The Atlantic for February will come out promptly, and will contain, in addition to its proper amount of reading, a supplement giving a detailed and authentic account of the Holmes Breakfast, with all its felicitous speeches and poems. This cannot fail to make that number of the Atlantic eagerly sought for, as a kind of official record of an occasion so unusually interesting. The book business of Boston during the season now ending has been much better than for years before. It has not reached the measure of ten years ago, that halcyon time for publishers, authors, and readers; but it has been on the whole very satisfactory Some books, "An Earnest Trifler," "The Bodleys Afoot," Chatterbox," "Zigzag Journeys," and a few others, have sold with most exhilarating buoyancy; and, indeed, all books, except those dead as Marley, have felt the impulse of reviving business. THE SAN FRANCISCO CIRCULAR. THE following extraordinory circular, the second part of which seems to be a satiric commentary on the first, has been issued from San Francisco to the Eastern trade: SAN FRANCISCO, December 8, 1879. At a meeting of the Stationers, Drug, Notion, and Music Dealers' Board of Trade, held November 21st, 1879, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we, the members of this association, are determined that from this date we will not purchase, or permit to be shown to us, any class of goods from any traveller or resident agent of a manufacturer, publisher, or jobber. Resolved, That in our purchases (which we will make through our representatives or by order) we will make it a rule to accord the preference to houses who do not send travellers to this coast, or employ resident agents. Just now there is little or nothing new to reResolved, That the secretary be instructed to port or anticipate in a few weeks the current have the foregoing preamble and resolutions will begin to flow again. Meanwhile there are printed, and to forward a copy to each of the good books in plenty for readers, and the pub-manufacturers, publishers, and jobbers known lishers are quite ready to supply them. to our trade. Signed, THE BOSTON FIRE. FRITZ. ON Sunday night, Dec. 28th, at about 11 o'clock, a fire broke out in the rear of the paper warehouse of Rice, Kendall & Co., on Federal Street, whence it extended to Devonshire Street, until it had taken in the buildings occupied by Houghton, Osgood & Co., the work-rooms of the Heliotype Printing Co., the paper warehouse of S. D. Warren & Co., and a portion of Rand, Avery & Co.'s printing establishment. The buildings destroyed were in the very centre of the busiest portion of Boston, and were each costly six-story structures, all built since the great fire of November, 1872. The other build. ings destroyed or seriously damaged were those occupied by T. Y. Crowell, Claflin & Brown, paper dealers, and the North National Bank. The fire was completely under control by three o'clock. The loss will not be so heavy as was at first estimated. Rand & Avery did not suffer much from fire, although their stock was damaged considerably by water. The following firms have suffered a total loss: Rice, Kendall & Co., Houghton, Osgood & Co., and the Union Express Company. Many of the smaller firms on the same block on Federal and Devonshire Streets sustained heavy damages. The insurance is supposed to cover very nearly all the losses. NOTICE: TO THE TRADE. MESSRS. HOUGHTON, OSGOOD & Co. take pleasure in notifying the trade that, although by the fire of December 28th their bound stock at 220 Devonshire Street, Boston, was wholly destroyed, their printed sheets and plates being at the Riverside Press, they can immediately begin to replace their stock. They will be able to supply such of their books as are in most popular demand within three or four days, and all within a comparatively short time. They are ready to receive orders now. HOUGHTON, OSGood & Co., 47 Franklin Street, Boston. DECEMBER 29, 1879. ISAAC UPHAM, President. J. C. HEBBARD, Secretary. In connection with the above resolutions, the wholesale booksellers and stationers desire further to say: First. That this market belongs to us, and we request that Eastern publishers and manufacturers keep their travellers away. Before the days of railroads, when it took twenty-five days to reach New York, and thirty-five days to reach European markets, we enjoyed a comparative monopoly ; but now, no sooner do we think to have a" corner," than in steps some meddlesome traveller, and likely as not telegraphs to you for goods, and our little "bonanza" is spoiled. If a new concern starts, and we smooth our hands in glee, thinking to unload at a good handsome profit, again your traveller steps in and "gives us all away" by placing the party in direct communication with the manufacturers, and, we now repeat, this thing must be stop ped. While we are at it, we also desire again to call your attention to a circular from one of our leading book houses of this coast. demanding of the publishers twelve months' time and 50 per cent discount. We think it ought to be conceded in order to help them keep up their magnificent book establishment. As to the second circular issued by this same house, warning Eastern publishers and manufacturers that it would not be safe to give credit to any other house but themselves, they