Morgan Envelope Co..... Edwin Regal, Oberlin, O. E. Morgan. Powers Paper Co...... Lucius H. Powers. George A. Olney. Springfield Envelope Co... P. P. Kellogg. Union Ink and Paper Co... J. E. Taylor. HOLYOKE, MASS. Holyoke Paper Co.. O. S. Greenleaf. Massasoit Paper Co.... F. D. Phelon. Union Paper Co..... Whiting Paper Co... MITT NEAQUE, MASS. Worthy Paper Co..... NEW-BEDFORD, MASS. Taber, Charles & Co.... NEWARK, N. J. Plummer, C. S... C. S. Plummer. CINCINNATI, OHIO. United States Soapstone Manufacturing Co....... ST. LOUIS, MO. Levison & Blythe.. John McEachirn. List of Buyers. J. Nelson Waggoner, Galena, Ill. Brooks, Schinkel & Co., Cleveland, O. D. H. Carroll, Baltimore, Md. N. F. Smith, Williamstown, Mass. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New-York City. Steele & Avery, Rochester, N. Y. Richmond, Backus & Co., Detroit, Mich. George W. Gleason, Columbus, O. D. Appleton & Co., New-York City. Lee & Shepard, Boston. Lee, Shepard & Dillingham, New-York City. P. O'Shea, New-York City. Palmer, Bros. & Co., Dubuque, Iowa. T. O. Stearns, Hamilton, N. Y. E. P. Dutton & Co., New-York City. E. J. Goodrich, Oberlin, O. Penfield, Whipple & Co., Hillsdale, Mich. J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Williams, Sturges & Co., Knoxville, Tenn. J. R. Penn & Co., Austin, Texas. Merrill, Hubbard & Co., Indianapolis, Ind. S. K. Brobst & Co., Allentown, Pa. John S. Jackson, Dallas, Texas. A. W. Lovering, Boston, Mass. American Sunday-School Union, New-York City. R. W. Bliss & Co., Hartford, Ct. Grosvenor & Harger, Dubuque, Iowa. The Trade Dinner. A VERY pleasant ending to the pleasant two weeks' companionship of Niagara and NewYork was had at the St. James, the Friday evening preceding the closing of the Fair, in the form of a trade dinner. It was at first proposed that a dinner should be given to the visiting trade by the Eastern publishers; but it was found better to have it an affair of the Association, and the following Committee of Arrangements was accordingly appointed by the chairmen of the Executive and Assembly Committees: Messrs. Charles A. Clapp (E. P. Dutton & Co.), Walter Appleton (D. Appleton & Co.), B. H. Ticknor (J. R. Osgood & Co.), Robert Porter (Porter & Coates), and Joseph Knight (H. B. Nims & Co.). The dinner was served at seven in the evening, in the long dining-hall of the St. James, and to it some two hundred sat down, Mr. Randolph being at the head of the main table, and of course presiding, with Mr. Martin Taylor at the head of the table on his right and Mr. William Lee at the head of that on his left. The intimacy of the past fortnight had produced such a general acquaintance among the members of the trade that the utmost good feeling existed, every one knowing and talking with his neighbor, thus adding to the common enjoyment, and promoting the sociability intended by the meeting. An excellent dinner was served by the St. James' steward. The after exercises were opened by Mr. Randolph, before the dinner itself was quite disposed of, by the remark that he would not follow the order of more formal occasions, but call upon members present to speak while the lighter dishes were still on the table. He himself spoke at some length, contrasting the past and present conditions of the trade, with allusion to the many prominent publishers that had passed away since he first entered the ranks. Fifty years ago, he said, samples of all American publications could be placed on a single rack, such as now occupy two entire floors in Clinton Hall, and hardly fully represent the American trade at that. This he instanced as an illustration of the "development theory," which was farther shown in the dusty piles of old books on the back shelves of old bookstores, the few still retaining popularity aptly illustrating the " vival of the fittest.' sur In conclusion, he gave the toast, "The American Book Trade," to which Mr. Jansen and Mr. Wesley Jones replied for the North-west and West, and others for different localities; Mr. Kimball, of the Lippincotts, in speaking for Philadelphia, making some remarks antagonistic to the reform, which were somewhat coldly received. Some very happy responses were made by Mr. Holt, in speaking for his birth-place, NewEngland; by Mr. Barnes, in responding to the toast, "The Early Reform Movement," and by Mr. E. C. Stedman, the poet, on the relations of authors and publishers-the latter announcing his intention, as an author, to join the A. B. T. A. Mr. J. W. Harper, Jr., was cordially received and warmly applauded, as was also Mr. William Lee. In behalf of the stationery trade, Mr. Bainbridge spoke autobiographically, and Mr. Plummer read some verses, in which the names of stationery representatives at the Fair were cleverly interwoven. Colonel Waring also spoke for authorship; and both Col. Brown, of the Post, and Mr. Bowker, of the WEEKLY, for the press, the latter congratulating the trade on the progress the reform had made since its first inception eighteen months ago. Admirable attention was generally given the speakers, and loud and frequent applause greeted their rising and speaking. A band was stationed at one end of the room, varying the programme most pleasantly. