The Washington critic., 1888-05-04
WASHINGTON, MAY 4, 1888.
CopyRIeuT AND pooK PRICES.

A writer in the Book News" for
May, who signs himself "a Veteran
Bookseller" takes issue with Senator
Chace on several statements made by
the latter in the April number Of the
same monthly with regard to the In
ternational Copyright question.
Mr.. Chace, for instance, holds that
the effect of the proposed act would
he to lower the price of books, which
The "Veteran Bookseller" being pre-
sumably we'll versed in the mysteries
of the trade, declares to be an cum
reasonable conclusions" for when, he
asks, ''did the control of an article Of
merchandise 10y single individual or
firm ever make the price of that
article less ?'
Again, the Senator says that as
things now are ''the American reader
can only have the works of the for
eign author at high price, or mus.
take what he can get in the shape of
library or uncovered pamphlets" to
which the answer is made that "every
foreign publication that gives prom
Use of being popular enough to pay for
republication in any form is reprint
ed in good substantial shape, suitable
for the library" as tour of observa-
ton through any book store will
show.
The writer then proceeds to illus
rate the fallacy of the proposition
that protective copyright makes
books cheap. He cites for exam
pie number of old and popular
books for the young such as "Tom
Brown at Rugby" "Grimms Fairy
Tales, "Swiss Family Robinson" and
Others that are not copyrighted and
can be bought in handsome, we'll
printed volumes at 80 cents each,
while Mrs. Whitney's owe Girls"
neither larger nor costlier nor bet
ter book, commands Sl.15, or over
three times as much, simply because
being copyrighted it is protected
against competition, or, in the par
lance of the day, against piracy"
A nice copy Of Tennyson can be
had for 60 cents, while DR.. Hollands
poems are marked S2.S5. A set of
Dickens in 10 volumes can be bought
for S5, while the novels of Mary Jane
Holmes in 90 volumes will bring $26;
and $3.50 will buy an edition of
Scott in "A volumes, while Mrs. South
---o-'h IN 40 volupae Sails fnr S44--
and all because the more valuable,
but cheaper book is not copyrighted.
Instances of this character should
be quite enough to show that Mr..
Chace's plea is not substantiated by
the facts of the case-facts that are
familiar to all book-buyers.
His critic is himself in favor of an
international Copyright law for the
protection of foreign authors, but
not for the benefit Of the American
publishers of foreign authors. In
any event, he says Let us be honest
enough to put the result squarely be-
fore the people"
The result would necessarily be an
enhancement of the price of all
toreign republications, that can now
be had on such reasonable terms as
to bring the best works within the
reach Of the commonest library.
We all agree that the author, Amer
lean or foreign, should have certain
right or royalty in the product'of his
brain for a certain period; but the
copyright debates in the Senate have
by means made it clear that abso-
lutte free trade in books, meaning the
general distribution of good books
among the people at moderate prices,
were not greatly preferable to a
monopoly in the making of books,
meaning bigger profits TO the pub
Usher and corresponding hardship
TO the average customer.