New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-14
INNOVATIONS IN BOOKSBLLiNG.


BY TIIR NEXT CONVENTION
Early last year the book trade undertook the |
reform Of evil which had been steadily growing inc
business Of bookseng requires wide margin between
the retail and wholesale prices for 1t demands a'u"oo
shors educated saleemen, and considerable capita" |
which is constantly wasted as books pass rom popui'
y and find market only at the paper mill Perhaps j"
no other business are expense and loss so large IN po"
ton 10 The sales This margin tempted the "h"i''e
houses and publishers began ~ increase Their reIh o"
tom at the expense OF other bookstores by selhg e'
hooks below the advertised prices which were the OASIS
az their dealings with the trade was scarcely fair play
tr the local bookseller had of the advantages OF
other tradeInen, as the grocer whose goods must
be bought at the home store. He could not
AFFORD 10 allow discounts and II he refused, his CHS
toner perhaps sampled his stock, sent the order 10 some
city underseller and, passing by on the other sioe'
ION his ueichhors hooks 10 become dead stock on
his hands Tho bookseller added knclnacks, or gro
ceree to his stock, and paid the Losses OF one counter
out of the profits Of the other bought fewer ana e"cr
books and by and 10y perhaps dropped ont OF the o'E
ness altogether leaving his community 1t might be VIII
out even the apology for a bookstore Ana the Oily
scored ono more against the country In those attiac
tons OF culture that draw Young mon rom where
they are wanted where there already too many oil
them.
Al first the discounts were small aud chiefly tc pro
fessional customers But the circle wdened, until tine
trad. p,esssutrics Of the dame who demanded double
discount because her husband was minister ana enc
taught Sunday school, and OF the blushng dansei VINO
asked the minister's allowance because she was en-
Gagged Go one, scarcely exaggerations Inc ui-
grateful public began 70 suspect the gift TO Nc nShp
and naturally concluded that books too high in
deed many lines retail prices were fixed to aeeommo
date these exorbitant discounts, and Sundayschool
books were priced nearly double what was really eX-
pectet The retailer himself as others saw him,
was rather Ashamed TO ask living prices, and APOLOGIZE
oally uttered 40 OF" when the customer looked him
sternly In the eye. More baIeCaccd salesmen ac-
finally added 90 per cent to the named price that they
might take off 90 and the beooed book buyers pleased
with their bargains" forgot in hagslng for discounts
the real of the goods. Even the Puoshers peR"
TO feel the effects the city almost much as the
country. The distributing system was being broken
up veteran publishers found that towns which used 10
buy thousands bought only hundreds worth OF BOOKS
They complained that the local dealers did not Keep
their books and these rctOrod that they coud not 80
long as they were understood IL did not Ray for men to
learn the business; leading publisher Oh Breadwa!
stated that while in his younger days every boy had 10
know the books. there now among his many clerks
only one who was we'll informed as 10 the
various editions. The business fell into the sub
scption system the tendency Of which to cover lis
costly machinery by padding all books out TO I'VE dO
size and TO depend more upon the ehrontery ana Vo
bty asents uian the worth OF Their BOOKS mus
the book business quite iiieu 10 Keep Pacc VIII" 'o P"
gross Of the country.
Following the Cincinnati Convention in Iebrnary lo'f.
the really national gathering OF the book trace wac
held at Pu-in-Iay July Here national system ui
organization WAS mapped out II agreed that pub
fishers ought maintain their advertised prices ana ac-
rnrnry the trade sale system reformed from an
auction into a book fr At which the publisher should
deal directly with the jobbers and retailers Arule there
passed should be discounts outside the ade
except to schools libraries, the professions, and large
buyers within limit of 90 Ter cent WAS generally and
successfully put into practice at the West The school
book publishers organization ut the East the "ubsheIs
Board Of Trade" excepted such wholesale buyers as
boards education and with ths modification tue rue
was conditionally signed by the leading horses OF
The three Eastern centers, with the exception OF
hcssrs Ippincott Of Philadelphia, city which
had been known tie birthplace and strong
hold Of undcrscllng Their position created such gen
eral Dissatisfaction that many houses proposed to trans
fer their iobbing business to other hands The trade
was accordingly much surprised at the publication In
recent number of Tie Publishers Weekly OF letter from
this house which made the movement virtually
unanimous. This stated their seeming opposition TO the
general trade 10 have been due TO their distlust
OF the vagueness OF the rule, and pledged their
concurrence In q return retail prices, with the
spcchc exceptions OF discount within 90 per cent to
libraries teachers. and purchasers to the amount OF 500
At one time This the rule and goes further and
it shall aoceded 90 by the trade the convention i'll
July will make the reform accomplished fact
On the publication OF this letter, conference OF lead
ers of the reform In town was held, and
reply, generally signed, was sent TO MessrS.
IippincOtt, promising hearty cooperation in the
posed and suggesting that this would require
some tiIne the Philadelphia house should join the trade
~ signing the platform already agreed upon, as tempo
gry measure until the meeting Of the convention sew
era difficulties presented themselves in The way OF bring
ing about before that date, and the rest
Of trade very anxious that so much oil the re-
Form az the first platform should be made gen
era at reply has been received from messrs
Iippncott this week. thanking the gners for their
provai. but quite ignoring the practical suggestion
made by This has created considerable feeling in
the trade, and many consider 1t an indication that the
platform suggested diversion OF the reform
from present effectiveness does not now seem proba
bic that thing can bc before the session OF the
convention.
At a meeting Of the Committee Assemblies OF the
American Book Trade Association just held II do
cided 10 hold convention at Niagara Falls Monday,
July IS, and following days, and an address was pre-
pared 10 10 the trade inviting all, whether
members of the association not TO he present and par
ticipe the proceedings Besides the reform question:
the representation Of trade the Philadelphia
Centennial will probably important subject ut
the convention The Book Fair will open In New York
on the Monday following, July 49,
The main question to the public in this reform is |
whether it is not simply combination against those
natural laws of trade which tend TO reduce the number
aud expense of Inidlemen; therefore against cheaper
Books aud the interests OF culture. Some publishers |
hostatad ign in the reform in its earlier stage because
OF their doubts this point But the question must
be answered in the negative. The reform !
10 be truly reform, both just and wise. Doubt |
less the immediate eject will be to reestabsh |
existing retail prices. Indeed, there is not 80 !
much margin for a reduction many think. The |
main saving snce the in the cost of manufacture
ny the fall in paper Is partly balanced by the extra
pnaInenation the present fashion requires and the
manufacture is only item Of by the side OF copy
night or editorial outlay, advertising, and the expenses