New-York tribune., 1874-06-01
JULES VERkES MERIDIANA.
TO the Edifor OF The Trt6une.
SIp. We are so unwilling to rest for n

To the RAZOR OF The Tribune.
SIR: We are so unwilling to rest for a single
day under the inputaton OF having treated any fellow
publisher unalrncss discourtesy that must
the favor OF immediate correction OF the following
paragraph which find in THE TRIBUNE of this morn
ing
There seems 10 be war between New-York and
Philadelphia houses Victor Hugos Ninety.
Of dollar On the heels of this comes
the prospect OF httie contest between the
of Henry t. Shepard * Co. OF Boston and Scrioner-
shepard q Go. complain that they were the first
Jucs Vcrne's new book. and that the Scribners
violated the cOurcses OF the trade by announcing
after them and have refused 10 take any notice OF their
letter of rcmonstranee.
The book IN question, "Meridana; or, The Adyen-
lures Three Engshmen aud Three Russians IN South
Africa" announced IN press through the regular
aud authorized channels at intervals from November
1872 to January 1873 We followed up our announce
ment first by purchasing and placing in this market
quantity Of the kugsh edition, and then by buying the
plates Of the entire work. etterpress and illustrations
These have been IN our possession four or five
months. Our edition, which the unwarrantibe action
Of Messrs Shepard & CO. has compelled place in
the market sooner than we had intended, IS
,ne Fence and English pYbisbers of JnIcs vernn
works. In bringing out the book Therefore we have a
hered most strictly aud In every particular to the
usagcs of the trade for the work by priority of
and by right OF purchase. The charge of
breach Of courtesy docs not hold against us us these
facts show, IN the least particular brief statement
book viii make 1t clear TO the pubic that a much more
serions Charge might be preferred against them tho
first place, they gave the book entirely title and
one which did not identify 1t either with the
French original or the English translation. No am
nOuncement wherever made. under this deceptive title
would have gwen them right to the as against
our regular announcement. The fact Is, however that
they dd not once announce the book while IL was I'm
preparation. even under the title they took the liberty
Of giving It, through any OF the channels recognized by
the trade; nor did they announce 1t at all until
rev days prior TO lts publication; Farther stil.
We beg you 10 note these facts: or Mcssrs. Suep-
ard Co.'S edition 81 pages Is q Translation
made by them. under the protection OF which they have
copyrighted the book and'is tle. Tlc remaining l3J
pages are taken bodily from edition The 20 Illus
rations they give were transferred engraved In th.
country. while the ~ illustrations our edition are
printed from eectrotypes taken from the blocks
engraved III Paris We do not state these facts TO dem
Onstrate the superiority Of edition but simpy 10
place the part Messrs Shepard Co have taken In this
Transaction IN It's true light before the public.
The allegation that We paid no attention 10 their
remonstrancc against the Issue or edition we meet
by this statement Our suspcions that then book might
lee interference with Meridiana" were first excited
by paragraph in Boston letter publsed Ia TIiE Trim.
usE OF last Saturday May 2j lmnedlatey nDon reading