New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-15
Publishers Devices.

Publishers Devices.
1t is well known fact that the pub
lshcrs name is the least conspicuous
feature of the books he publishes. 1t APP
pears modesty at the foot of the back of
the binding; it is repeated. unobtruslvely
again, at the bottom of the title page; and
it may be found third time, in smallest
type, in the copyright notice. That is, all.
No wonder that many lovers of literature
are hay as to the publishers of the books
ing a happy desultory hour among thom,
ever bethink themselves of examining their
title pages closely? How many of them
know the devices of our leading publishing
houses that adorn them? And yet they are
worth studying. Let us take a passing
look
There is, first of all, the lamp of the
Messrs. Scribner. 1t does not shine on
their title pages; but under its radiance
they have begun to announce their wares,
an inviting measure-"At the Sign of the
Lamp" Light, indeed is favorite sym
boil of these devices. Perhaps we should
have begun, therefore, with the Century
Company's open tome in a flaming sun.
Another arrangement of sun and books is
found in the vignette of MeSsrS. Dodd,
Mead q Co. The seven-branched candle
stick of Mr.. b. w. Huebsch is IA striking
suggestion of the light that reading
brings; and the Messrs. Harper pass on
the torch of knowledge from hand to hand
in their title pages.
A Greek pastoral design, with the mot
to Tout Bien OF Ricn, distinguishes the
books of the Houghton Miffjin Company.
Minerva's owl perched on a tome looks at
us with unwinkng wisdom from the device
Of the Messrs. Holt; acorns entwined form
the design of Messrs. A. c. McClurg d
Co. The Messrs. Appleton tell us, beneath
tree in bloom, that Inter foiia fructus.
Very sagely the vignette of Messrs. Little
Brown & Co. breaches, around another
eavy tree, that quality not quantity should
be our aim in collecting books. Non refert
guam muitoS Sod guam bOnos bobGaS. The
symbol of the leaves and the fruit is found
again beneath the branch-aden book on
Messrs. Doubleday, Page & Co.'S title
page: FructuS guam foiio. But the most
ambitious of all these devices is that of
Messrs. Small, Maynard & Co., with its
motto, Scrc quod Sciendum, making all
knowledge our province. Sun and tree
light and fruiton-are combined in the
vignette of the Lippincott Company-and
Droit ct aUant.
Mr.. John Lane is located at the Bodley
Head, but he displays no device upon his
title pages. Neither does the Macmillan
Company, which contents itself with COW
ering its slip covers with its well designed
monogram. The George II. Doran Com
pany contents itself with announcing that
novels bearing its name "have a great
and definite distinction" another way Of
identifying the publisher with the sue
cess Of the books he publishes.
Look for the devices on the title pages
of the books you value--it is an interest
ing pastime, and it is far from unproft-
able. Learn to identify the author with
his partner, the publisher. This associa-
ton Of the two in the minds of bookloyers
was not so rare in the days before the
multiplicity of publishing houses and the
deluge of books. Nowadays, we are told
novels, at least, are often chosen for their
covers, or their illustrations, or the
amount of dialogue a hasty examination
reveals. A safer guide by far is the device,
the name of the publisher, especially in
the fields of more serious literature