The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-07-21
SUCCESSFUL BOOK AoENys:
Mon Who Make elo, 900 and More Year
by Means OF Their Pleasing Address.
y.,e york !css.

Nsr York Sun.
81 have been told that there is a
book canvasser who has earned S2s, 900
year. Is that SOP" SIN reporter
said TO Mr.. Geo. Washington Davis,
who is in charge OF the canvassing de.
partment OF ID. Appleton * Co.
"You may judge for YOURSELF" said
Mr.. Davis, pulling out memorandum
book. "This firm has paid $40, 900 to
Mr.. Samuel Collins since September
last for his personal services for canvass.
ing for one book, artistic Houses. ;"
''ls not that an exceptional amount 7"
"rhat is large sum, but Mr.. Collins
has been a book canvasser for fifteen
years, and has made handsome income.
He began at $40 week. The book
sells for $500 the set. One Of our
agents made So 900 in one month sell
ing Appleton's Cyclopedia. Such men
think il n poor week when they do not
earn 500. One Of our canvassers,
named Rust, earned sI,z4S in ten
weeks selling the art Journal Another
earned $3.50 in month selling The
Gallery Of British Ant could give
you the name Of woman who has
earned 1857 in one week selling our
books. There is Mr.. Fowke, who has
been forty years book canvasscr.
should say he averages $4,000 i year
by his personal sales. He has sold
many sets Of the Cyclopedia. There
Is lady who has just come in who
earns s2,5oo a year. ! suppose there
arc fifty men in this country who are
earning 500 a week as book agents.
OF course, these are not the sort Of
men that funny paragraphs are written
about. They are gentlemen who are
good conyersationalists. People like to
hear them talk, and they know how to
talk to the righ, people. They ide in
carriages, dress we'll, and lose no time
They know thoroughly wha, they have
to sell and how to sell it. We can
depend upon them TO sell given guam
ity."
"Could they take any kind Of book,
and earn such wagcs?"
probably not. The most money is
made in selling expensive books Pub.
fishing runs in tina; direction now
This firm pa; S5oo, ,ooo into the Cyclic.
pHdi2 before they 90; cen; hack.
They put S2oo, 500 into Picturesque
America before they began 70 get
their money back. That sells for s24 a
copy. II We depended on the trade to
sell i We should have 10 get $500 4
copy to make il pay. Agents sell books
that could not be sold in any other
way. People will not 90 10 stores TO
look for books. bu; when they see
really good books offered in the righ;
way they will buy. The bes; books
are now published by subscription.
"Do YOU find women or men the
best agents."
"Men. There have been some sue.
oessfsl women agents, but they do not
show the same perseverance as men"
"Do men often fail - i; ?"
"Oh, yes. try 5000 people year
who think they can be good canvassers,
and think am lucky if get ten
good oanvasTers out OF the ;.ooo. /;
is like any other business, and requires
brains. aptitude and perseverance,
Mere brass and assurance will not do.
\ good book agent must be pleasant
person.
"How do YOU find them -
They come 10 Us. The most proliiio
season FOR good canvaSsers is immed.
aiely after business panic. Men who
&c, oui OF business and have no capital
but brains. often begin As book agents.
and &C; fresh star; in life. Sometimes
they keep II the canvassing only until
they get capital 10 begin business again.
Sometimes they keep on for life. The
demand for good book agents j. brisk,
! -,,.1 l.t-.,1,.