New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-20
THE BOOK FAIR.

r,rrTs op THE OLD TRADE sALFs-REsULIS OF
THE NIAGARA CoNvLNTIoN-HARMONY or FEEL
ING IN THE TRApE-FAvoRABLE PROSPECTS OF
THE rAIR-IIsT OF CONTRIBUTORS.
The opening of the Book Fair, or the " Book
sesys, Exchange and Clearing house," 1t is officially
,es,enated NJ Clinton Hall yesterday morning. marks
the abolition OF the old trade sales and the introduction
OF new system OF Offering books which il claimed Is
more In with true business methods Tho
old trade sales started Q score or more
Of years ago, under the auspices oi inc
Committee of the trade, before the present railroad
express and Geographic networks offered the facics
now existing extending sales the country The
purpose those sales 10 get the trade from aheieht
quarters together in some ono center that buyers ana
sellers might brought directly in contact, that each
class night learn from the Other the points either IA
60 give aud be better able to transact business
tnteient and that the publisher might 90 enabled to
"place' his publications more widely
These auctions were long conducted by the veteran
house now known Bangs, Merwin Co.. but some ais
satisfaction caused their transfer to the hrn OF Gee" A.
Leavitt & Co., who proposed to he more amcnaoie 10
trade control But the Trade Committee. Of which VIM
Al. Appleton was Chairman. soon became again
merely nominal committee whose names were
printed as a matter OF form the auctioneeIs
circular, aud the dissatisfaction was renewed
tho system itself being called in question.
Many declined to become contributors and several
of them protested against the auction by estdb
Lshing what they called especial sales dal1hg t'e
spring and Fall seasOns at tine tune of the trade ses
At these hey offered lower terms than at other nnes ID
the ycGrthc present plan of the Far-id among Ihe
houses who pursued this policy were Harper N
Bros New-York; +. b. Peterson Bros Philadelphia;
and other large dealers. Tae buyers at the trade sales
IA later years were largely from Nassalst, a. the
class of second cheap booksellers came 10 he
dssgnted and they pu the books sold Oh the market at
prices with which tne dealer who kepi lhl STOCK III
regular book and paid his debts could MT compete
Moreover it was claimed tho buyer WAS induced
by the excitement of the sale 10y low prices which
promised bargains. to buy Of certain line OF goods
than his local trade demanded, and thus he went home
with much OF his capital locked up dead stocA, ana
was prevented from turning over that capital, coming
back 10 the trade with his money AM buying new
stock Instead promoting trade, the Trade sales Docae
thus an impeachment quick sales and sound ladinS
Even Nassaust" found that il could not stand the III
creasing injuries trade. and Of the chief sup
portcrs Of the trade fOm that quarter OF the cit!
were loudest against the system.
Meanwhile the publishers selling At considerable
expense for commission and calOguins-aboui double
that of tho new Book Fair plaIl-and frequently
disposing Of whole lines OF goods below tie cost of
induction Sometimes they would sell a large line
s the Serbners sold $4,000 copies OF Maiion Ha
lands okboOkat satisfactory prices, bit ~ "'hcr
Cases for OF dozen reasons, books would ne Sicr
feed al Wholesale Much depended on tac place IN me
catalogue toward the end credit would b. nearly ex
hausd andany temporary excitement wOald draw on At
teston from whole list Once during the frncNGcrman
war u startling piece of nows came out IN an afternoon
extra ust of the best invoices of the sale wa,
going on the stand Every rushed for tue news ana
the publisher found his STOCK legally SOFA out al apu
quarter Oi his prices aud at scarcely more t'n nan ne
cost OF putting IL on ms shelves aSa, a. ~, H.u 20
Thus much deterioration of the book 'idde was
and me American Booksellers 0oide corrcsponaentS
from ali sections of the trade called to the publishers 10
put u stop 10 such suicidal methods
ORIGIN or THE REFORM MOVEMENT
What is known as the reform movement began with
some smaller dealers in Ohio who put In practice Inc
suggestions of The Publishers Weekly that there shOnid
be a general convention Of tine traic meeting of con
sutation was held the J. W. Gum being the organ
izng head 1873 and the Cincinnati Convention called
by OHIO retailers AMI others in n.ighhoring etat"S
brought together about go members of the trade chiefly
from the West in February, 1874 chief point OF al
tack WAS the trade sales which were denounced as
leading cause OF tho present and det-
mental the interests of the whole radc-an el which
should he remeded by publishers declining 10 contribute
and by dealers generally abs aiming from buy ing
This Convention. which organized the American
Book Trade Union," not sufficiently national t' pro-
cuce much effect. except u fIcrun for future work
Isaac O. Aston OF Columbus Ohio East Ia the
OF its principles Ia recognition ny ir HupsheS,
but his chief obtaining then promise TO
be represented at National Convention called for July,
1874. Pat-in-liay. II was at thai Convention iha
the present national orga03a'iOu' tlc Amor, an
Book Trade Association. was formed ne neVi"'t' n"4
being merged in lie Successor re pld' isfm on N.non
the reform movement h!s lts iouns.u1h Wa niel
adopted aud the appointment OF committee ON = Boon
t.ir
piucott OF Philadelphia. VIM Loe oi Boston Gen y 9.
part work OF the Con gentIon Inc '"h uiGei
which they acted WIS rs follows;
ResOlced That in 0f the insuhtiercY OF tle pres
snt 81 stem Of tiade sales. and Of commercial 'rv-
this Convention appOint committee win power Z"
establish eon,inct semi annual Bops Ilad 81 o.
FAIR which TIC PGbDses SHAH Oa0i t.4o,I "',' il.-
fDg the period OF the sale OF ir at SPECIAL terms 10 'he
THE WORK OF rnH NIAGARA CONVENTION.
Of the on on ON
Book Trade Association. Just held at Niagara Fall,
proved to chiefly inspire the trade with enthusiastic
for the reform and provide for tho thorough andei
fectye workings Of The PtinBay platform Ibe lst part
of this work accomplished chiefly through the admir-
able addresses and voTpreecnt hunOrOf tho President
Mr. Randolph ana the encouraging reports OF dealers
frsm different sections othc country in the "e1pericncc
meetings wherein those present related the gIleV
ances in the past ahd INC bopes pai,'i su'c' = uiS
has the highest idea. OF his calling aud an his orr aims
inspire the entire trade with Ills Ideal h'so e-
ina ada ress gave this tone 10 the CCl'enuOn.
He stimulated il To the highest conception OF the Work
before it, and he closet by showing hat the reform was
Ia no wise to get publishers To advance t"o
pce of books, selfish union IN any SENSE bus move
pieces which should enable it to live movement mere
Fore In which none ~Sre ln1te .u ,, nn3I
This address OF Mr.. Randolph was supp!ciieh'ou ~
remarks of the tendency all through The three
DAYS Among the most noteworthy OF his utteIances
was the tribute he paid 20 George T. Putnam 81 New
York. calling his 10 tho nO0r: MOIe .uan 40 years
ago." said lac. "when was mere lad, there was man
In the book trade face and name come back to ne
by the signt "a before He hd always or NE
kind and gentle word II is almost needless 10 state
how. more than aug other man IN the trade, no
took by the hand tine American author and developed
American lilo passed nom as iow years ago,
"A which reflects honor upon the profession
~ which belonged To-day Ire is woithiy rrpre-
sented ths door by his son, MI Putnam oi New
York"
LEGISLATION OF THE CONVENTION.
The fear of the thoughtful men in the trade
was that the Western retailers, who least likely tolcok
at these matters publishers point of view, and
who were sure 10 In the numerical majority would