New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-17
BRITISH BOOK PRICES.
Signs of the Times IN the Shops of
London.

this years holiday traffic. In his sixpenny re-
prints of favorite classics. He has completed the
Shakespeare series in forty volumes, and. with
legible letter press excellent paper fine frontis-
piece plates scholarly introductions and tasteful
bindings, 1t is marvel of cheapness and con-
venience. The most trustworthy text is used
unencumbered with notes and DR.. George
Brandes supplies all that is required in the way
of commentary and historical outline. The sale
of Christmas cards has been declining in Eng
land year by year. and cheap books have become
a substitute for them. What lady would not
be better pleased to receive Romeo and Juliet
than the ordinary Christmas card token of
holiday remembrance? For a sixpence it is 10
be had in cloth gilt, and in limp leather for
shilling. Messrs. Blackie & Son have barely
started their red letter edition OF Shakespeare at
a shilling volume that ii does not compete
with Mr.. Heinemann's cheap classics this sea-
son. Mr.. Dent was the first English publisher to
find out that there immense market for
standard works, handsomely printed and bound,
at low prices, and one house after another is
making a speciality of cheap reprints. When the
sixpenny Shakespeare can be sold by tens Of
thousands the profit of a halfpenny is Increased
to a penny and fraction over, and there is
more money in the cheap favorite classics than
in the costly editions. This year the only COM
pete edition of Shakespeare's works ever
is offered at a guinea volume; but the unique
edition in ten volumes, with it's handmade paper
and old faced English type is limited to a thou
sand copies. The editions of the Shakespeare
foios on linen paper are also small. The Eliza
bethan curiosity. "Willoble His Avisa," first
printed in 1894, is republished at 10 shiIlings,
with an introduction by Mr. Charles Hughes but
the edition is limited to five hundred copies.
The luxurious edition of Keats in two volumes
edited by Mr.. George Sampson and published by
Messrs. George Bell & Sons is restricted to $50
copies Mr. George Allen has continued his
costly edition of Ruskin's works, but the sub
scription price will be raised from 81 TO %
shillings after the end of this year. The price
asked by Messrs. Methuen for their artistic re-
production of Ackermann's valuable work on
London in the eighteenth century is as high as
three guneas but the pictures of Pugin and
RowIandson are effectively copied in tho orig
inal colors. While there is always a market for
standard works like Groves Dictionary Of
Music and Musicians which has been thor
oughIy revised for the Macmillans reprints OF
familiar classics must either be for the many, in
the cheapest and most tasteful form, or for the
few in luxurious editions with limited number
Of copies.
The most expensive art work Of the season is
issued by the Macmillans. 1t is the Lives and
Works of James and William Ward" published
at 80 guineas and limited to $50 copies There
are forty prints, mezzotints in monochrome and
stippIes in color. on handmade paper, similar in
color and texture 10 the plate paper used for the
work Of John Raphael Smith and other oldtime
engravers. and there are thirty photographers OF
James Wards paintings which have never been
engraved The same publishers have a bound
folio volume of twenty etchings by Mr. Philip
PimIott for five guineas, and for 80 shillings an
Of original work in etCh
ing. wood cut copper engraving and Autograph
by twenty artists including William Strang,
VIII Rothenstetn. u. Y. Cameron. c. II. Shan
non and Joseph PenneI. Mr.. Heinemann has
completed in album volume form his collection
of a hundred great masters in four centuries Of
art reproduced in photogravure with descriptive
text by Sir Martin Conway, and at eight gulneas
it is one of the most artistic presents for Christ
mas: and he has two brilliant and useful art
works in Sir Walter Armstrong; Gains
borough at Is shilngs and Reinachs story
of Art Throughout the Ages at 10 shlllnSs-
Messrs SeeIey & Cos portfolio Of Rembrandts
etchings with fifty reproductions III photo
gravure is limited to go copies at five guneas;
and the Bells have 10 guinea History OF Por-
trait Miniatures" by Mr.. George C. Williamson.
with fifty copies reserved for ConnoIsseurs at
so los on account Of the hand painted plates;
a five guinea record of Ham House, and fine
ulustra ed monographs Frans Halls. George
MorIand and William Blake The Methuehs
have Mr. Edward Dillon's illustrated manual on
Porcelain for % shiIings. The principal art
work, on furniture comes from MesSrS. Lawrence
&, FulIen in twenty monthly parts. This is MI
percy Nacouoid's History of English Furni-
tl1re" with an elaborate study OF the treasures
~ oak walnut and mahogany in the great
houses There are cheap manuals and hat
crown galleries of art without number ana there
have seldom been so many new biographies OF
painters and musicians.
There is larger stock of illustrated DOCKS OF
moderate cost than is usually found III the STAINS
during the holidays. Mr.. Joseph PenheIL VINO
made most charming sketches for MI henry
Jauess Little Tour in France has accom-
,ariad Mr. Maurice Hewlett on the Road in
Tuscany to good purpose. A similar OooN -
Mr. HalIam NIurray's "Old Road from France TO
E71orenca with forty-eight water color sketches
rarroducad in color This comes from Mr. John
,rI,rrav-,s shelves; and from the Constables' MT.
Rei1oc,s ..Old Road" with the Stored assocIa-
ttons Of the pilgrims famous highway from
Nortbgate Winchester. 10 WestSate' CahIeI-
49,, 1.-The National Gallery from Frederick
-. E. cos with text by Mr.. Gustave Gef-
So. 20 finely illustrated. Mr.. Dent has added
..O~Ford,, 10 paris" and Rome In his guinea
series Of famous cities. and the story Is Illus
trated by twenty-four llhleu Il0Ho5IaP''' "
1onenans in addition to their costly work on
the Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland Dy
Sir John Millais's son. have delightful book OF
English gardens, with fifty colored plates after
drawings by MIR. George S. Elgood, and also an
Instructive treatise on style in Furniture by
Mr. Davis Benn, with over hundred plates
showing the characteristic features Of Jacohean-
Queen Anne, Chippendale and Sheraton caolhe'
work The Methuens have published MI hey
,rood,s quaint book Of medieval Italian games.