Extracts from New Books.

BOOKSELLING.

From Appleton's "New American Cyclopædia.

(CONCLUDED.)

Retail bookselling in London possesses many features of interest, and is remarkable in respect of the nicety to which classification has been brought. In this storehouse of bibliographical treasures, the greatest in the world, every department of bookselling, ancient and modern, is represented. There are shops wherein are sold only those books relating to one particular department of science or art, and they embrace nearly every department; so also of religious sects; of books in different languages; shops where are sold only books on chess; others where they keep only those on astrology and occult sciences; others again that have only genealogy and heraldry, and, most curious of all, booksellers exclusively of odd volumes. The machinery employed for bringing books before the public is much the same as in the United States, demand being incited and stimulated through the press. The most peculiar custom is a species of trade sales, technically called "Albion" sales, from the place in which they are held. These sales are regularly got up only by three great publishers, the Longmans, Murray, and Bolin; others, either singly or associated, occasionally hold them. The booksellers of London and Westminster only are permitted to attend, and the meeting commences with the inevitable English preliminary of a dinner, after which the auctioneer presides. The numbers sold are often very large, as, for example, 10,000 of Livingstone's "Travels in South Africa," and 30,000 of Brock's "Life of Gen. Havelock;" other works have great circulation. The serials of Dickens are estimated to have a sale of 35,000, and Macaulay's history as many as 40,000. By the census of 1851 there were in England and Wales 6,905 booksellers and publishers; in Scotland, 1,486; and, according to good authority, there were 168 in Ireland. In France, bookselling centres in Paris, where there are about 400 bookstores. In the sale of books but little machinery is employed, neither trade sales nor fairs being held. The usages between publishers and authors are somewhat peculiar, for the more popular writers rarely dispose entirely of their copyrights either for a fixed sum or a percentage. They often sell the right to print a certain number in a certain style, which are to be sold at a price determined by themselves, and it not infrequently happens that two or more publishers will issue editions of the same work. The "Edinburgh Review" remarks upon a phase of French literature analogous to that which has been referred to in the account given of bookselling in England: "Few even amongst the best informed readers of the literature of the day will be prepared for the fact that, side by side with the known productions of the press of Paris, there has existed from time immemorial in France another, and, in its own sphere, hardly less influential literature, addressing a totally different public, enjoying a separate and peculiar circulation, and possessing an organization, both for production and distribution, almost entirely independent of the ordinary machinery of literary commerce. Still less will they be prepared to learn that the number of volumes thus annually put into circulation throughout the length and breadth of France amounts to nearly 10,000,000, at prices ranging from a franc down to a sou; or for the still more extraordinary fact, that among this enormous number, with the exception of a few of the modern novels, hardly a single volume-at least in the form in which it is circulated by the hawkers-is the production of any writer whose works have ever attracted the attention of our readers. So that we are led to the singular conclusion, that a substratum of publications of enormous extent supplies the demand and feeds the curiosity of the lower orders utterly unconnected with the higher creations of French genius, coarser in form and in substance, and very slightly affected by the vicissitudes of taste and opinion.

The Journal de la Librairie of Paris has prepared some statistics of the book trade in France, from which it appears that from Sep. 1, 1811, to Dec. 31, 1855, or 44 years and 2 months, no less than 271, 994 books have been published in France. This number includes books written in foreign languages, as well as Greek and Latin authors. The number of engravings, drawings, lithographs, maps, and plans, reaches 47,425, and to this number must be added 17,449 musical compositions-making altogether 336,868 publications. In the year 1855 alone, 8,235 literary works were published in France, with 1,105 musical compositions. The engravings, maps, lithographs, issued within the same period, amount to 2,857 issues-the total being 12,217. Of the 44 years included in the statistics of the Journal de la Librairie, it appears that 1855, with the exception of 1825, was the most productive. In 1825, the number of issues amounted to 8.265. The figures from 1851 to 1854 run thus: in 1851, 7,350; in 1852, 8,264; in 1853, 8,060; in 1854, 8,336. In 1854, 1855, and 1856, the value of books imported into France amounted to $1,175,000, of books exported during the same time, $7,900,000. With regard to the countries to which the exports of books were made, Bel

