Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-14
PUBLISHING BOOKS BIZ sUBsCRIP-
TVONI


The difference between tie subscription
and the regular book trade is that, in the
latter,they buy books whOwant them, andin
the former, they buy books who do not want
them. The subscription publisher, instead
of waiting for patrons, sends his agents
throughout the length and breadth Of the
land, to hunt up and run down patrons.
He believes that the majority Of
people have no idea what they want,
and that it is his business and interest to
show them what they want. HIS expert
ence proves his opinion TO be correct in the
main. He has had so much more success
in proportion TO his capital and response
bility than the regular publisher has had,
that the latter has undertaken to initiate
him, though seldom with happy results.
a number Of the regular houses here
have dabbled in subscription; but have gen
orally discovered that the two trades will
not harmonic. They have had prosperity
in a few instances, although not enough TO
warrant them in entering largely upon the
business. For certain books Of a popular
sort, they find the subscription method pro-
ftable, because, by it, they can effect a far
larger sale than in any other way.
Scribner, Armstrong & Co, have issued
Edward Kings "Great South" the bulk Of
which appeared in ScrijHer'S Magazine,
through the American Publishing Company
Hartford),-that is, they use its facilities
and machinery, and pay a percentage there
for.
Appleton & Co. published Vim. Il. Sew
ards voyage round the world By subscrip-
ton, and made a good deal Of money from
it. Other regular houses expect to do the
same thing with popular works that they
have in hand; 50 that tie subscription
trade may be said 70 be growing in extent
and responsibility.
SHAMEFUL FRAUDS.
There are some pseudo subscription
houses that are shameful swindlers. They
| are always getting out books that never
come out, and generally consist Of one
scamp who assumes TO be company. This
fellow lives upon the vanity Of men; turning
that and his own dishonesty 10 financial
account. he goes 10 some se!fimpOrtant,
well-io-dO citizen, and informs him
| that he is getting out a work that will con
| tain biographical sketches and portraits Of
| the eminent men Of the nation. The pub
| Usher declares that the citizen is One Of
| those men. and then proceeds 20 datter him
in the most fulsOme manner, mentioning
ENllaE NAAH a&4 NaAAa4AAaaaaANA1 al AAa 49, ~ "a
/ they were Of the greatest significance.
The citizen is delighted. BE has always
| had a suspicion Of his ability and desert,
/ but he has never before felt that be was
/ quite appreciated. He offers with elusi0n
to furnish details % his illustriOus exist
ence, and Is finally so wrought upon that,
/ when the publisher wants 500 or $500 fora
fine steel engraving Of the eminent man, he
| does not hesitate to furnish the money.
The publisher hunts up a number Of
lust such inflated nObOdies, gets a certain
sum from each Of them, and the promised
work never appears.
The persons who are to be rendered
| famous are exceedingly impatient,
and eager 70 behold their fame
in portrait andE in print. They
look after the publisher, having taken
/ his address, and have an animated
| time in discovering bin. If they do en-
counter him, he makes some plausible eX-
cuse-he had been ID, the plates had been
DELAYED, or something of that sOTt-and
/ assures them that everything is now right,
/ and going on prosperously. As a rule, how
/ ever, they do not find him. His address, is
| either spurious or he changes it so often
| that it cannot be traced. After he has Sc
| cured several thousands Of dollars, he quits
/ New York for Boston, Philadelphia, or
| Chicago, operating there in precisely the
same way.
It must not be inferred from these dis
reputable subscription publishers that they
| folm a majority. They are really excep-
/ tions. Some of the firms are entirely sub
| stantial, upright and conscientious.