
| series U.yman Cobb's seven books), they PRINT tor
the publishers an average Of 100000 copies per
year.
Other publishing houses doing an extensive busi-
ness are named. The more prominent are Apple
gate a. Co, Truman ~ Co +, Morgan Y Go Moore
& Co, Bradley ~ Anthony, Derby N Co., and De-
| SILVER.