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United States. N.Y., Appleton, 1888. c. 16+ Scott, Sir Walter. Tales of chivalry in the 523 p. O. cl., $3.

The intention of this volume is to give the American peop.e a concise narrative of the natural resources of their own country, in all their numerous forms. The work is unusually complete and thorough, having been compiled from information placed at the disposition of the author by the governors of the various states and from material derived from other authentic sources. There are chapters on coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ores, gold, silver, copper, quicksilver, lead, zinc, tin, precious stones, clays, building-stones, salt, timber, grasses, fruits, game,

etc.

Patton, Jacob Harris. The triumph of the Presbytery of Hanover; or, separation of church and state in Virginia; with a concise history of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. from 1705 to 1888. N. Y., A. D. F. Randolph & Co., [1888.] c. '87. 8+137 p. S. cl., 75 c.

Two articles whose subjects are fully indicated by the title. The first relates to an episode in the early history of the Presbyterian Church in Virginia, covering the years 1773-1785.

Pepys, S: Diary; from June to October, 1667. N. Y., Cassell & Co., [1888.] 192 p. T. (Cassell's nat. lib., v. 2, no. 103.) pap., 10 c.

*Phoebus, Mrs. Virginia C. Lost on an island. N. Y., Phillips & Hunt, 1888. 216 p. D. cl., 80 c.

*Phoebus, Mrs. Virginia C. Young folks' nature studies. N. Y., Phillips & Hunt, 1888. 258 p. D. cl., $1.

N. Y.,

*Rand, Rev. E: A. Sailor-boy Bob. Phillips & Hunt, 1888. 367 p. D. cl., $1.25. Riggs, Stephen R., D.D. Mary and I; forty years with the Sioux; with an introduction by Rev. S. C. Bartlett, D.D. [New issue.] Bost., Congregational S. S. and Pub. Soc., [1888.] c. '80, '87. 437 p. D. cl., $1.50.

First published in 1880, with the imprint of W. G. Holmes, Chicago. A new issue from new plates. Tells through letters written to friends the missionary efforts of Dr. Riggs and his wife among fhe Sioux of the Northwest. Through the labors of Dr. Riggs the gospel was given to the Dakotas in their own language. He and his devoted wife passed through what is known as the "Minnesota Massacre."

Roberts, Marg. A little step-daughter. [Anon.] N.Y., T: Whittaker, [1888.] 4+265 p. il. D. cl., $1.05.

The story of a little French girl written for young people. Her mother dies at her birth and she is brought up by a foster-mother, who is an ignorant peasant woman. Clémence's father is of noble birth and is wealthy, but he is so disappointed that she is not a boy that he is cruelly indifferent to her. He marries again when Clémence is about ten, and the new mother makes quite a change in the life of the chateau. In going to a convent, where she is to be placed at school, Clémence is stolen by gypsies and has some other thrilling adventures. By the author of "Mademoiselle Mori."

Schauffler, W: G. Autobiography of W: G. Schauffler, for forty-nine years a missionary in the Orient; ed. by his sons; with an introduction by E. A. Park, D.D. N. Y., A. D. F. Randolph & Co., [1888.] 34+258 p. por. D. cl., $1.25.

This autobiography was written by its author solely for the benefit of his children, and with no idea that it would ever be put into print. It rather gains in interest for the general reader through this fact-from its frankness and simplicity. Dr. Schauffler died in 1883. He

was for the greater part of his life a worker among the Turks in the service of the American Board, and the American and the British and Foreign Bible Societies. Schellhous, E. J., M.D. The new republic founded on the natural and inalienable rights of man. N. Y., J: W. Lovell Co., [1888.] c. '83. 354 p. D. (Lovell's lib., no. 1094.) pap., 30 c.

olden time, selected from the works of Sir Walter Scott; ed. with notes by W: J. Rolfe. N. Y., Harper, 1887. C.

5+153 p. il. S. (English classics for school reading.) cl., 36 c. The initial volume of a new series designed to embrace selections from standard prose and poetry, suited either for supplementary reading or for elementary study in English literature. The volumes are to be edited with brief notes in the style of Mr. Rolfe's other series. This little book contains condensed extracts from Scott's novels, with sketches of his life by Rolfe.

