, 1875-01-10
BOOKSELLERS.

what remains.
BOOKSELLERS.
H1sronY OF BOOKSELLERS, The OLD AND 1dE
NEW. Dy HEsar CunwEs. With Portraits and
Illustrations. l2rno, pp. 49,. London: Chatro i
Ninder1-
more attractive title in the catalogue OF new
publications has not appeared for many 3 day.
It promises history Ct books and OF authors as
well rs Of booksellers. for the one is inextrcably
interviewer with the other. The progress OF the
book-trade ia identical with the progress of
literature, and, when re hare fead the story Of
the origin and growth of the former, vo hnve
learned how it has Jared with the latter in tho
same country aud period. Upon the enterprise
Of the publisher. almost rs mach us upon the
genius Of tho man OF letters, has depended in
modern times the spread OF Learning and the ad-
vancement of culture.
Although the title does not indicate the fact,
when We take up Mr. Curwen's volume We find
that the history is limited to English booksellers
1t opens With chapter upon IS The Booksellers Of
Olden Times, which sketches briefly the condi-
ton Of the book-trade in old Rome and in Paris
in the thirteenth century, and then traces its
rise and its career in England down to
tie present century. Tho information COM
ptised in this account is less full and detailed
than wo could wish. 1t covers the most inter-
estng period OF the industry. aud the one Of
which the fewest particulars are current; and
yet the points on which tho curiosity is most
alive are passed BY with bare a1lusion that adds
little to our enlightenment. There may be no
Just ground Of complaint that the history Of
the trade is neglected for that OF the book
seller, but tho fact is disappointing. We
are quite as much interested to know where the
first book-ahops in London were situated, and
what we're their size, and style, and character Of
patronage aud modes Of conducting business, as
ne are in the personal career OF their owners.
But the intelligence regarding these matters is
meagre. In fact, after peruslng the chapter
from which go much ~aa to be hoped, our idea
OF the progressive development Of the English
book-trade, during the four or five centuries
preceding our own, is not in any comforting de-
gree expanded or defined.
After the preliminary portion. which occupies
but IS pages the book Is devoted to history of
the most eminent publishing and booksellins
houses in the United Kingdom. Among these
are classed the well-known firms Of the Long
mans, Constable, Cadel 4 Black, John
Murray, William Blackwood, Chambers, Knight
l. CasselI, Horny Colburn. the Riyingtons, the
Parkers, Edward, Moxon, Kelly d. Virtue, Charles
Edward Nude, ETC., etc. huch grumblipg may
be heard in England regarding the selections
made for the illustration OF the present BUSINESS
OF the book-rrade; but this concerns usttle hero,
when knowledge Of the respective clnims to
celebrity OF tho great English book-houses is
very restricted. SO long as the hiator1es them
selves prove entertaining, they certainly
do,-the American reader will not DO inclined to
crit1cse the authors Judgment IN the choice of
Subjects
Tie germ OF the modern book-trade is discov-
cred in the System OF barter which prevailed
between mouks in those beuighted centuries
when monasteries were tho only 1epoai-
tories OF learning, and men who spent
their iyea in u cloistcred seclusion were
the only scholars and writer's. Through
cut the Middle Ages, books we're confined
to monastic institutions, for there we're no read
e1s beyond their quiet precincts. The great
mas Of the people we're sunk in ignorance, and
If one Of tho titied-clAsses could spell his name,
it Was rare accomplishment. War waa the
popular trade Of the layman, and tho art Of
bookmaking WIS left to the fow intelligent and
industrious cenob1tes who found solace in
multiplying, by the allow process Of the pen, tho
scanty books OF tbs, time. These precious pos
sessions we're accumulated in rich converts, and
wero sold or lent from one to another, and cop
led by transc1ibers. whose work would be more
properly called painting than printing.
When the universities arose, the dsmand for
books increased, and regular class Of copyists
was established to supply the wants Of scholars
and professors. 4 trade grew out Of this demand
and supply, and those engaged in it were called
Sl1honarii. Some were ltinerants, and others
sold their wares IN open booths or stalls. A part
Of their business IVES to hire cut books to read
ers who could not afford to buy them, and ex-
orbitapt prices we're asked for the loan. not OF
entire volumes, hut Of detached parts and fra5-
mentary manuscripts.
The Stationarii throye best in Paris during the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when the
University Was At the height OF its popularity
and drew students from all Europe. In 1892 the
book-trade OF the city employed tHenty-four
copyists, seventeen bookbinders, nineteen parch-
ment~makers, thirteen illuminators, and eight
simple dealers in manuscripts. The manufac-
ture and circulation OF books slowly increased.
and, when printing was introduced, in the if
teenth century, it ia said that upwards OF 6.o0o
people followed tho business Of copying and IL
Illuminating. The invention of printing, the diff
fusion of Greek manuscripts consequentupon tho
downfall Of the Byzantine Empire, the discovery
Of the continents OF the Western Hemisphere, ana
the Protestant Reformation, gave . vast slim
ulus to the thirst for knowledge and to the call
for books At first the printers united in their
pursuit the trades OF the publisher and tho book
seller, and not only constructed their types and
presses, but bound and sold their printed works.
Caxton, who brought the art Of printing into En-
gland, employed his press almost exclusively
upon TRANSACTIONS. Wynkin de Wotdo, his sue
cessor, extended the range OF his publications.
and included among them Academies, Lucida-
ries, Orchards Of Words, Promptuariesfor Little
Children, and 80 FORTH
With the spread Of the Reformation there grew
an immense demand for Bibles, and 326 editions
or parts Of editions we're published in the seren-
ty-four years between 1926 and 1900
The number Of printers who fourishcd in
England and Scotland. beginning with Ca1-
ton in 1474, and ending IN the year 1000,
amounted to $50. In 14o3. ha1f-century be-