gium ranks by far the highest, and England next; then follow in order as named-Switzerland, Sardinia, United States, Germany and Spain (equal), Mexico, Portugal, Tuscany, the Two Sicilies, Turkey and Egypt, Russia, and the Papal States. For imports, Belgium still stands highest; then Germany, England, Spain, Sardinia, United States, Holland.— During the year 1854, 861 works in the Russian language, and 451 in foreign languages, were printed in Russia, beside 2,940 scientific and literary treatises in the different periodicals. The number of authors was 1,239, that of printing offices, for works in the Russian language, 85, of which 45 were in St. Petersburg, and 16 in Moscow. In the same year 886,425 volumes were imported. In 1855, 1,148 original works and 91 translations were published, and the imports were 1,191.745 volumes. In Poland, in 1855, 22,608 works were imported.-Some statistics upon publishing in Austria, prepared by Dr. Wurzbach, show that, for the year 1854, the total number of publications was 24,03912.983 German, 6,136 Italian, 1,482 Hungarian, 815 Polish, 757 Cechic, 453 Slavic, 363 Croatian, 244 Russniak, 214 Servian, 171 Roumanian. Vienna and Milan are the principal places of publication, after which comes Hungary. During this period 500 books have been issued in Hungary, the smallest number in the Cechic language. Trieste and its vicinity have published 221, the Tyrol 170, and Poland 169. In Croatia have been published 25, Carinthia 18, Dalmatia 15, Austrian Silesia 14, Banat 8, the Military Circle 4, Bukowina 2. In Bohemia there are 7,874 inhabitants for one publication, in Hungary 9,555, and in southern Austria 979. Of the 24,000 publications, 1,388 were theological, 812 sermons and morals, 1,806 educational, 2,579 on law, 5,647 on commerce, 792 natural science, 667 history, 222 geography, 155 poetry, 146 plays, 546 romances, beside journals.-In the 7 years from 1847 to 1854 the following numbers of books are stated to have appeared in Norway: philology 87, metaphysics 23, pedagogical science 65, theology 18, law 63, politics and national economy 46, medical science 26, natural philosophy 39, rural economy 48, technology 12, history 123, nautical and commercial science 33, military science 28, mathematics 28, belles-lettres 187, miscellaneous writings 6-a total, during the 7 years, of 1,027 volumes, or, on an average, 146 every year. Of these, 870 were original works, 139 translations, and the remaining 18 reprints of older books. More than two-thirds of the number, viz., 791 volumes, were printed at Christiania (the seat of the university), whereas only 100 appeared at Bergen (the principal commercial town), 27 at Drontheim, 26 at Stavanger, 19 at Skien, 11 at Christiansand, etc. In order to buy a copy of every book appearing in Norway, a sum of 90 to 100 species ($100 to $125) per annum would suffice. The whole literature of the country since 1814 may be purchased for a little more than 2,500 species.-In the 9 years from 1848 to 1856, 1,799 printed works, on an average, have appeared annually in Holland; a figure which, when compared with a population of only about 3,000,000, is by no means unimportant. Beside, it has been regularly increasing ever since 1851; in 1856 the sum total of new works amounted to 1,859. Of these, 349 were devoted to theology, 265 to philology and literary history, and 188 were school books. Political economy was represented by 138 works, history by 112, natural philosophy by 52, mathematics by 25, jurisprudence by 48, metaphysics by only 17. Belles-lettres mustered 142 works, of which 57 were novels. The number of publishers and booksellers amounts to 900, that of printers to 287, and that of paper factories to 134. In Greece, the Ionian islands, and Turkey, there were 188 books published in 1851, and in 1852, 164: 120 in Greece; 29, Ionian Islands; 7, Turkey; 107, Athens; 8, Syria; 3, Petras; 1, Nauplia; 1, Tripolitza; 14, Corfu; 8. Cephalonia; 7, Zante; 2, Constantinople; 4, Smyrna; and 1, Bucharest.-During 6 months of 1856 it is stated that over 400 books were published in Piedmont, of which a large proportion were polemical essays; the number includes 12 volumes of poetry, 7 romances, 5 dramas, 30 histories, and 12 historical memoirs.-Bookselling in America presents no very notable historical incidents, The first of the profession mentioned by Thomas in his "History of Printing," is Hezekiah Usher, of Boston, known to have been in the business as early as 1652. His son, John Usher, succeeded him, and is thus spoken of by Dunton, who visited Boston in 1686: "This trader makes the best figure in Boston; he's very rich, adventures much to sea, but has got his estate by bookselling." Of books at that time offered for sale the great majority were, of course, imported, and were kept in shops with other goods, as Benedict Arnold combined the business of druggist and bookseller; but, more frequently, the association was of nearer kin-printer, binder, and bookseller, a natural connection, which continued as a rule for many years, and is illustrated by the familiar instance of Franklin. In 1732, Richard Fry, an Englishman and bookseller of Boston, advertized: "Whereas, it has been the common method of the most curious merchants of Boston to procure their books from London, this is to acquaint those gentlemen that I, the said Fry, will sell all sorts of accompt books, done after the most acute manner, for 20 per cent. cheaper than they can have them from London. *** For the pleasing entertainment of the polite parts of mankind, I have printed the most beautiful poems of Mr. Stephen Duck, the famous Wiltshire poet. It is a full demonstration to me that the people of New England have a fine taste for good sense

