Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-07-01
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

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fortunes are not made by the writer's
of the age, and. further. that there are
few wonderfully rich publishers. A big
tobacco man, a big oil man. a big Wall
Street man-all these are m~illionaires
and multi-millionaires. There is no
publishing house that can compare
| With tfese. The biggest publisher Is
nowhere as compared with the biggest
| dealer in any other commodities. The
business of books is a wonderfully in
teresting business, but 1t doesn't make
big fortunes.
co
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA AS TO THE
average sale of a modern novel? I'm
doubtedly. with some figure, such as
100. 900 copies running through your
head, you would make a modest esti-
mate that the average modern novel
ran to say 10000 copies. Not so. II 1t
did, the book men would be among the
tobacco and oil millionaires. Well. 5000
then, you say. No. Try again. Three
thousand? No.
The average novel sells to, about 800
copies.
Now, don't make a mistake about
this. This includes all the United
States novels, big and little. whether
published by the standard publishers or
at the authors expense. Don't forget
that some of the big novels even today
are running to 300, 900 copies-a few to
100, 900. many to 10. 900 and over. Don't
forget also what was said last week,
that a publisher can make money on a
novel that sells to 1900 or so. But to
offset all these, think how very small
must be the sale of some of the novels.
GO
THE DAY OF TREMENDOUSLY
big sales is over. David Harum." It is
true, Is still selling-there is a constant
demand for it. Irving Bachelors
"Eben Holden sold to half a million.
That was years ago. The authors of
today are not selling to half a
million. A 100000 copy man is a big
man. A man who sells to 10000 is a
big man. It is said thai it is almost
possible to get on the list of six best
sellers with "a sale of {, 1000. Times
have changed.
THE ROSARY" FLORENCE BAR
clay's book, brought out by the Rut-
mans, had an unusual experience. 1t
vas published in September of 1868. 1t
is a plain, s~traightaway love story of
tremendous sweetness and power. in
volving a big-hearted young woman,
who believed herself too plain to suit
the lover who avowed his owe for her.
Not until this artist lover has put
into a portrait of her his own concep-
fior IF har md not until an nppi6enf
has made him blind. does she come to
understand. Now. this book, a love
story pure and simple, went to a sale
after publication of about 5000. That
was to be expected. perhaps, of the first
book Of a new author. What happened:
Step by step, inch by inch, the sale in
creased to 10. 1000, The book seemed to
sell itself. Finally, contrary to all the
rules of the game, months-a year, IN
fact-after its publication, the country
went wild over it, and for months-five
or six months 1t seems to melt held
first place on the list of six best sellers,
and Putnams now report it's sale up to
the 800. 900 mark. The experience of
this book is rare and almost unpre-
eedented.
GO
TAKING THE ROSARY'S'' HIS
tory as an interesting incident in the
book events of the year, IL is pertinent
to inquire why it is particularly inter
esting. unusual, or astounding. as it
actually is.
Why shouldn't a book grow int pop
interest, rather than jump into it?
What is the life of a modern novel.
and when does it sell best?
On all sides 0 will hear laymen
speak for a of So-and-so's book,