New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-26


publishers OF this city declare without reserva-
zion that the general outlook has not been more
favorable in years Little Importance is at
tacheo 70 the effect OF the political campaign
On trade and the offerings for the holiday seq
son viii be so attractive as TO deserve the pat
ronare Of book lovers OF all manner Of literary
tastes and 20 draw upon purses 70 the limit OF
their capacity. A universal feeling Of conf
denoe was disclosed by members Of several
leading houses in talks with Tribune reporter.
CT PUrNAMs SONS.
afr. Irving Putnam. Of c. p. Putnsm's Sons.
said:
1T seems 20 me the prospects are very good
for s. successful fall business. Up 70 the pres
emf time business is more satisfactory than II
Uns last year. and reports from travellers IN
different parts Of the country seem to show
the bookselirg business is in healthy and
encouraging condition. There is always feel
sne that curing the progress OF a hot campaign
people viii not be very much interested II
books. Fortunately. that only affects the local
bookselling and for a few weeks time.
I'VE never have devoted ourselves TO what
nav be called the hysterical novel-the mover
whose success is supposed to be due 20 hysteri-
cal boorning-and our new list OF books thls IAN
covers very wide range OF literature. We
have perhaps. less in the direction Of fiction
literature. Al the same time. we have two or
three books OF recent publication in fiction that
are doing very well and that we have great
confidence IN. We have a number Of Interests
ing reprints OF standard books that VIII be
issued this fall including one OF the WORKS
Of Charles Lamb. one OF the most important
OF our new enterprises is the completion OF
John Boyd Thschers work. christopher Co
iurbus' ana we have several new volumes in
@T, 81
a new work BY Mrs. Chanpney on the Bourbon
ohsteaux. six volumes Of Little French Mas
terpieoes' ane several new volumes In our SCI
erce Series The three novels with which We
are beginning our fan season are The Shaoo"
OF Victory by Miss Reed which, being ro-
nance os Port Dearborn. is particularly appro-
pirate IN connection with the Chicago celeora-
zion: A Master Hand detective story writ
ten by a former prosecuting officer. and Free
Not Bound by Mrs. Trask. the author Of IN
der Kinr Constantine.
Asked regarding the extent 10 which illustIa-
ton is being used. Nj Putnam said;
THE use Of Illustration is increasing. The
methods Ct reproducing the photograph are i'm
proving ell the time, and one can secure for GER
tain classes Of work much Yore satisfactory re-
suits than was possible under old methods OF
illustration and at far less cost Take such
fook as OLD Paths and Legends OF New-Eng-
land OF which the Illustrations are very Sue
cessfui reproductions OF photographs by the
half tone process. Before the use Of photo
graphs this work would have been illustrated
by wood engravings from drawings. The eX-
perse would have been enormous and the result
would not have been nearly as satisfactory. In
the new edition Of Baysrd Taylor's Story Of
rzennett' much is added 70 the effectiveness Of
the book by some beautiful Illustrations from
photographs Of the actual scenery Of the region
where the story is laid.
There is a growing prejudice against large
hooks. Any book too large to stand in an ordi-
nary bookcase Is one the bookseller avoids. One
Of the reasons for that In the great cities is the
increase Of the habit of living In apartments and
apartrnent hotels where. no matter how lux
urious the surroundings. the limited space abso-
lutely prohibits the possibility Of storing big
volumes. I am TOLD by people in certain lines Of
Publishing that the growth Of the luxurious
apartment hotel in New-York has had . very
serious effect on the sale Of elaborate art books
Many rich people. who formerly lived IN houses
with lots 81 space now take suites in a lux
urious hotel spending $1,000 and $4,000 a year
for them and have less space than before. So
they restrict on things that take Up space like
large books"
CONSOLIDATED RETAIL BOOKSELLERS
PRESIDENT
dated Retail Booksellers. tho purchasing agent
OF $50 prominent booksellers in as many diff
1erent cities throughout the country. declared
that 90 far as he could judge the pulse Of the
trade from the members who had called. they
were ordering more literally than heretofore.
and felt confident Of having large fall trade
we handle fiction and miscellaneous books"
he continued hut we have observed a growing
tendency 70 order more generously Of the books
az a more serious character. Many Of our
members have visited us this fan in placing
their fan orders. and they not only order gen.
erously for the fail trade, but express great con-
Hdence IN the future Of the book trade. They
have been much encouraged by the protection
they have received from publishers. who issue
their books unier the net price system. The net
price has stimulated the sale Of books Of a more
serious character. The collections are very
good The political campaign VIII not have any
serious effect on sales"
TIE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
Herbert p. williams. head Of the literary do
psrtuent OF the Macmillan Company. thought
the political campaign would probably have no
sppreeiable effect on the fan season He added:
TO Judge from the advance sales Of books
not yet published. the outlook for the season Is
exceedingly good. Such large advance orders as
there are for an expensive work in three vol
umes Ike Morley's Life Of Gladstone for in
stance. seem 10 premise very active and busv
season"
Does fiction predoninate IN the sale OF
books?" AR. Williams was asked
In ORDER 70 answer that question" he re-
piled. lit Is necessary 70 make an explanation.
The books which are listed as best selling books
are almost invariably fiction. Take the lists OF