have privatear was ill advised, and desire to "take it ly informed us that they now think that circu back." In conclusion, we trust we shall see no more of your travellers or resident agents. If we do, you may rely on it we will not keep your goods. You ought to be satisfied to stay at home, and be content with such orders as we bring or send to you, and let us do the travelling. We would advise you also to issue a similar circular to the trade in London and Berlin, and keep out those foreign interlopers; give them all the "cold shoulder," as we will do to trav LITERARY AND TRADE NOTES. BICKNELL & COMSTOCK have issued a very miliar letters. MR. J. W. BOUTON has been making so note- ALLEN & WILMARTH, the new subscription PORTER & COATES report their holiday trade THE application of Messrs. Chas. Scribner's the main issue. TAINE is putting the finishing touches to the MESSRS. C. KEGAN PAUL & Co. will publish THE Lisbon correspondent of the Athenæum MESSRS. GRIFFITH & FARRAN, London (E. A CURIOUS case is reported abroad of a "I HAVE long ago discovered," says an Eng-haps a small reduction, or some special seller at Manchester or Edinburgh, who will push off No. 15,461-K. LIBRARY OF Congress, O wit: Be it remembered. That on the 17th day of (Signed). Librarian of Congress. LIBRARY To wit: Be it remembered. That on the 17th day of No- vember, Anno Domini 1879, Susan Abbott Mead, WANTED. BOOKSELLERS to act as General Agents in their Town, County, or State for our ALLEN & WILLMARTH, No. 4 Bond Street, New York. The American Almanac AND Treasury of Facts for 1880. Edited by A. R. SFOFFORD, Librarian of Congress. II. Library Edition, with 100 additional pages. THE TRADE SUPPLIED BY THE AMERICAN NEWS CO., New York City. ellers out here, and then we will have a "soft thing" all around. Very respectfully yours, THE WHOLESALE BOOKSELLERS AND Not of the Pacific Coast, but of San Fran cisco. LITERARY AND TRADE NOTES. MACMILLAN & Co. will publish early in the spring a volume entitled "The Liberty of the Press, of Speech, and of Public Worship; being Commentaries on the Liberty of the Subject and the Laws of England," by Mr. James Paterson. The volume will include, among other subjects, discussions on rights of the press, libel, copyright, patent right, trade-marks, etc. BICKNELL & COMSTOCK have issued a very admirable little book in "Common Sense in Church Building," by E. C. Gardner, giving many fresh, common-sense views of this subject, so that any layman will appreciate and enjoy what he has to say. Mr. Gardner has before shown his capability to interest general readers in what are supposed to be technical subjects, and in this book he pursues his old plan, of conveying what he has to say in fa miliar letters. MR. J. W. BOUTON has been making so noteworthy a success with the several European periodicals for which he acts as American publisher, L'Art, The Portfolio, The Etcher, etc., which have prospered excellently in his hands, that he proposes to enter a somewhat new field as the American agent for Mr. Edward Walford's new monthly, The Antiquary, which, with the leading antiquarians as promised contributors, will cover the widest range of any journal of its class yet attempted. ALLEN & WILMARTH, the new subscription publishing house, which will have the benefit of Mr. Allen's long experience in the trade, elsewhere offer to booksellers the opportunity of acting as agents for their books. They become the publishers of the "History and Chronology of the Two American Continents," which combines in one volume several of the most valuable early histories; and they will also have ready presently a new and enlarged edition of the World's Encyclopædia of Wonders." They also have in preparation a popular $4 medical reference book, and a hand-book for mothers. PORTER & COATES report their holiday trade of the past season to have been one of the heaviest they have ever had, and the sales of some of their own books have been very large. "The Children's Book of Poetry," and The Fireside Encyclopædia of Poetry," by Henry T. Coates, have both had unusually large sales, 10,000 copies of the latter having been printed, and although "The Children's Book of Poetry" has been published but a few months, the eighth thousand is now on the press. The new book by Harry Castlemon, "George in Camp," has been equally popular with the author's previous books, and "Holiday Times" has been in equal demand for the young folks. Porter & Coates have in press "Health and Health Resorts," by Dr. John W. Wilson, and "Elementary Physiology," by Prof. Dunglison. THE application of Messrs. Chas. Scribner's Sons and A. & C. Black for a preliminary Injunction restraining J. M. Stoddart & Co. from publishing Vol. 10 of their American reprint of the "Encyclopædia Britannica" has been denied by Judge Butler, of Philadelphia, on the ground that the loss to the defendants by the issue of the writ would be disproportionate to the loss to plaintiffs by the publication, which could thereafter be assessed in damages, and because the rights in the case are not sufficiently clear to justify peremptory action. The result is to put the case over for trial on the main issue. third part of his work on TAINE is putting the finishing touches to the The Origins of Contemporary France." The title of this new