The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-01

the s~trep6t Of the European steamers; and a new
rivalry seems lately 10 have grown up between
them, to see which can outstrip the other in fres,
rows, murders, and various Other feats Of the cut
ting, packing and sailing order Probably Boston viii
Guido Us in chemical experiments; but il ia some
what doubtful, even now that they have the Ita-
Ian Opera there, IT they can get up an Astor Place
not as respectable as our own. But one thing
is certaln-Boston can and does print handsomer
and better books than New York, and she seems
determined to turn over new leaf, and gave usthe
cheapest.
Not long since a new house there, started an inn
mense business, under the firm of Phillips, Sam,-
son d Co. They began by Offering the pnol,c new
and elegant editions of the British classics, n
style of beauty and cheapness far superior to any,
| thing We had ever been favored with before.
Among other works, they commenced the issue OF
a magnificent edition of Shakespeare in twenty-five
cent numbers, each embelsh. with superb steel
engraving Of the heroine of the play. The great
dramstsr, in this new ana surprisingly cheap form.
went all over the country and readers every where
DIRE W the contrast-much the favor Of the publish
ers Of The edition between large, superby print
ed, end elegantly illustrated pamphlet, aud one OF
those nanny .pamby, wishy -washy concerns called
type, and shabby gotten up every way. Philips
d Sampson, it was sand, would make no money at
this business; but being Yankees, they probably un-
dersiood what they were about. The public were
again surprised by seeing Hume's history brought
out IN very fine style, in six convenient well
bound, well printed volumes, AZ the low
prce OF sixy-two aud a halt CENTS a volume,-a
book which, If published in New YORK, would
have sold for a dollar or dollar and a quarter.
Other great standard English authors were
nOunced, and began 10 follow each other in rapid
succession. The experiment seemed to be sue.
cessfpl, If furnishing the country with new AMI
better editions than they had ever had before Of
tie British classics, at a very reduced price. Sdr-
prise seemed 10 have subsidized IN a measure. and
every body was glad that these great authors, whose
works have become so essential a po'tion OF the
fabric of Ell gsh literature, had been made more
accessible TO the mass of readers, and that they
were brought out in such superior style. We be-
leve that LamartIne's History entered INTO this
series Of publications, and also Micauey's History
OF England. Not many day ago, having seen an
int NATION that Thomas CARLYLE, tie celebrated
author, had sent out tract called " The Present
Time" No. I, Of "Latterday Pamphlets" we
found on inquiry that the htlle brochure of sixty
pages, sold for three shillngs. Some three four
days afterwards, great publishing house in this
cry brought out fac siais Of the same work, and
sold IT for five cen,s-and th's, Will take occs-
sion to say, was about ten times as much as il Was
worth; for, after reading this famous production,
We were not long in coming to the conclusion that
II was the most contemplate specimen of author
ship that has recently appeared But the publics.
10 al M fpr less nsn b.fth Of
the Boston ediriop, was significant fact. 1t was
HE first squib in a publishing war which eeems
likely TO be driven to a campaign ofe xtermnat,on.
About The same time appeared ANNOUNCEMENT
that The New York house had begun 10 p1bish
upon the Boston men pretty much all the books
they had brought out, at very much 10 yer
price-among others, Hume's History, for forty
cents volume. II WAS at once unders God by tn.
public, that the New York house intended to
" teach a lesson" to the Boston ans to behave
themselves IN the future, aud not presume priat
sny hook OF which their bet,ers aud superlors ia
this nisIopol's had Issued an edition. Nov this
was assuming ground which Boston was potexac,ly
prepared to yield. The fact that New York house,
which had pira,ed all the bee; works II an the sell
ing authors OF Europe, bad thereby acquired any
right in or tte TO sad works, which should prevent
Other publishers from undertaking to biting out the
same, was rot entirely apparent To the Boston m-o,
aid Bosom ray ther calculated" that she coll1
pirate as well as New York, particularly when sle
gave better article at lees Price and so thought
the public This same ait, mpi TO teach The 'snobs
OF the trade" as they are significantly allied in
certain quarters, lesson which they woald never
forget had been tired before with no great success;
and although hundreds Of booksellers had lying
upon ,h,u shelves large numbe, Of copies II Ma.
cauley's History Of England, for which they
had paid very high price, as sooa Us a Pail del
plia house or Boston one piesIned 10 priai cheap
editions Of the came work, the 6fsl pIb-hrrs
without auy regard To their regular cOsIamsrs,
knocked down the price Of their fret edl,ion from
~ dollars volume to seventy five ceais, reckless
whether or not their cusiomsTs should lo-e thou
sands Of dollars 10 the game. Solong as "a l.sson
was TO be taught the snobs Of the trade (which
M, ant eny BODY that piesun-d t. pr,ut boos dies
had publshsd), il was matter at no sort Of consr
quence how much poor booksellers lost, nor how
much the public was uided wuh Bat this bold
sssump,isn Of exclusive right IN book, which by
Law wss open to all Publishers, wa not generally
conceded, and the masters Of the art we're no, very
successful in intoxicating The lesson. Tais same
beginning business for themselves, ard had iust
graduated from the fifth lott Of p,iauag Office.
commenced their fortunes by printing cheap edi-
iicns Of SCOTS novels upon a celebrated house n
PhIledelptIa, aud, to hurry out Scot, 5 las, novel,
used TO work Sundays, although Me,boois'. atihii
but We never head thss ihe bfemren cr sisfers
called them TO en- accoalt loo u, aHd vt believe
they have ever since beta ilgsiuuus ora tinens In
that a.nomr aticn, which they honor by their a.
some standing as publishers, and have gOne ON very
succs ssiully vii the present time, haVha prlut-d
cheap editions upon other publishers as oitea 10
they pleased
New, who M,ssrs Philips, sampson & Co. may
be, we have no itcuisr kBossdSe, and a. Is
probably a matter OF very hide Consequence TO
most al cur sders but ~ n funny tc zee sach a
low Ne thlS naked up a. the paOishiag world, aad
We Laws abme cunosly To zee how tue cam2liIn
vii be decided. So IU.g as We are w.ihoat an
int, National eopy-IIsht, We can p.ic.lyr no rea.