Smart, Hawley. Saddle and sabre. N. Y., M. J. Ivers & Co., [1888.] 352 p. D. (Amer. ser., no. 61.) pap., 25 c.

Smart, Hawley. Saddle and sabre. N. Y., J: W. Lovell Co., [1888.] 352 p. D. (Lovell's lib., no. 1103.) pap., 20 c.

Smiles, S: Life and labor; or, characteristics of men of industry, culture, and genius. N. Y., Harper, 1888. 2-448 p. D. cl., $1.

Written on the lines of "Self-help" and "Character," and contains many fresh instances of what can be accomplished by honest force of will and steady perseverance. The early chapters of this work were prepared many years ago, the later ones were added, and the whole work has been carefully revised, and in great part rewritten, since the beginning of the present year.

Smith, Rev. W: Wye. The print of his shoe ; or, following Christ. Bost., Congregational S. S. and Pub. Soc., [1888.] 6+160 p. S. cl., 75 c.

A series of short papers on Bible themes; they are direct and practicable, and although most of them were written for young readers, older persons will be interested in them.

Stevenson, Rob. L: The misadventures of John Nicholson. N. Y., M. J. Ivers & Co., [1888.] 92 p. D. (Amer. ser., no. 60.) pap.,

25 c.

Trollope, T: Adolphus. N. Y., Harper, 1888. $1.75.

What I remember. 4+546 p. por. D. cl.,

A record of English literary life, extending some fifty years back of 1865. Mr. Trollope, who is the author of "Lindisfarn chase," "A siren," and other novels, and who must not be confounded with his brother Anthony, is full of interesting anecdotes and reminiscences in this volume culled from his long acquaintance with distinguished men and women. Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Garibaldi, Landor, Lewes and George Eliot, Mary Mitford, and T. C. Grattan, are among the names found in his autobiography. He gives a number of new letters, some of especial interest, from Mr. Lewes and George Eliot.

Vinton, Alex. H., D.D. Four lectures delivered in the church of the Holy Trinity, Phil., 1877, on the foundation of the late John Bohlen. 2d ed. N. Y., T: Whittaker, 1887. 3-130 p. D. (Bohlen lectures, inaugural series.) cl., 75 c. (corr. price.)

C.

Wood, Rev. J. G. Third natural history reader Bost., Boston School Supply Co., 1887. 3-213 p. il. S. (Boston school ser.) cl., net, 42 c. This series of readers is carefully graduated, both as to matter and language; the lists of words for spelling are selected with due regard to actual experience of chilspecial interest to children. None of the lower animals dren's difficulties. The reading-matter will be found of

are introduced, but those that are more or less familiar to children.

Wood, Rev. J. G. Fourth natural history reader. Bost., Boston School Supply Co., 1887. c. 3-296 p. il. S. (Boston school ser.) cl., net, 54 c. See notice under Wood, Third natural history reader. *Young, Jesse Bowman, comp. Days and nights on the sea a souvenir for an ocean voyage. N. Y., Phillips & Hunt, 1888. 43 p. D. cl., 40 c.; pap., 25 c.

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Hector, Mona's choice (L. H. S. 211.) 25 c.;

Cameron, Lyrics.....

Keil, Manual of Biblical archæology, v. I.

Cross and Bevan, Text-book of paper

TICKNOR & Co., Bost. 1.00 McCarty, Ireland's cause...........

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20

30

20

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200

Fleming, Wild Margaret (805.),.

20

Gilman, General utility (807.)...

20

O'Brien, O'Hara's mission (806.).. . .

20

..35 c.; THOMAS WHITTAKER, N. Y. Roberts, A little step-daughter.. Vinton, Four lectures, (corr. price.)..

LIST OF ENGLISH BOOKS. Published from Dec. 15 to 31, 1887. Selected from the [London]" Publishers' Circular." Ashton, J. The Fleet: its river, prison, and marriages. Illustrated by pictures from original drawings and engravings. 8°. 402 P., 21S..... ..Unwin. Bhagavad Gita; or, the Lord's lay. With commentary and notes as well as references to the Christian scriptures. Translated from the Sanskrit, for the benefit of those in search of spiritual light, by Mohini M. Chatterji. 8°. 290 p., 10s. 6d.. Trubner.