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. The interests of the trade can not be better served, than by a full discussion by its members of all questions which affect it. Our columns are always open to communications on any such subject, provided they be brief and suggestive, and we cordially invite the trade to express any suggestions or opinions of interest or value in "Letters to the Editor." Expenses in the Book Business. To the Editor of the Publishers' Weekly: Will it not be a service to the entire trade, both buyers and sellers, to fully enumerate the items which make up the real expenses of doing a book business? Perhaps it will help solve the knotty "discount" problem, which, after all, reduces itself to the question, "What is a fair profit in bookselling?" Your correspondent" Facts," in No. 170 of the WEEKLY, puts the case with force and justness. Hundreds of dealers wake up to the "Facts" only when insolvency stares them in the face. The wise ones will heed-"the simple pass on," and-SINK. Every thorough merchant will include in his estimates the following items of expense: BAD DEBTS, including Counterfeit Money seller may become a guide in literature; the taken. DEPRECIATION IN STOCK in store. All of the above items go to make up the cost of the article sold as it leaves the dealer's hands, reckoning from invoice price to him. Now let the retailer, bearing in mind the above necessary expenses,-small items as well as great-the time patience, and persuasion which some sales require, the intelligence and experience demanded in the business,-answer the question whether he can afford to curtail the margin. Each dealer can work out the problem for himself. The law of gravitation is no more inevitable in its operation than the law of ruin, in these times, to the merchant who fails properly to calculate his expenses. FACTS," JUNIOR 46 The Booksellers' Movement. (From the N. Y. Tribune, July 24.) "INFINITE riches in a little room" might serve as the motto of the Booksellers' Fair. The current book production of this country, and much of that of England, is shown in a hall seventy-five feet by a hundred and fifty, and the book trade is like its commodity-multum in parvo. All of Shakespeare is put into a thousand pages, for fifty cents, and the book business of the country, whether by numbers or production, makes no great show in the statistical tables. The census gives no satisfactory information, and less than two years of organization has not given the trade time to gather its own figures for itself. The commercial agencies enroll 25,000 names as directly or indirectly concerned in the book business, but a recent canvass has shown that there are not five thousand who may fairly be ranked as booksellers, while three hundred is a liberal estimate of the book publishers of importance. At the Fair 35,000 samples are exhibited, and 5000 would be ample allowance for books unrepresented. Duplicates in extra bindings would bring this total down to 30,000, of which not more than two thirds are of American manufacture. What annual business these represent it is not yet possible to estimate closely, but the business in books is not nearly so large as that in the mere luxury of jewelry. The foremost firm in the trade makes less sales than any one of a dozen dry goods houses, and not more than five per cent probably of those of the leading firms in the latter business. The trade is prominently before the public, for that is its life, but its business bears small proportion to the comparative space it occupies in the newspapers. A competent authority has hazarded the opinion that this business might and should be increased nearly fifty per cent. most wholesome service for his community is within his scope if he has the brains just to interpret for his customers those words of Ruskin: "Do you know that if you read this you can not read that?" The book trade has suffered much from a difficulty which has been general and growing since the war. The reckless desire to make sales, despite "profit and loss," on the one hand, and on the other that general proclivity of human nature to "buy cheap" at whatever cost, with our national fondness for bargains at whatever loss, have led, in the heat of competition, to much unsound trading. Newcomers seeking the trade have obtained credit which manufacturers or jobbers were only too willing to give, kept only the paying stock of the day, and made their first prices so low that their expense account led them into bankruptcy and these have forced wiser traders into the same unwisdom. Mr. Ruskin's political economy makes one point that we Americans may well study: sometimes we can't afford to "buy cheap." When goods are sold "below cost" somebody must "come to grief." The publisher and bookseller share much risk, and their profit must be considerable to allow margin for insurance. Otherwise the author will soon be in a bad way, and the public too. It is a