and polite learning, having already sold 1,200 of those poems." The first convention of booksellers for the regulation of trade seems to have been held in Boston, 1724; it was for the special purpose of increasing the prices of certain works. Toward the close of the last century bookselling began to take rank among the most considerable commercial pursuits, though it then only foreshadowed its present comparative importance. Works of standard character, involving large expenditures, were undertaken by publishers, who, in such cases, usually subscribed together, as a guarantee for the printer's outlay. The trade was conducted upon established principles, and innovators were held in poor esteem. All these usages were, however, disturbed by competition, and after the publication of the Waverley novels, of which rival editions were issued, the individual members of the trade acted more independently of each other, and their customs afterward, partook of a less narrow spirit. The American company of booksellers was founded in 1801. Books were formerly sold in sheets, to be bound as purchasers might desire, a practice which no longer obtains. The universal diffusion of education in America, and the inquiring mental character of its people, not only increased the circulation of books but reduced their price, and the old-fashioned veneration which literary works had once inspired experienced no little modification. Externals became of small consequence to the great body of readers, and works were purchased not so much for preservation as for immediate reading. This is not peculiar to America, for in all the principal publishing countries it appears to be now understood that the proportion of expense for mere externals should, within the limits of good taste and sufficient perspicuity and durability, be reduced to the lowest standard. The practical advantages of cheapness were at first demonstrated by the absence of international copyright, which brought competition to the basis solely of mechanical excellence and lowness of price; and although, for a time, there was a tendency to consult cheapness to the sacrifice of other quite as essential qualities, a reaction, experienced within the last few years, promises to correct that which the popular appreciation of the truest economy had agreed to condemn. The number of different publishers of American books in the years 1856 and 1857 was 385, principally of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Many books emanate from Cincinnati, and the indications are that a large independent trade will, before many years, be established in the West. There are 2 departments of the book-publishing business in the United States pretty clearly separated: those who sell books through the retail stores, and those who sell by personal application-the makers of what are technically called trade, and the makers of subscription books-books which buyers are expected to come for, and books which go to them. The regular trade is divided into publishers, jobbers, and retailers. Jobbers purchase of publishers in large quantitities, and, consequently, on favorable terms, which enables them to supply retailers at the publishers' rates. Retailers are scattered all over the country, in the cities and smallest villages; in the latter often connecting with their stock of literature the miscellaneous assortment of the country store.

Increase of bookselling has led to classification, and the trade has been gradually separating into several divisions or specialities, the principal of which are miscellaneous, religious, scientific, educational, musical, legal, medical, agricultural, and foreign booksellers; but the distinction is by no means fixed or complete. Assuming them for the sake of convenience, we may designate still further subdivisions: the miscellaneous, inclining toward particular classes, as poetry, novels, etc., and the relig ious, representing the different churches. Beside these, publishers of subscription books may be also divided into those who issue books in small parts, and those who issue in complete volumes.