Bingham, Hon. D. The Bastile. Illustrated. 2 v. 8°. 1004 P., 32S... .Chapman. A history of the Bastile, compiled from papers not previously published.

Burton, Richard F. His early private and public life.
With an account of his travels and explorations by
Francis Hitchman.
..Low.
2 v. 8°. 870 p., 36s....
Carlyle, T. Sartor resartus. Post 8°. 220 P., IS.

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Howard, A. Copyright: a manual for authors and publishers. 12°. 64 p., sewed, Is.. ....Griffith. Layard, Sir H. Early adventures in Persia, Susiana, and Babylonia, including a residence among the Bakhtiyari and other wild tribes before the discovery of Nineveh. With maps and illustrations. 2 v. post 8°. 990 P., 24S... Murray. Oliphant, Mrs. The makers of Venice: doges, conquerors, painters, and men of letters. With illustrations by R. R. Holmes. 8°. 388 p., 21S.... Macmillan. Tien, A. Neo-Hellenic manual: comprising practical rules for learning the language, vocabulary, dialogue, letters, idioms, etc., in English and Neo-Hellenic. 12°. 250 P., 5S. W. H. Allen.

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Che Publishers' Weekly.

FOUNDED BY F. LEYPOLDT.

JANUARY 21, 1888.

to the

The trade are invited to send "Communications" editor on any topic of interest to the trade, and as to which an interchange of opinion is desirable. Also, matter for "Notes and Queries" thankfully received.

In case of business changes, notification or card should be immediately sent to this office for entry under “Business Notes." New catalogues issued will also be mentioned when forwarded.

Publishers are requested to furnish title-page proofs and advance information of books forthcoming, both for

There is a certain class of men who hold that, thought being free and words the property of all people, there should be no such thing as copyright, domestic or foreign. These men are at least consistent; they are the Anarchists of the literary world. But the slightest examination of their position exposes its fallacy. Copyright, unlike patents, is not a bar to the use of existing thought in new combinations by any new author. The prejudice against patent law, therefore, so far as it extends, should not affect copyright law. Further, "the style is the man," and no author will write another author's book. No case is known in copyright law, though there are many

entry in the lists and for descriptive mention. An early in patent law, of two men presenting the same crea

copy of each book published should be forwarded, to insure correctness in the final entry.

The editor does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed in contributed articles or communications.

All matter, whether for the reading-matter columns or our advertising pages, should reach this office not later than Wednesday noon, to insure insertion in the same

week's issue.

"

Every man is a debtor to his profession, from the which, as men do of course seek to receive countenance and profit, so ought they of auty to endeavor themselves by way of amends to be a help thereunto."-LORD BACON.

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT:
AND CONS.

tion at the same or even at different times. There
is no property more individual in its origin than
that which a man writes "out of his own head."
Sometimes it has cost him a lifetime of study and
experience, and if anywhere the laborer is worthy
of his hire, it is certainly in the case of an author
who blesses the world with a new book which the

world wants. If the world does not want it, the
copyright is of
"" no account," the author does.
not earn any pay, and no one is harmed.

There is a kindred objection that an author has entire right to property which he has created so PROS long as he keeps that property to himself. On this theory an author has a right to a book till. it becomes a book, and no longer; the moment he begins to sell it and to get money for it and to earn his own living by it, that moment he loses all rights. This is a denial of the very basis of authorship except as a charity craft. It is like saying that a man can own his umbrella till it rains, but then he must give it up to whoever wants it.

WHILE other civilized nations have been progressing year by year in that recognition of the rights of all men to their property which should include above all others the right of a man to property which he creates by the work of his own hands or brain, the United States has been the one country to stand aloof, to lag in the van of progress instead of marching in its true place at the head. The movement for international copyright has resulted finally in the organization of the International Copyright Union, in which England, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and other nations have agreed to give each in its own country the protection to foreign authors which it gives to native authors. Previous to this event most of the European nations had individual treaties with each other by which practically the same result was obtained. But now, following the march of events in the very line of progress of our own individual States when the American Union was formed, these several great nations, which before had been members of the International Postal Union, have joined themselves into this International Copyright Union. It is a splendid step in that great march of humanity toward the time when wars shall give place to peace and the brotherhood of nations shall be recognized of all men. Alas, that our own country has so far refused to blot out what is no less than a national disgrace!