volume will probably be either "The Jacobins" or "The Convention." MESSRS. C. KEGAN PAUL & Co. will publish immediately a new edition of "In Memoriam," printed on handsome paper, with rough edges, and bound in parchment. The frontispiece will consist of a new miniature of Mr. Tennyson, executed in eau forte by M. Le Rat, after a photograph by the late Mrs. Cameron. THE Lisbon correspondent of the Athenæum states that the International Literary Congress has already officially intimated to the Portuguese Government that the preliminaries are arranged for drawing up the programme of the subjects to be discussed at the meeting to be held in Lisbon next spring. According to rumor it appears all that appertains to translations will be largely studied and debated, and that a basis will be fixed for the ratification of a literary convention among the countries interested in the matter. MESSRS. GRIFFITH & FARRAN, London (E. P. Dutton & Co., N. Y.), will shortly publish a book, entitled "On the Leads; or, What the Planets Say." The object of the work is to bring the planets of our system into nearer acquaintance, making each give an account of itself to a little girl who watches them through her father's telescope on the leads of the house, mouthpiece of their astronomical and physical their mythological character being made the history. It is by Mrs. Butson. A CURIOUS case is reported abroad of a popular author whose works are not procurable. "The Moscow Society for the Diffusion of Useful Books is preparing a memoir of Alexander Pushkin and a selection from his writings, to be published on the forthcoming occasion of the unveiling of the monument lately set up in memory of the greatest of Russia's poets at Moscow. It seems strange that a complete edition of his writings is not now to be procured except at a very high price. The Russian reader, says the Novoe Vremya, who wishes to buy a complete edition of Schiller's poems or Shakspeare's plays can do so without difficulty, and at a moderate expense. But with the works of his own Pushkin the case is different. The poet's heirs have ceded their rights to a publisher, and he does not seem to trouble himself about supplying the demand for Pushkin's writings, although the complete editions previously published have long been exhausted." This is an instance of a danger provided for in the proposed British copyright act, but which was supposed not to exist. "I HAVE long ago discovered," says an Eng-haps a small reduction, or some special seller lish printer of large experience in the book trade, that books are sold, not bought; that a clever publisher can plant a large lot at per at Manchester or Edinburgh, who will push off one hundred or five hundred copies while no ten men would have gone to purchase copies." No. 15,461-K LIBRARY OF Congress, COPYRIGHT Office, WashINGTON. wit: Be it remembered. That on the 17th day of daughter of John S. C. Abbott, deceased, of New York, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the title or description of which is in the following words, to wit: "The Child at Home; or, The Principles of Filial Duty Familiarly Illustrated, by John S. C. Abbott, author of The Mother at Home, Josephine,' Maria Antoinette,' 'Kings and Queens, Napoleon,' etc.; very greatly improved and enlarged with numerous engravings. New York, Harper & Brothers," the right whereof she claims as proprietor in conformity with the laws of the United States respecting copyrights. (Signed). A. R. SPOFFORD, Librarian of Congress. In renewal for 14 years from May 15, 1880, when the first term of 21 years will have expired. No. 15,460-K. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, To wit: Be it remembered, That on the 17th day of No vember, Anno Domini 1879, Susan Abbott Mead, daughter of John S. C. Abbott, deceased, of New York, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the title or description of which is in the following words, to wit: "The Mother at Home; or, The Principles of Maternal Duty Familiarly Illustrated, by John S. C. Abbott, author of The Child at Home,' 'Josephine,'' Maria Antoinette,' Kings and Queens, Napoleon,' etc.; very greatly improved and enlarged with numerous engravings. New York, Harper & Brothers," the right whereof she claims as proprietor in conformity with the laws of the United States respecting copyrights. (Signed.) A. R. SPOFFORD, Librarian of Congress. In renewal for 14 years from May 15, 1880, when the first term of 21 years will have expired. WANTED. B OOKSELLERS to act as General Agents in their Town, County, or State for our Subscription Books, one of which is specially adapted for selling on the popular instalment plan. Extra inducements will be given capable parties. The Bookseller is by education and practice the natural and proper party to act as Live General Agent for subscription books. Booksellers should go after customers, not wait for customers to come to them. For full particulars address ALLEN & WILLMARTH, No. 4 Bond Street, New York. The American Almanac AND Treasury of Facts for 1880. Edited by A. R. SFOFFORD, Librarian of Congress. I. Popular Edition, handsome red cover, price, 25 cents. II. Library Edition, with 100 additional pages. Bound in full scarlet cloth, $1.50. THE TRADE SUPPLIED BY THE AMERICAN NEWS CO., New York City. |