The style in which business is done also varies greatly. Many publishers get out a rather regular succession of works, each of which is advertised to a certain extent, and then abandoned to its own merits and fortune. Others publish few books, but "push" them with great energy. The pushing process is performed through the facilities afforded by the press, and the publisher seeks, by every ingenious expedient, to arouse public curiosity. Among the greatest successes may be mentioned, Uncle Tom's Cabin," of which 310,000 copies have been sold; "The Lamplighter," 90,000; "Shady Side," 42,000; "Fern Leaves,' 70,000; "Ruth Hall," 55, 000; " Alone," "The Hidden Path," "Moss Side," each 25,000; Longfellow's "Hiawatha," 43,000; "Life of Barnum," 45,000; "Life of Amos Lawrence," 23,000; Hugh Miller's Works, 50,000; Sears's "Wonders of the World," 100,000; of larger works, "Benton's 30 Years' View," 2 vols. 8vo., 55,000; Kane's "Arctic Explorations," 2 vols. 8vo., 65,000, paying $65,000 copyright; Harpers' "Pictorial Bible," $20 a copy, 25,000; and Goodrich's "History of all Nations," 2 vols. 8vo. ($7), 30,000. School books occasionally attain an enormous and permanent circulation, and their publishers compete energetically for the market. Agents are often einployed at a great expense to visit the various schools, for the purpose of substituting new books for old, receiving little or nothing for the difference in value; though this ruinous practice is becoming discontinued. Of Mitchell's geographical books there is a probable issue of 1,000 per day, and of Davies' mathematical series, 300,000 were circulated in 1857; of San

ders's "Readers" about the same; and many other school-books have an annual sale of from 20,000 to 50,000. The books of Noah Webster have, however, reached the greatest circulation. Of the "Elementary Spelling Book," 35,000,000 have been sold, and its annual issue is over 1,000,000. Webster's dictionaries, of which there are 8 abridgments, have had an aggregate sale of nearly 2,000,000, and about 100,000 are sold annually of the Primary.

The publication of music books has been very successful, more especially collections of Church Music or psalm and hymn tunes, glee books, Juvenile musical books, and instrumental instructors of all kinds. "The Handel and Haydn Collection," by Dr. Lowell Mason, published 30 years since, has passed through nearly 40 editions, and "The Carmina Sacra," by the same author, has had a circulation of about 500,000 copies, yielding a copyright of about $50,000. Of late there has been a steady and rapid increase in the issues of books in the more advanced department, such as works on the Science of music, harmony, counterpoint, and the like, but there seems to be little demand for musical belleslettres. In law and medical bookselling, the United States holds a high rank as compared with other countries. The circulation of these books is very large. A peculiar feature in American bookselling is to be found in agricultural publications. One house in New York is devoted to this department exclusively. It has a list of 100 different works, by 63 authors, of whom about 50 are American. The books are in good demand, especially those on horses and stock; 5,000 of Linsley's "Morgan Horse" were sold in the first 6 months of publication; Allen's "Domestic Animals" has had an issue of 12,000, and Dadd's Modern Horse Doctor," 14,000. The interest taken in the introduction of the new sugar-canes has exhausted 4,000 of Olcott's "Sorgho and Imphee," and 8,000 of 2 pamphlets on the same subject. A class of books which are occasionally overlooked in connection with this subject, are those called cheap publications. These have a very large circulation, frequently as great as 200,000 copies. "The Widow's Walk," by Sue, and "The Dancing Feather," by J. H. Ingraham, with, no doubt, many others, have exceeded that number. At 25 cents per copy, these books are sometimes bought by the public to the extent of $50,000 each, an amount much beyond that paid for works of higher literary pretensions, published in more elegant style. In addition to all these, we have the publication of numerous societies, one of which alone, the American Bible Society, issued in the year ending April, 1858, 712,114 copies of the Bible. In Trubner's "Bibliographical Guide to American Literature," the following table is given of the issue of books in the United States in the 12 years preceding 1842:

American History and Geography.

