BOOK PRODUCTION IN 1905 IN THE UNITED STATES 1 THERE were recorded by THE PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY in 1905, through the "Weekly Record of New Publications," 8112 books. The new editions of standard works are included in this total, but few of the cheap paper series, mostly re-issues of old books. The omission of cheap series makes the count seem less than in 1904, but actually there were more books published than in any previous year, our table showing that we recorded 7514 new books against 6971 of 1904, and 598 new editions. The two tables that follow, each dividing the year's output into twenty classes, are strikingly alike, the figures in many cases differing so slightly as scarcely worthy of mention. Table no. 1, contrasting the books of 1904 and 1905, gives Fiction the lead again. Literature and Collected Works is second in the list, taking a step above Theology and Re- ! ligion. Poetry and the Drama, Law and Juvenile, are all fuller than in previous years. Little change is to be noted in the remaining classes. Out of the whole total of 8112 books recorded, 3193 were received at this office; the balance represents titles gathered from copyright entries, from information sent us by publishers, and in various other ways. Table No. 2 attempts to show the number, of books manufactured in the United States in 1905-first, those by American authors; books in English imported bound or in sheets, these three classes comprising the book production of the United States in 1905. The first and second classes are almost all copyright books. This table, like the former, scarcely claims to be exactly correct, as it is impossible always to trace the history of a work, from its author to its final publication. The table shows 5719 books by American authors against 5978 of 1904; 1426 books by English or other foreign authors (made here) against 1288 of 1904, and 967 books or sheets imported, against 1025 of 1904. The reprints were, as usual, the largest in Fiction, amounting to 314, far less, however, than in several years previous, when almost double that number of English or other foreign novels were reprinted. The most evident fact demonstrated by this table is the great number of books by American authors published in 1905 in all classes of literature. X BOOK PRODUCTION IN 1905. REPORT OF THE REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS FOR 1905. THE Copyright business for the calendar year 1905, according to Thorvald Solberg, the Register of Copyrights, exceeded that of the year 1904, the entire entries amounting to 116,780, as against 106,577 for 1904, and the net amount of the fees reaching $78,518, as against $75,520 in the preceding year. The business for the year as tabulated by the office of the Register of Copyrights is as follows: $78,518.00 $78,518.00 Class A. Books: (a) Books (volumes) and pamphlets... (b) Booklets, leaflets, cir- 15.393 3.872 10,204 Two copies of each article...... 210,096 I. Photographs of works of art, one copy each... 3.402 213,498 Total number of articles.. These figures, when compared with those for the last calendar year, 1904, show increases in every branch of the copyright business. The fees have increased from $75,520 to $78,518, or $2998; the number of entries from 106,577 to 116,789, or 10,212; the number of articles deposited from 192,528 to 213,498, or 20,970. The current work of the Copyright Office is now kept as nearly up to date as is possible in an office where the daily business is so fluctuating. At this date, 4.30 P.M., January 4, 1906, all applications received during the calendar year 1905 have been acted upon, and all registrations made except 273 noncertificate entries, and all certificates and notification cards made and mailed. The entries have been indexed and catalogued for December 30, all classes, the index cards | made during the year numbering 186,413. The deposited articles have been catalogued, stamped, and credited as follows: Class A, books proper to and including December 30; 29.469 books II and III. to December 26; Class B, 21,925 periodicals, to December 30; Classes C, D, 25,567 E, F, G and H to December 26; and Class I, 1,802 original works of art, to December 30. 1,977 Total Class A.. B. Periodicals (numbers).. C. Musical compositions.. D. Dramatic compositions. F. Maps and charts. F. Engravings, cuts, and prints. G. Chromos and lithographs.. H. Photographs.... 13.154 A. APPLICATIONS ACTED UPON AND TITLES FILED AND Class A. Books, to No. 134,843, December 30, 1905. C. Musical compositions, to No. 111,316, December 30, 1905. D. Dramatic compositions, to No. 7,793, December 30, 1905. E. Maps and charts, to No. 8,761, December 30, 1905. F. Engravings, cuts, and prints, to No. 38.367 G. Chromos and lithographs, to No. 12,051, H. Photographs, to No. 71,433, December 30, 1905. I. Original works of art, to No. 16,606, December 30, 1905.. All of the above titles are recorded to December 30, 1905, inclusive, except 273 noncertificate entries of Class C, which are recorded to December 29, 1905, inclusive. Certificates for all entries to December 30, 1905, have been written and mailed. Assignments: 763 received, January 1, 1905, to December 30, 1905, and all recorded. |