**
*

But it is further said that while it is well enough to grant the privileges of copyright to home authors, there is no call to extend it to citizens of other nations. This is a relic of the time when the men of each nation were considered enemies of the men of each other nation, were ready in savage days to eat each other up. There has been no more striking proof of the advance of civilization than the willingness of each civilized nation to do jus-tice to citizens of other nations; indeed it is that in which civilization itself largely consists. But, aside from this, the remuneration of the average author is not so great in one country as to give him anything like the pay the same amount of work will give other workers, and he needs, in fact, the market of the whole world, so far as it will buy his book, to pay him fairly.

**
*

But there is another and nationally selfish side to international copyright. We have heard a great deal about competition with American workmen from the " pauper labor" of Europe,. yet the infant industry" of American author-

ship has been subjected to competition, not with low wages, but with stolen goods. The American author has reason to make the complaint of the man who did not understand why he could be undersold in selling brooms until he found that the rival "manufacturer " stole his brooms readymade. The American writer of fiction, for instance, who ought to gain at least two or three thousand dollars for a novel which cost him a full year's work, finds himself cheated out of his own home market by the fact that numbers of novels by English writers are sold here without any payment whatever to the author, so that only an American author who has made his way to fame, chiefly through magazine stories, has much chance of getting any decent returns for his first books. American publishers have come to recognize this so practically that many of them decline to read manuscripts of American novels. This is where the absence of international copyright is a direct blow at American authorship and the rights of American citizens.

Nor do the American publishers gain. It is notorious that almost no profit is made on the cheap reprints. It is generally understood that such cheap series as the Franklin Square Library have not been in themselves remunerative; several publishers who have made this "cheap literature their chief business have failed more than once; and the proprietors of the Seaside Library and of the several parallel or cheap 12mo series who seem to have been successful in this line are the proprietors also of successful story-papers, whose profits are so considerable as to make losses on the cheap reprints of no account. The publishers of nearly all the "cheap series" now join, in fact, in the movement for a copyright law which shall place their publications on a sounder business basis. The one publisher who has perhaps made some profit in this line went in at the floodtide, absorbed several other enterprises of the sort which failed and dropped into his hands, and has had the cream of all the English literature of the past and present to give him opportunity. The standard works of the past have now all been reprinted in this way, and the present consequence of the cheap reprints system, since these books to take advantage of the low postal rates must be issued at regular weekly or other intervals, has been to flood American readers with a deluge of current English trash. This stuff, poorly printed, not worth reprinting and not worth reading, has been for the past year the chief reliance of the reprinter. To the great body of the American publishing trade, international copyright would be a great boon.

At the beginning of the international copyright movement some opposition was experienced from typographical unions and others interested in the manufacturing trades which help to make the

printed book. But they have begun to see the unwisdom of their position. To the type-setter the cheap reprints, reset from printed matter in great part by girls, has been the work which paid the least, and if it could be succeeded by a new development of real American literature, so that Americans would read American and not English books, it should be the American printer who would benefit most. So also with other trades, like the paper-maker, the pressman, and the binder; the reprint stuff is the poorest class of work in the mechanical as well as the literary sense, and after any intelligent discussion in a trades union, there ought to be but one result as to the desirability of international copyright to wage-workers.

But the American reading public-how about their cheap books? In the first place, as has been indicated above, "the past is secure ; " they can have for nothing, or next to nothing, works of all the great authors who have heretofore lived, and what they would lose now in the cheap reprints would chiefly be the trashy current stuff of the day. Mr. Brander Matthews in an article in the Century, reprinted elsewhere, points out that the great body of works reprinted are in the department of fiction, and yet it is undeniably true. that every department of American authorship would take a leap forward in development, if this unpaid-for competition should be put on a normal basis. Mr. Lowell has nobly said that there is one thing better than a cheap book, and that is a book honestly come by, and we believe that if the question could be put directly to the constituency of any member of Congress, there would be a large vote in favor of an honest book.

But it is a cardinal mistake to suppose that books generally would be rendered dear by the application of international copyright. The result would be that the 10 cent or 25 cent reprints of current English novels would be no longer found in the market; they would be advanced to a reasonable figure, such as would allow a fair payment to the English author. But the American books would be rather cheapened, for the American author would sell many more copies of each edition of his books, the first large cost of making the book would be distributed so much more widely, each book in the edition could be printed at a much lower cost and published at a much lower price, while the total returns of the author would be much greater. "Large sales at small profits" has been the motto of success in American trade, and both the American reader on the one side and the American author and publisher on the other would profit by the application of this rule.

