Editoras

James Nisbet & Co. publishers Letter Book

ref. 5003 — 1859 1850 1859 mainly 1850 1859 letters headed 21 Berners Street as is one from 1850. 18 pages used 4to copies on flimsy paper of outgoing letters signed "James Nisbet & Co." poor condition front cover detached one page detached and damaged otherwise text complete and legible. Correspondents include a number of Reverends inc. foreign. Subjects: 1850 They tell author "Lecture" that his work will be in an edition of 3000 and that he has a large credit balance with them anticipating how much profit he will make on "each succeeding thousand" £25 the price. "It is a very handsome volume and in fact does the publishers no discredit"; a meeting of a Mr Turner's creditors; price levels and the need to reduce to sell; negotiations; creditors in "Mr Cork's affair"; their "claim against the Rev. A.J. Hudson"; tardy acceptance of an order South African customer; acknowledgment of payment; prices of bibles influenced by the bindings - he lists examples including "Royal Folio Bible Dble pica Type with Apoc at 5gns"; arrangement of dispatch of periodicals reporting the "North American as out of print" the Galignani to be sent directly from Paris; discussion of "gratuitous help" in the formation of a correspondent's library; they offer to reduce a debt greatly to help a customer who has experienced a serious loss; corresondent not identified but same as first copy letter above they cannot accurately state printing costs without the manuscript but give a detailed estimate: "Supposing the work to be similar to yr second series of Lectures we should say in round underlined figures the cost of 1000 copies wd be about £100 - leaving £10 or £11 to cover the expense of correction & advertising". He suggests that the whole edition would make £160 at 5/- "without deduction for copies for Review &c" but warns him that he should not look for more than £40 profit. He outlines another scenario 1500 copies expenses of distribution and concludes with their wish to purchase the copyright and "taking the risk of an edition" and a postscript giving terms 10% for them after trade price considered - "25 or 24 @ 3/7"; they sent a catalogue to Dr Taylor Madras and give terms - order with remittance discount of 25% over £10 welcoming lsarge export orders for anything but law books; they ask David D. Scott" to return the MS. "Tetraphonia by Da Costa" with as much of the translation which has ben completed; comment on the Preface to the MS. "God in Disease to James F. Duncan; published by Nisbet in 1851 saying that the subject is not so much "in their department" to offer more favourable terms and want to stick with "half risk and half profit" with the proviso on future editions that they could change the terms. They recommend it be printed "any where but in Dublin" Duncan's home city; 1859 To Patrick Beaton re. "Creole and Coolies; or Five Years in Mauritius" pub. 1859; reprinted 1971 they make points in response to complaints firstly that they did not print more than 500 copies but "to place the matter beyond all controversy" they have written to the printer. Secondly a second edition would be expensive for various reasons inc. engraving the vignette charging for corrections. Thirdly they discuss an error with a section of his MS.apologetically and ask to be informed of any other changes; also to Patrick Beaton; they are sending payment for the "retranslation of thirty seven pages of MSS of a German Work". One copy letter is signed "James Batton" indicating the writer of all. (1859), 1850, 1859, mainly 1850, 1859 letters headed 21 Berners Street as is one from 1850 unknown