Original American.

Reprints.

Biography

History and Geography of Foreign Countries...... 91 Literary History

195

12

In the preface to the "American Catalogue of Books," by Sampson Low, Son & Co., of London, it is stated that "during 1852, unavoidably including many really published in the preceding 6 months, we find there were 966 new books and new editions, 312 of which were reprints of English books, and 56 translations from other countries. During 1853, 879 new books and new editions, including 298 reprints of English books, and 37 translations. During 1854, 765 new books and new editions, of which 277 were reprints of English books, and 41 translations. During 1855, 1,092 new books and new editions, including 250 reprints of English books, and 38 translations. And during the 6 months to July, 1856, 751 new books and new editions, of which but 102 were reprints of English books, and 26 translations." From a careful computation and analysis of "Norton's Annual Book List for 1855," we have the following:

Total.........$2,500,000 $3,500,000 $5,500,00 $12,500,000

The same writer estimates the amount of the production of the American book trade, for the year 1856, at about $16,000,000, which he divides as follows: city of New York, $6,000,000; rest of the state of New York, $600,000; Boston, $2.500,000; New England states, $600,000; Philadelphia, $3,400,000; Cincinnati, $1,300,000; north-western states, $100,000; District of Columbia, by the government, $750,000; and the southern and south-western states, $750,000. The amounts of annual importations of books from 1851 to 1857 inclusive, are:

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.-Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., the publishers in America of the works of Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, of which about 60,000 volumes have been sold, permit us to publish an extract from a letter which they have recently received. Mr. Spurgeon says: "I can scarcely account for my negligence in postponing the acknowledgment of your two bills of £100 each, both of which have been promptly honored. I thank you for your continued diligence in promoting the sale of my sermons, and for your Christian conduct in liberally acknowledging the rights of authorship, even when the law did not demand it of you." The publishers have in press a volume of selections from Mr. Spurgeon's sermons.

THE BOOK PUBLISHERS AND THEIR INTERESTS-It seems that the long-continued lethargy which has oppressed the interests of all who are concerned in book-publishing and book-making among us, is about to be interrupted at last by something like activity. The presses of our book-printers are all driving at their hottest speed, and early in the fall a regular freshet of new books will be poured upon us. The recent depression, it is thought, will effect several important reforms both in the character of our current literature and in the business conduct of the book-trade. An international copyright law is before Congress, actually drawn up and urged by the publishers themselves. It is not of the impracticable character in which the old schemes of the literary men were drawn up, but it is calculated to prove a real protection to the capital invested in the trade, as well as a stimulus to original literary labor.-N. Y. Express.

Daniel Steele Durrie, librarian, State Historical Society, Wisconsin, proposes to publish by subscription the "Steele Family Genealogy," the material for which he has collected and prepared. Mr. C. B. Norton will act as agent.

From the London Athenæum,

Berlin, 13th July, 1858. AIME BONPLAND.-Aware of the deep sympathy felt for me by many of my friends, in my great distress at the death of my beloved, noble friend and travelling companion, Bonpland, I have considered it my duty to publish at any rate a short preliminary communication on the subject, for which I am indebted to the friendly zeal of Dr. Lallemant (author of an important work on the diseases of Europeans in tropical climates.) This accomplished man, thinking thereby to give me pleasure, after leaving the Imperial Austrian Expedition on board the frigate Novara, undertook a journey in February last from Rio Janeiro to Rio Grande, and from thence, by Porto Alegre and the former Jesuit Missions, to San Borja, where he erroneously supposed that Bonpland was still residing, as he had since the year 1831. I am in posses sion of two letters of Dr. Lallemant: one from San Borja, on the Uruguay, dated the 10th of April; another, written from the Villa de Uruguaiana, on the 19th of April, 1858, after having conversed with Bonpland at Santa Anna:

"Whilst at San Borja," writes Dr. Lallemant," I resided with an intimate friend of Bonpland, the vicar Gay, in whose company I visited the formerly well-kept garden of the botanist, but which is now desolate and overgrown. M. Gay had received the last letter from Bonpland towards the end of the year 1857. Subsequently news was received of his serious illness. Letters written with a view to learn the state of his health remained unanswered, and in spite of the short distance it was still uncertain at San Borja whether I should find your travelling companion alive. Bonpland had left San Borja in the year 1853, to reside on his larger estate at Santa Anna, where he long occupied himself in cultivating orange-trees of his own planting. The resi dence of the old man of science (in the Estancia of Santa Anna) consists of two large cottages, the mud walls of which are secured by bamboo poles and a few beams on the thatch. Both cottages have doors, but no windows, as the light is admitted by the crevices between the bamboo supports of the wall. I was received in a hearty and friendly manner. In spite of the deep lines which a stirring life had imprinted upon the beloved countenance, the eye was still piercing, clear, and full of expression. Spirited conversation, commenced by himself, seemed to weary him much, and he suffered much from chronic rheumatism of the bladder. The privations which he so wonderfully imposes on himself are not in consequence of want or necessary retrenchment, but rather of long habit, great self-command, and characteristic individuality. The Government of Corrientes has presented him with an estate worth 10,000 Spanish piastres,-he also enjoys a pension of 3,000 francs per annum from the French Government. He has always practised as a physician, with the most perfect disinterestedness. He is universally respected-greatly prefers, however, solitude, and especially avoids those who come to him for advice and assistance. His scientific zeal remains unabated; his collections and manuscripts are deposited at Corrientes, where he has founded a national museum. On the following morning I found him considerably weaker. The night had been a painful one. I earnestly entreated him to tell me if I could in any way be of service to him, but it was with me as with all his friends,"he was in no need of assistance." I took leave of him with a sorrowful heart. How gladly would I have prevailed on him to return to the civilized world! But I felt with him, that his time was past. He belongs to the first period of the nineteenth century, not to the second. It appeared to me that your friend was himself affected when I took both his wrinkled hands in mine to bid him adieu. Those who surround him have found his powers failing him much during the last three months. Perhaps the old man experienced the same feelings at parting as myself, who would probably be the last messenger of European birth sent to him from afar off into this wilder ness, to express to him in the name of Science all the reverence, love, and thankfulness which is due to him. I mounted my horse and gallopped in a northern direction, across the green plains. No path directed me; I was disturbed by no guide; I was alone, with my mournful thoughts on Bonpland sinking into the grave."

How happy was the last letter which I received from Bonpland, from Corrientes, dated the 7th of June, 1857 :

reuse.

"J'irai," said he, "porter mes collections et mes manuscrits moi-même à Paris, pour les déposer au Muséum, Mon voyage en France ne sera que très court; je retournerai à mon S. Ana, où je passe une vie tranquille et heuC'est là que je veux mourir, et où mon tombeau se trouvera à l'ombre des arbres nombreux que j'ai plantés. Que je serais heureux, cher Humboldt, de te revoir encore une fois et de renouveler nos souvenirs communs. Le mois d'août prochain, le 28, je compléterai ma 84ème année, et j'ai trois (4) ans de moins que toi. Il vient de mourir dans cette province un homme de 107 ans. Quelle perspective pour deux voyageurs qui ont passé leur 80ème

année!"

This joyous letter, almost expressing a longing for life, contrasts wonderfully with the mournful description of Dr. Lallemant's visit. In Monte Video (according to Mr. von Tschudi) it was believed that Bonpland had died at San Borja, on the 29th of May, but without further particulars. On the 18th of April Lallemant conversed with him at Santa Anna. On the 19th of May his death was denied at Porto Alegre. There is, therefore, still hope that the younger of the two has not been the first summoned away. At such great distances uncertainty is often unfortunately long continued, as evidence the anxiety on account of Edward Vogel in Central Africa and Adolph Schlagintweit in Central Asia.

ALEXANDER V. HUMBOLDT.

M. Villemot, the new rédacteur en chef of the Paris Figaro, gives an amusing account of his passing 24 hours in prison (dungeon No. 9,) for neglecting a summons to do duty as a national guard. He was in Belgium when the notice was left at his house, and might, as a matter of course, have ob