Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-10

Is expressed IN few words; sometimes it runs
INTO an elaborate analysis and criticism. but
in any case he never recommends book except
after careful consideration. These opinions are
carefully copied into a book aud preserved for
reference. ] have had occasion TO see many Of
these books, covering a period of molc than
twenty years; and will venture to say that,
could they be published, with the names Of the
various leaders, they would be accepted as the
sOundeSt collection ever printed of critique upon
the literature OF the time.
Let us suppose that the opinion of this reader
is favorable as to your book. The manuscript
is then sent to another reader, who knows
nothing of what his predecessor has said. He
in turn gives his opinion. Usually, and IN all
cases Of any possible doubt, lhework is sent to
a third reader. With three opinions by three
different persons the firm consider that they
have materials sufficient for decision in the case
This decision rests with them wholly. Many
other things, with which the reader has nothing
TO do, enter into the question. For example,
they may have in hand or under engagement, as
many works as they can publish for some time;
or business may be so dull that book which
would, at another time, stand fair chance Of
success, would likely fall dead. And so on al
most dd nfHitUm.
But let us take he most favorable view. Sup
pose the publishers decide that they may safely
issue your book. Then comes the question of
terms. We Will suppose that the publishers are
willing to run all the risk, and meet all the eX-
penses. How shall you be paid for your copy
right?
There are three general ways. By the first
the publishers bind themselves to pay you a GER
tain portion Of the profits. This is a very COM
mon mode il England The objection to this is
that it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to fix at
any time, what the profits have been. There
are so many things in which the expenses of
one book are iuextrcahly mixed up with those
of 4 score of others. For example, there is the
great item Of advertising. A publisher will adj
vertse long list of books in five hundred pa
pers. He knows the aggregate expense for all;
but how shall he apporton TO each book its
share? Yet this must come out of the joint
profits of author and publisher.
The second mode is for the publisher to pay
outright stipulated price for the copyright
The book in tins case becomes the absolute prop
erty Of the publisher, the author having no fur
ther pecuniary interest in it. This is not the
favorite mode with us. An author very natu-
rally anticipates that his book will be a success.
He hopes to realize from it much more than the
publisher feels warranted in paying. He pre-
icrS TO have a contingent interest in the antci-
pated success, the amount to be regulated by the
actual sale Of the book through succession of
years. This feeling is also in most cases shared
by the publisher. He prefers the chance of pay
ing two thousand dollars should the venture
prove decided success, to the certainty of pay
ing thousand in any event.
This has led to the general adoption of the
third method BY this the publisher undertakes
to meet all expenses of every sort, and to pay
the author, at stipulated times, a specified sum
upon each copy then sold. The accounts are
thus perfectly simple, and except in the sup
position Of fraud in making up the statement,
there can arise no question of dispute. The
books Of the publisher should show the exact
number printed; his shelves show how many are
left on hand; the difference in the number then
sold, for each Of which The author is to receive
pay.
The amount 10 be paid is question between
the parties. 1t varies much in proportion to the
reputation of the author Washington Irving,
we understand received a quarter of the actual
sales Tbero arc fa,,, writers 70 whom, ,,,,,
Usher can safely pay this. The must usual sum
is ten per cent. upon the retail price OF the book
In the case Of the one which we sunnoscfl ,t tho
outset fine price vyould he 81 10 and tho outtor
would have d cents a conv If 5oo0 were sold
his share would ba St25o If IN ooo shonId ho
sold he would have s95on
AT first siobt This would spam an upf,ir ,lis.
tribution. "Here -" saws on outbo,-opd have
| hoard if in substance many tiuas- u,ry roo,.
| has sold 5000 comics. which amopnts 70 SO Ooa
Bv the estimate made fine cost Of mappr,cturo
incuding the illustrations v,s.s 1foo. t,oro hoe
then hcen q nrofit of S7onG or,rbich + oo+ etozo
and INV nubIisber efG5l If saon,, 70 ma tr,ot
nv share in the bnol, is worth ouita ~ r,not nc
his"
Eiorros II is eoi1 will not liz p,,+ cha g.,
ureS TO sneak truIv mnst ba ,raur,taIv sto+oJ
In this case tbev are erroneouslv assumed The
publisher has not received in tle GROSS SO 5o0
Nearly every copy of the hoax has baen soIl IN
booksellers. who of course oct them nj = die.
count from the retail price Thi. discount W.
ries somewhat. accordioy TO the fines and tho
class of book. "Onc-tbirl off" is 4 tocroblv
fair average, This reduces tbc total sales nv
more than $4,000, leaving about $4,000 for tbc
publishers gross share. Ont Of tbis he has RI
meet all loss bv bad debts dcrrov cIcrl, hire od-
vertising, etc. Under the head of ADVERTISING
Mace some hundreds of comics sent f., tbo nross
for notice. Moreover the ruhlisbcr will no
likely TO have some comics on hand nrvor IN bo
sold. for the manur,cture of which Ia has r,id
Taking all thinos INFO account 7 am conGdont
that in the case sunnosed fine sborc or tbo ortbo,
is not less than the NET nro6ts of rho ruhhsror
Glow then it will he asked dis If that snc-
cessrnl publishers accumulate fortunes while
authors rarely do?o Tine answer Is ot hand
The publshcr in Ionr coprsc or brsinos,
will have thousands of ventures inst lil,o ,his
while Won. nj best will hardly in liin,in,o I,,o
score.
tine add n few words on a r,fhor ;ro;do,to1
ouestion: The rotations batu,,an rrh,ishors
and fine npy.nonars An lo,din.r ,n,Ii,rou,