The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-12
SIGNED ON SCRAP PAPER.
ROOsevelt's Contract with Publishers
of nm Edition De Luxe.

of nm Edition De Luxe.
Philadelphia North American.
The writings of Theodore Roosevelt are
Philadelphia art publishers, at the highest
price ever asked for any publications of
the kind in this country. The writings COM
prising everything ever issued by Mr..
Roosevelt in book form, are being published
in four editions, of twenty-five volumes
each, ranging in price from $500 the set
to $685. Only LBS sets in all will be dis
tributed through subscription, and already.
before any OF the volumes are ready for
distribution, nearly all are sold.
Only twenty-six sets OF the authors edi-
ton are to be printed. They are sold at
s, 800. which is $50 a volume. Each volume
contains the Presidents signature. They
are quarto in size. printed on feather
weight handmade paper, each page bearing
in water mark the Presidents signature.
There are lightweight etchings and photo
gravures, printed in duplicate, and many
Of the prints signed by the artist.
Next In order of expense and sumptu-
BUSINESS comes the collectors edition of
fifty sets, at $500 the SET similar to the
former. save that the signatures are fac
SMILES and the binding green levant in
StedQ OF req.
Then comes the edition de luxe in two
series. one of $50 sets. at 81 100 the set. and
the other of $50 sets, at $500, the former
bound in full crushed levant, In blue, and
edition Witch might be called tine
popular edition, will cost 1856, or $3.50 the
volume. and is bound in half morocco. with
Few persons realize the amount of lit
erary work done by Mr.. Roosevelt In all
he has published thirteen books. most of
them of more than one volume. The titles
Of the books incorporated into the sets
dore Roosevelt" are the following: The
Naval War of 1872" two volumes; Hunt
ing ing, Trins Of a Ranehman." two volumes:
Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail" THE
Winning of the West" six volumes: Hero
Tales from American History" THE
Rough Riders" American Ideals" two
GUS us' Life" "oliver T Cromwell G Inc S'ren0
The inspiration which caused A. r. KEEL
Mr. Roosevelt to sign the contract for the
reproduction of his writings. was akin to
prescience. Toward the close of the Span
ish-American war Mr.. Keller became con-
be the big figure in American politics. He
started for Cuba, but missed Colonel
Roosevelt who was then on his way to
Fastening back to Washington, Mr. KEEL
Ter procured pass through the lines from
Secretary Alger. and, AIMED with this. set
Roosevelt at in the morning and was
placed under arrest.
Explanation followed and he was con-
Quoted by the colonel in person to his
quarters.
There Mr. Keller unfolded his mission
and was incontinently turned down." Col
Roosevelt said that other publishers. who
were his personal friends, owned the pla ties
cd md hot
he owed fealty to them. But the publisher
held on and piled up the arguments, ex-
planning that he did not mean to take the
published books out of circulation but to
reissue them in magnificent form for
circulation by subscription. Finally the
colonel said: Hold on, 1 must think"
He jumped on his horse, tethered near
his tent, and rode away at top speed For
more than half an hour he galloped around.
finally coming back to his tent. Before Mr.
Keller could say word he was of again,
the hills. returning with his animal snort
ing and paving.
He threw himself from the saddle with
the words: "All right, I'll do it."
There was not a scrap of writing material
or pen In the tent Colonel Roosevelt
produced linen cuff and the publisher a
fountain pen; but the ink spread. Then II
occurred to them that there might be a
unopened on his camp bed. A small piece
was found. and upon this. In duplicate. the
about the size of visiting card. Neither
the publisher nor Colonel Roosevelt saw
the immense value of that contract at the
moment 1t was drawn.
The negotiations with publishers to gein
permission to republish Mr.. Roosevelt
works covered more than two years The
royalties demanded and granted are i'm
mense. Nevertheless. Mr.. Roosevelt viii
secure very large portion out of the
$S42.05o which will be paid for the works
me entire enterprise will be completed IN
side of the next nine months