Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-08-30
NEW SERIES, VOL. XVI. NO. 35.
LIBRARY OF uN1yERsAL ksowLrnaE

LIBRARY of UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE.
After labor of nearly two years by an
able corps of American editors and writers,
for whose services We have paid nearly $40,
900, We have within the brief period Of less
tnan ten months made electrotype plates for
the Library Of Universal Knowledge at
further cost of nearly $50, 900, making to.
tai Investment on this work of about $780,.
QUO. This labor all being done aud paid
for, the l5 large octave volumes, making the
largest Clylopedia ever published in this
country, can be manufactured at cost per
set of Is volumes Of
For paper 81 SO
For printing 90
For binding q As
Total SIS 90
These eleotrotype plates which we have
manufactured will readily print 100, 600
copies, and then by slight repairing will
print from $4,000 to 100000 additional
copies, but to make our estimate absolutely
safe We will assume that it will be necessary
to manufacture new set of electrotype
plates after $4,000 copies have been pfint>
ed. Thus We must add to the above cost of
the manufacture of one set of the books
(596), an additional 81 as the proportionate
cost OF the plates for each set of Is volumes
expenses of Office. handling, shipping, etc.,
which experience leads us to estimate below
5o cents per set, but as We must do at least
safe business ve will add, instead, for this
item another 81. making the total cost of
manufacture and handling the Is octave
volumes of the Library of Universal KnouI>
edge 81 SO.
Thus you see tha. if we sell a COW of
this great Encyclopaedia even a. the net
price of Sl0,we still have net profit of over
81. As we have already sold about Is, 600
sets in advance of completion, we think it
very sale to estimate (and we have beard of
neither friend nor enemy who makes an es.
tlmate lower) that We shall sell, as fast as
we can manufacture them, at least 100, 900
sets, and allowing our figures above given to
he correct, we have the comfortable sum of
S20O,OO0 to cover contingencies, and diyi
dends to our stock holders
AS some of our friends NAV question
whether our estimates above given are per,
fectly safe, aud as we have heard of some
instances where the accuracy of figures pre-
vlously given by us has been disputed by
our enemies. we will say that the cost of the
paper Is put at cents per pound, the cost
of press work at 81 20 per thousand impress
sions, and the cost of binding at 16t cents
per volume.
TIE PRACTICAL potNr.
We now como to the practical point in
which you are interested-huw you NAV get
the books you want at the lowest possible
cost.
1t is evident that it can only be done by
your doing away, SO far as you are concern.
ed, with our immense expenditure for ad-
vertising, and with tho commissions which
we or you are compelled to pay the middle,
men, if you buy through the middlemen.
Another extremely important point in
enabling US to afford the lowest possible
price is that we receive quick returns for the
investments we have made
You readily see that we have invested
about $50 900, cash, before we are able to
offer you complete set of the Library of
Universal Knowledge a. any price. We
must sell great many thousand sets before
we can even get back the money which we
have invested, to say nothing of the reward
which we must have, in some measure. for
our labor and the capital of the stock holders
involved.
A large portion of the public still persist
in getting their supplies Of books through
the middlemen (who must be paid for their
services) instead of from us direct; and as
large expenditure for advertising will also
continue to be necessary, in finding out new
customers, we must continue TO hold to our
present retail prices, in order that we NAV
be able to pay these enormous expenses for
advertising and for commissions TO middle.
men.
But because We are thus compelled to tax
book>buyers generally with these heavy ex>
penses, there Is no occasion why we should
continue this heavy tax upon you individu,
ally if you choose to unite with us in avoid
ing it.
OUR PROPOSITIONS TO You.
We therefore make you this proposition
If you will send your order for the Library
of Universal knowledge (either for Yourself
or for any number of friends and acauaint-
ances), so that we shall receiue the same on
or before the first day of September, 1881.
we will accept such orders at a discount f
one'hird from our published list prices, max,
ing net prices to you as follows:-
LIBRARY OF UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE.
For the Is vols. in cloth. net $1,000
ln half Russia, spriDkled edges l3 33
In half Russia, gilt top, 1900
In full library sheep, marbled edges. 16 66
Orders sent to us under this offer will be
accepted and filled by us under the follow
ing terms and conditions:
CONDITIONS
lst-We do not in this case, as has COM
monty been our custom, require that remit
tances shall accompany the orders PAYMENTS
may be made at any time that may suit the
convenience of the purchaser, on or before
the delivery of the books to him, and NO.
later than January l, 1882.
2d-But in making deliveries of the books
we shall give precedence to orders which are
accompanied BY remittance in full payment,
shipping first those for which payment is
first received.
3d-After filing all orders which have
been fully paid for at time of order, We shall