New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29

author, and ranges from q maxlmu" % nv
thousand to Ave hundred or less AS ruie'
the greater the popularity OF the author tne
greater Is the number Of volumes issueo " ms
publishers tn each edition For instance. eo'-
tons of Eve thousand are not uncommon IN INV
case of authors who command the circulation vi
lola Daudet, Ohnet or Rostand. while edi'iohs
Of Ave hundred are accorded to writers OF i'i'-
tied reputation or to those whose works. owing
to their technical or purely scientiiic chaino'e,
must have A circumscribed sale. "tirage
often contains fifty thousand copies ana 'h,s.
divided into editions Of thousand each. would
produce the "hftieth edition" so often inscrioeo
on the covers In the shop windows.
Taken altogether. the publishing business III
France has seldom been in a more prosperous
condition than at present 1t Is quite wi'h'''
reasonable limits to say that each OF the half
dozen great publishing houses in Paris issues
yearly average of from one million and half
to two million volumes. Publishers discount
booksellers, printers and bookbinders work In
cheerful accord, and all questions of impor-
tance or cases of conflicting interests are by
common consent referred for final decision to
the congress Of the syndicates of the book trade
interests at the Cercle de la Librarie. an insu-
tuition founded In 1S47 by the publishers and
booksellers Of Paris.
THE CERCLE DE LA LlBRAIElE.
The Ccrce de la Librairie Is the headquarters
Of the twenty six associations Of the French
book trade. The building occupies a spacious
site in the Boulevard Saint German. and was
constructed by NJ Charles GARNER. the archi-
tcct Of the Paris Opera House. 1t has most
valuable library. relating exclusively to the
book trade which contains some sixteenth
century illustrated manuscripts which are be-
Neved to be unique. There is a large ballroom
which can also be used as a theatre. and there
are thirty assembly rooms reserved for to
meetings OF the trade syndicates. The Cercle
has about five hundred members. This institu-
ton is modelled upon the German B"crse
Veren at Leipsic. and. on the principles OF
equity. impartaity and granting iair ana
full hearing to all parties. exercises a CONTROL
ing influence on the book trade In France. and
has caused litigation between parties engaged
in the various branches OF the publishing ana
bookselling business to be almost unknown IN
the ordinary French tribunals. The Cercie de
Ia Librairie holds together all the guilds OF the
trade with a sort OF patrIarchal authority ana
its decisions are By common consent regarded
as final
AN ANCIENT PUBLISHING HOUSE
The publishing business. like almost every
other industry In France. has tendency
toward Capitalization. There are some dozen
great publishing houses In Paris who undoubt-
eddy have the lions share in the literary activ-
ity OF the nation. From n historical point OF
view. the firm Of Plon. Nourrit Co.. which
also combines with It's publishing business one
of the most important printing establishments
In France Is Of especial interest. M. Eugene
Plon. who died OF influenza on March 81 1879.
was the last male descendant Of the Plon family.
which. since the year 1850. during ten genera
lions from father to son. had formed a dynasty
pf publishers and printers In 1852 M. Eugene
Plon was by special decree gazetted to the
unique post Of Printer to the Emperor" just
n 1O4 years ago his great great grandfather
was created by Louis XIV Printer to the
King" H. Eugene Plon born on June H..
1896. in the ancient palace OF the Montaigu
family near the Church OF Saint-Supice.
where for over a hundred years the publishing
and printing business Of the house Of Plon has
been carried on. and where 1t still fourishcs.
under the direction OF the descendants through
the female line OF this distinguished family.
NM Pierre Mainguet Joseph Bourde and
Adolphe Nourrit. NJ Eugene Pon never mar
ried He was himself an author. besides being
a publisher and printer. Among tho authors
whose works are issued by the firm OF Plon
Nourrit & Co. may be mentioned Albert Sorel
Camille Rousset. Admiral Jurien de la Ora
Were Marquis Costa de Bcaurcgard. the Due
dAumals Napoleon III CVie de Ctsar'). Ar
sene Houssaye. Monsignor Dupanloup. Catulle
Mendes Vicomte De Vogue La Bruyere La
Rochefoucauld. Prince Metiernich. General DE
Marriott Vicomte dAvenel. Pere Didon. etc After