good season in which the careful publisher finds one book in five really paying, and this must cover actual loss in two of the five. The splendid series of school-books, with which we surprised the world at Vienna, cost their publishers much more than the paper and ink they were made of-although some of the Western legislators are disposed to buy oil paintings for the cost of the canvas and the oil. The public has been trained to forget this, and to expect lower prices than could be safely given. Retail prices have in some cases been made higher than was necessary to cover abnormal discounts, and this has only increased the demoralization. A well-stocked bookstore is desirable in every town. It can not be sustained without a reasonable margin of profit. It is, therefore, well for the public to pay this profit. If the book trade of the country, by fair means, can regain a living profit, it is well that it should do so. If it can give the public its books at an honest price to all alike, and possibly replace the unwholesome discount system by some ultimate reduction in the general retail price, so The movement which has much the better. produced the American Book Trade Association and organized the Book Fair seems to have the double purpose of promoting sound business principles and inspiring the trade with a real sense of the importance of its work. So long as it holds wisely to these aims it deserves the public support. BOOKS RECEIVED. Yet the influence of the book trade is not to be estimated by statistical comparisons. Books may be taxed by weight, but the scales can QUEEN MARY, A DRAMA, by Alfred Tennyson. never test their power. The bookdealers are (James R. Osgood & Co.) We have in this themselves claiming rank next to the profes- work the fruit of Tennyson's mature genius, sions, and setting their shop next to the church and his only effort in the dramatic line. The and the school-house. To put the right book drama opens with the first whisperings of the into the hands of the right man is to do much Spanish alliance, and closes with the death of in education. And the next best thing to be- Mary and the proclamation of Elizabeth as ing a genius one's self is to strike the spark queen. It embraces a number of historical that shall kindle genius in another. A book-characters of the period, but seeks chiefly to present "Bloody Mary" in a little more favorable and more womanly light than that in which the stern judgment of history has enveloped her. Her idolatry for Philip of Spain is dwelt upon, and some sympathy created for her broken heart and wretched death. The genius of Tennyson, however, can scarcely render the unpoetical character of Mary poetic, or brighten up the monotonous darkness of this period. His poem appears to have caught the sombre hue of his subject; it is so free from the rich imagery and warm tenderness which pervades every thing else we have had from him. Indeed, it seems mere courtesy to call it poetry, it is so clear, strong, and incisive in language, so free from ornament, and so simple in phrase and construction. It reveals in the poet a new power, and offers a picture of Mary Tudor and the noted characters of her reign, as vivid and correct probably as pen has ever drawn. 12mo, cloth, $1.50. A SUMMER PARISH, by Henry Ward Beecher. (J. B. Ford & Co.) This volume is made up of a number of the sermons Mr. Beecher preached in past summers in his vacations at the "Twin Mountain House" in New-Hampshire. They were phonographically reported at the time by T. J. Ellinwood, and may therefore be relied upon as correct. A very good photograph of Mr. Beecher, by Rockwood, adorns the book. 12mo, cloth, $1.50. THE LADY SUPERIOR, by Eliza F. Pollard. (Harper & Bros.) A novel that the experienced and jaded novel-reader will delight to get hold of. Full of characters and incidents, and descriptions of continental life, with plenty of love-making, and any amount of witty conversation; one of the best novels out. 8vo, | paper, 50 cents. JOCELYN'S MISTAKE, by Mrs. J. K. Spender. (James R. Osgood & Co.) The chief charac teristic of this novel, a work of more than ordinary power, is the careful and discriminating analysis of character it presents. The story is a long one, with the interest centred in but a few persons, who are so strongly marked, so original in thought and action, and so cleverly kept before the reader, that he will not care to skip a page or a paragraph even. The scene is laid in England; the time, the present. 