New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-08
The Copyright Question.

To ne LdfOT ~ NE " 4. ITt0uHe
SIR: An article on 4" Copyright in morn
ing pager Of yesterday contains statements in which We
are referred Of these statements we know TO
he in their premises and therefore believe
them to be wrong in their conclusions VIII you per
NIT US then, briefly to state:
l. That Layarfs Niasrsh is not merely nOmi-
ualy but really published here by g. P Putnam Co.
That the work best known under thattite Is stereo-
typed and printed IN New York. American paper and
ell the illustrations are also engraved and printed here
3 That the Hx0 work c. Second Expedition y IL also
r,ay Published here by and although printed in Lon
DON is no, printed in inferior style cheaper paper"
as was instluated, but u precisely Ike the London
edition.
Tina, il /. no. " sent here for sale" by the London
publisher would be inferred from that statement
nor u Il sold without profit aud with the sole purpose
Ot iOrestalDg the market On the contrary order
sud purchase the entire edition at risk, and a
price Which not only paysthe printers bu. Sir Layard
also.
go far from this ingenious proceeding" lustrat-
ing iorcbly what would be tie effect Of national
copy night it simply illustrates the rant Of such copy
night Ii such copyright, properly framed. existed,
this work would have been printed in New York aud
some OF our eminent cOtempOrsres will understand
when say that the unwhoesOme scramble for prior
W in reprintng-n some cases wholly ignoring what
called the courtesies Of the trade"the absence
Of any Kind Of safety IN mourning expense which might
be- made prohtess the next day by direct rivalry and
repetition this state OF things and nothing ese made Il
aMkt;er OF pOncJ vel economy commence
the publication Of this work by using edition ready
made 20 hand. The importation. II fault,
that OF Mr. Murray but was the aut Of the present
baTeH-scsTeIn. uncertain, unsafe and unjust system
his eide, iOur ded upon the principle that might make
right :"
The statement ina: large English editions Of books
have been bought up here for r-shipment 70 Lon
d0u ws cannot dispute il nay be true, Of course,
although we never heard Of such ingenious pro-
eaeding" Az any rate. IL would be a msIter Of some
curiosity to Know the names OF the books. We think
probable that the amount and importance Of the Incl.
dent Nigh, easily be Oyeresnated By tie readers OF
your article However this last remark "a incidental
merely, for the Circumstance alluded " 10 OF our
business
The object Of this note l. simply % correct isstate-
men.4 u regard % our own proceedings add our own
property and would merely seg leave % sid that
TIE bU-besr held up before printers and artisans
tta their wOrk ether has beea likely - be taken
OF {. ~ hGats By fair and open competition with
joan Bull l., in humble opinion wholly yrouud!ess
In future letter shsn mention rome facts bearing
this point and the ocious and ".ugeuious' pro
eeedHg about Lsysrd. We believe that these facts
VII show that fair deld Of open free trade
With Englsnd, cur printers asd psper.nsxerB would
gain more than they would lose
One more word. Tie rgh. Of any one in the Trade
or cut Of 10 dictate 10 sLoth-r 70 where aud how
he shall print his books what kind Of Bargains he
sball cake for them the Ti.ht 10 sag that Ia Ot-
tan ng the authors sanction, abroad prior
ket here, ones neghbor must do t by purchase thas
and instead Of by paying copyright as Amsri-
author tie r1g, 10 INSET that nd ghOTs
gains must be made IN way SUIT views or e.s@
rs sht!l interfere, ckEegard the couresies Of the