* *

*

The subject of international copyright has been

stamps required, in their hundreds of kinds. This system does away altogether with the ordinary basis of property, which permits the purchaser to deal with the agent of his choice, and in every way it opposes itself to the desires of authors, the practice of publishers, and the ordinary methods of law. It is stoutly opposed by both the "authors' " and the publishers' Leagues, and in view of this fact, it is understood that its projector has expressed his willingness to stand aside, and his measure will not be pressed.

*

agitated in America ever since 1837, when Henry Clay made the first report to Congress in favor of an international copyright system, yet in all these years the question has never come to a direct vote in Congress. This has been partly due to the difference of opinion as to what bill ought to be passed among those who have chiefly urged the reform. Authors naturally and rightly desire to see a bill which should recognize simply and solely the author's own right to his creation throughout the civilized world—a law which will protect the owner of a book as it would protect the owner of anything else. On the other hand, the manufacturing interests have pressed for a bill which should confine international copyright to books made in this country, and there has been also discussion and dissension as to the minor points of the law. Happily the era of disagreement is passed; authors, publishers, and all in-clause absolutely prohibiting the importation of terested have come together in behalf of a measure which, however incomplete in the eyes of the authors, will at least redeem this country from the disgrace of its present isolation and give American authors some chance. Such a bill Congress is now asked to pass.

An agreement has been reached, however, between the committees of the two Leagues, which will be presented to the constituencies, and will doubtless be accepted by the great body of all the interests involved. The original Chace bill was chiefly objectionable for including a

any foreign editions of copyright books—a provision unsatisfactory to authors and scholars, which the authors' League could not accept, and which the reading public, as represented by the general press, would undoubtedly oppose. The modification, which is understood to be acceptable to Senator Chace personally, provides that copyright shall be granted on foreign books provided copies of the best edition printed in this country shall be deposited at Washington simul

Under these circumstances it is sincerely hoped that Congress will at last heed the cry of authors, publishers, bookmakers, and readers, and do what it can, not so much to promote American literature as to prevent its decadence. Every post-taneously with publication abroad. This concesponement of the question now, puts things in a worse and worse condition as regards our own interests and in the eyes of other nations. "Let justice be done" and let a national disgrace be blotted out forever.

**
*

The royalty-stamp plan advocated by Mr. R. Pearsall-Smith, which has been exploited by "symposiums" in the Nineteenth Century and in the North American Review, is one which in the eyes of both authors and publishers has most of the disadvantages of the present system and none of the advantages of international copyright. A few authors in this country and England have given their adhesion to this plan, thinking that it might have more chance of success than a sounder measure; but the great body of authors, publishers, and intelligent readers see in this system but a means of postponing a true system of international copyright founded on business principles. The plan involves the pasting on each book of a stamp which the English author is bound to sell to any American publisher, based on such price for the book as the American publisher may make. Under it the Government fixes the royalty to be paid the author (namely, 10% on such price as the publisher may choose to make), a piece of sumptuary legislation never undertaken by any government; and to provide through the Librarian of Congress the

sion of a manufacturing clause to the manufacturing interests and to the protectionist element, though a considerable one on the part of the authors, does not militate against a fair recognition of the right of the author, and importation remains on the same ground on which it rests in domestic copyright in our own and other countries, the consent of the copyright-holder. There is no commercial danger from this, while the scholar or public institution can doubtless get permission to import a foreign edition for special reasons. Simultaneous publication accomplishes two purposes: it gives the American reader his American edition promptly, or, contrariwise, opens a book at once to American competition. Certain English publishers may oppose this feature-but we are scarcely legislating for them, while the English authors will recognize in this provision that which exists in their own domestic law. The first book of a new author will be chiefly at disadvantage, but this difficulty can scarcely be avoided.

*

This COPYRight NumbeR of the PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY aims to present a compendium of the status of the international copyright movement which will enable those interested in the movement to post themselves thoroughly in regard to it. Our existing domestic law and the agreement of the International Copyright Union give the

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