8vo, paper, 75 cents. WITHIN AN ACE, by Mrs. C. Jenkin. (Henry Holt & Co.) The young lady of this story, who comes within an ace devotion of one of the best husbands, is one of of losing the love and Mrs. Jenkins' favorite heroines. Pretty, graceful, willful, and brilliantly gifted, she carries off the love of the hero, a French count, who finds himself at home in Scotland, in the family of a and so great he can scarcely tear himself away. rich lawyer, where the attractions are so many Catty," the naughty heroine, wins him uncon A DOUBLE WEDDING, by Mrs. C. A. Warfield.sciously, and goes to live in France, where she meets some very clever and odd people, and (T. B. Peterson & Bro.) As the author of works out her destiny in a very satisfactory "The Household of Bouverie," Mrs. Warfield manner to the reader. "Leisure Hour Series." will be most readily recognized. Those who 16m0, $1.25. admired her first work will find even greater pleasure in this one. It is an American story of the South just before the rebellion, and contains some very excellent characterizations of Southerners and foreigners. The plot of the story is good, the dialogue bright and witty, and the book altogether a very readable one. There is not the slightest doubt either about it being a new book, and not an antiquated, forgotten friend, rechristened and rehabilitated. 12mo, cloth, $1.75. SIGNA, by "Ouida." (J. B. Lippincott & Co.) Italian life and character, as developed among the very lowest of the Tuscan peasantry, is the subject of "Ouida's "novel. Both the scene of the story and the hero are called "Signa." The hero, a waif, develops in ignorance and poverty into a great musical genius. He finds his way to the great cities, loves unworthily, and dies miserably. The story is nothing as a story, having but a thread of a plot, but as a succession of brilliant, glowing, gorgeous pictures of scenery and people it is unique. One is fairly surfeited with descriptions, and "words, words, words," which seem to glow and burn, and which scintillate through the text in a passionate, daring fashion that is rather alarming. We hope it will not injure the sale of the novel to state that it is one of "Ouida's" efforts towards something better and higher-in fact, a novel with a moral. 12mo, cloth, $2. ISEULTE, by the author of "Vera." (Harper & Bros.) French in scene, character, and sentiment, this novel offers a clever though not very forcible picture of French life in the provinces, and the story of a woman's love and sacrifices, somewhat weak and sentimental and yet readable. 8vo, paper, 50 cents. THE FRENCH AT HOME, by Albert Rhodes. (Dodd & Mead.) Six bright sketches of the French as they are at home, written by one who has lived among them and apparently observed with intelligence and without prejudice. The sketches are named "Character," "Gallantry," "French Living," A Day with the Painters," Words and Phrases," and " The Rag-Picker." Each one is a gem in itself-witty, piquant, keenly critical, yet genial and good-humored. clever little drawings of figures taken from The little book is illustrated with some very 64 Parisian low life. Uniform with Little Classics" and the " Saunterer's Series." 16mo, cloth, red edges, $1.25. CHILDHOOD: The Text-Book of the Age, by Rev. W. F. Crafts. (Lee & Shepard.) A charming book for parents, teachers, and lovers of childhood. It is particularly devoted to childhood, and contains both theoretical matter relative to the moral and intellectual development of children, and considerable data of an amusing kind, such as a "Childhood's Dictionary," containing 96 striking definitions from the lips of little children; "A Cabinet of Specimens (children's characteristic sayings and doings), and six hundred incidents of child-life. There is also a chapter on the Kindergarten, by Mrs. W. F. Crafts. 12mo, cloth, $1.50. FRONDES AGRESTES: Readings in "Modern Painters," by Ruskin. (John Wiley & Son.) These are selections from one of Ruskin's ear. liest works, given in this form, that the book may be accessible to general readers, and also of use and interest to them; the complete work having much in it of only special interest. 12mo, cloth, $1. DEAR SIR: We regret to inform you that circumstances have rendered it necessary for us to ask the advice and assistance of our creditors. These are not to be confounded with those of The Christian Union Publishing Company, which is a separate organization, and perfectly good for all it owes. We therefore invite you to attend a meeting of our creditors, at room No. 7 in this building (No. 27 Park Place), on Thursday morning, July 29, at 11 o'clock. Very respectfully, J. B. FORD & Co. The publication in an evening paper of statements concerning the affairs of J. B. Ford & Co., together with a private notice to their creditors, being, as guess statements usually are, partly true and partly false, Messrs. Ford & Co. prefer to give the facts, rather than to leave the matter to conjecture. The depression of their book business, in common with that of the trade at large, has continued from the panic of 1873 to the present time. And this has been accompanied by various special aggravations, among which was a fire in their bindery last February, which destroyed the result of many months' work, and paralyzed their spring sales. It has finally resulted in the present condition of affairs. The assets of the concern, at bare cost, exceed their liabilities by more than $80,000; but, as it is impossible, in the present state of the market, to realize on these fast enough to meet obligations as they mature, the firm decided upon a temporary suspension of payment, in order to