New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-08
STEADY DEMAND FOR BOOKS.
PUBLISHERS SAY THAT THE HARD TINES
HAVE AFFECTED THEM LITTLE.
PREPARATIONS ARE BEING MADE FOR A BRIsf,
SALE THIS suMMER-INTERvIEwS WITH

SALE THIS MISUNDERSTANDING WITH
wELI-KNowN DEALERS.
Inquiries by Tribune reporter OF leading pup
fishers a, the condition Of tho book 'Fe"7' te
effect which the hard .!.nes have hsa b'oh IL anu
the outlook for tho coming nearoa, have brought
out general testimony tina: tho rs!e o. BOOKS hS'
gone steadily while o;Ac: commodities hsVe pee'i
waiting in vain for purchasers, and tas' ?Tc!ef"-
lions for the coming season are being msoe On
about large .ca!e as usual! the pFeVa''a
business depression has affected the trade IL zen
sral way. Collections ore slower. and come re,a!
dealers are exercising extra prudence IN giving
orders But on the whole the Vo.Gme o. IFs'e
has diminished little or not ct all
This is the dull season for the publishers 20 faF
as sales go. There has been a growing tendency o.
late years to crowd more and more OF the season
sales into the holiday months People VINO "!s-'
10 give books 10 their friends wait until Christmas
10 do So and those who wish 10 own certain DOCKS
depend largely their Christmas presents 70 te'
them New books are not being brought our al t'.s
season as they are in the fall The annual iH!I
In the trade is on But there Is at all tunes ii
steady demand for standard works, and large
although more variable sale Of books o. me o@y'
The summer months. particularly august as
Charles Scribner. of Charles Scrbners sons shd
in an interview published in The Tribune r1ce"'!Y'
are the ones in which the retail dealers replenlsh
their stock and send in large orders for new DOORS
The hard times were just beginning 70 be severely
felt last summer in the buying season. IL was
hoped by all. anI expected by most buyers 'ha'
the stagnation of trade would soon be remedicd'
and they gave their orders according 10 this Deei'
They were doomed to Disappointment 50 far as the
general business conditions were concerned DNt
most of them had excellent fall trade Tor II Is
a fact, established by long experience and obser-
vation that people must and WI nave DOCKS what
ever else they have 70 dispense Win 1890 49,.
All the publishers VINO have been seen agree ma
the book trade has not teen affected oy me ha'I
times in anything like the degree 'Ilat he"i'S al
other lines of business nave. go -,,,,,- -
Charles T. Dillingham;, OF Charles T. pi,.tnsh5 nan
trade is much affected by general market con, con.
ditons Books gre SO cheap now wbo csn rad
although they arrive mere win SINAI! means uaii
buy books to take VITA mem 20 81 the tormston
and amusements afforded by books has mad :heia
steady sale because they are the cheapest luxuries
to be had. Books are the cneapes- as Wen az JIG
was kept up to TIE mark last Christmas season
largely because people VINO Wisneq 10
no g ba nave wanted haa seentc ana standard books
have bought them as usual As to the oI ~ Ss
SoSE is trade e 70 INK can
and business can make plans and com'r TS
the Conditions Of the market The book trade is
affected only indirectly by the changes IN the tari
but The be- Gr us h snS Ge e2ybody
Frank H Scott presdent OF mhe iniervew
With Mr. scrIbner told about the whole story The
Century Company, he Sald, nad Deen ilaUe """Ie
of the hard times through slower collections ETC.
but the number Of publications had not been de-
creased nor had the sales fallen of 10 any great
extent Preparations for the coming season were
being made as IL such thing as hard 'in'es never
existed. 49,, a, -
uourhton Wifin & Co. OF Boston. who has charge
the branch Of the firm in this city, SAD that ny
deal in standard works. which are least Liable 70
fuctuation" he said. Our business Is STEADY
one. MIR Mifiin wrote to me last week that IN TIE
week before we had done the largest business VITA
the exception Of a single week, that We nave ever
done"