Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 Excerpt:...have at least one copy of every issue that is likely to be called for. He should not only be prepared for the demand before it comes, but by having and displaying the books he should endeavor to create the demand. To order safely requires the most careful judgment, and a constant study of the announcements of the publishers, and of the literary and the trade reviews. Every important book is now announced before its issue, and it is not difficult for the intelligent and wide-awake bookseller to acquaint himself of its character and merits, and to determine before-hand whether it will suit his trade or not. A leading firm of Architectural book publishers, in their advertisement in our last issue, announced that they would be pleased to withdraw their traveling canvassers whenever the majority of the booksellers would show enterprise enough to order samples of their new books. We have often heard the same statement from other publishers who employ canvassers. There are some books sold by traveling agents that cannot be profitably handled by the j trade, but in the case of the books above referred to, a demand for them can be easily created wherever there are architects or builders. In the same advertisement was pubjished a letter ordering from the publisher a book which he had unsuccessfully tried to find at the bookstores. Most of the mail retail orders received by the publishers are made under similar circumstances, and where there is one buyer who will order of the publisher, there are nine who will not take the trouble, if they cannot find what they want at the bookstores. The success of the subscription book agents is largely due to the fact that they are able to display their samples, and no circulars or advertisements can be half so effective in influen...