protect all their creditors, while taking advice of them as to the best course to pursue. It is to be regretted that, in the present condition of this affair, any one of the creditors should have made public the invitation to a private and informal consultation. Its As to The Christian Union, of which the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is editor, it has always been, and still is, the property of The Christian Union Publishing Company. It is sustained by ample capital and a large patronage. condition is sound, and its prospects bright. The statement that it has lost ground since the trial is not true. Messrs. Ford & Co.'s connection with it is simply that, besides being stockholders in the company, they have been employed as publishers of the paper. The culmination of their own difficulties made it expedient that they should resign that charge, which they have done, and after the 15th of August the business of the paper will be transacted by their succes sors. This change will enable Ford & Co. to devote their entire time and energies to their book trade, which is a large and valuable one, especially in the publication and sale of works by subscription. If they can make with their creditors such reasonable arrangement as their circumstances require, they have no fear but that they will recover the ground temporarily lost. J. B. FORD & Co. At the meeting referred to, a statement of the affairs was presented, showing an excess of assets (including works in course of preparation) over liabilities of $88,495,77, and a committee was appointed, on behalf of the creditors, to examine the books of the house, and to draw up a paper of composition, to be presented the creditors for signature. The liabilities show a total of $236,455,69, and the assets, reckoning books preparing for publication at cost, of $324,951,46, according to this statement; and the firm claim that, if they are allowed a moderate extension, all the creditors will be satisfied, and this important business be successfully continued. It is sincerely to be hoped that this may be the case, for the crippling of so enterprising a firm would be a general misfortune. STATIONERY NOTES. MESSRS. B. & P. LAWRENCE, of No. 49 Maiden lane, New-York, will sell at auction on Tuesday, August 3d, at the Clinton Hall Sale Rooms, by Messrs. Leavitt, one hundred thousand dollars' worth of stationery; the sale to The entire inbegin at nine o'clock A.M. voice was imported by Messrs. Lawrence for their own trade, and consists entirely of the finest grades of goods. For the terms of the sale we refer to the advertisement on another page. MR. ALBERT B. YOHN, of Yohn & Porter, Indianapolis, has shown us his admirable tradelist, compiled from the catalogues of all the manufacturers and dealers in the United States. This list has been the work of several years, and it has been made thoroughly complete in all particulars. As a work of reference, it is unequaled, and reflects infinite credit upon the untiring energy and industry of the compiler. If stationers in general would compile such lists for themselves, they would have a better command of their trade, and much letter-writing would be saved. The catalogues are cut and arıanged in a large-size ledger and several scrap-books (for specialties), and any article wanted may be referred to without loss of time. All the manufacturers of the same article are together, so that any difference in quality, style, or prices may be readily noted. The compilation is unique, and of great value to its pos sessor. A NEW toy has been put upon the market by the Orange Judd Co., known as Crandall's Managerie. This new toy is after the style of the famous acrobats, and consists of six animals, which are susceptible of numerous transformations. The price is $2 per box. MESSRS. MERRILL, HUBBARD & Co., of Indianapolis, have just issued a new slate cover. The cover is like the back and sides of a book, between which the slate is placed and secured with a few small staples. The cover protects the slate thoroughly, and presents a neat appear ance. THE Compositors and bookbinders employed in D. Appleton & Co.'s establishment, in the Eastern District of Brooklyn, went on their annual excursion last Saturday to Oriental Grove. The employees of the press-room had their annual picnic at Dudley's Grove. THE annual picnic of the employees of Messrs. Anderson & Cameron took place on the 28th of June, at Silver Lake, Staten Island. The occasion was greatly enjoyed by all pre sent. Stationery at the Book Fair. AMONG the stationers who were not mentioned in our last article, on account of their late appearance, were Lewis Pattberg & Bros., who exhibited a fine line of fancy picture-frames, firemetal work, etc. etc.; Koch, Sons & Co., blankbooks, portfolios, albums, etc.; Morris Rubens & Co., pocket-books; Kaufmann & Jonas, pictures, ornaments, and fancy papers; F. H. Dunkinson & Co., foreign writing papers and fine envelopes, also Royal Irish Linen papers; Charles S. Plummer, from Newark, New-Jersey, formerly with the Cornwell Manufacturing |