GHL to John Blackwood, London, [22 December 1872]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, London, [22 December 1872]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, London, [22 December 1872]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1872-12-22
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, London, [22 December 1872]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: 22 December [1872]. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
My dear Blackwood
The accounts look better than I anticipated and if the Times would only give us a lift with its advertisement the rest of the 4 volumes would perhaps go off.
Touching the cheaper edition -- whenever you think the time arrives at which it may fairly be issued -- I am puzzled about the price. 21/- seems to me prohibitory except to the Libraries; and 12/- which would place it within reach of private purchasers seems too low a price for 4 volumes; and yet it would be impossible, I suppose, to print the 4 in two even on very thin paper; and it would certainly be desirable to save the expense of reprinting now we have the types. What says Von Moltke about the 21/? -- Might it be brought to range with the old 6 shilling a volume edition of Adam Bede, and only charged 3/ a volume? or is the size (and type) too dissimilar?
We will bear Smith's discount. But there will be the advertisements in each part to account for; and Asher ought to be sending in some money now. If it is equally convenient to you we should like a bill as before payable at midsummer.
Are you coming up to town at Christmas or thereabouts? I want to talk over the [Key to all Mythologies] with you. 670
Letters and testimonies from all sides come pouring in showing how deep an impression the book is making, so that one cannot but look forward to a continued sale, though 42/- must "give pause."
Mrs. Lewes begs me to send her thanks for the cheque and her best wishes to you and yours (not forgetting Willie) for Christmas and onwards!
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
On reconsideration 12/ is impossible at least for some time yet. Purchasers would feel less aggrieved at 21/- than at so considerable a reduction as 12/. Perhaps the 21/- edition might be issued soon if announced as on thinner paper -- with the 42/- edition still to be had. This is not unfrequently done: two editions, one large on fine paper and one on common paper are legitimate; and thus one would avoid that [sense of injury] which might be urged by those who had bought the more expensive, unless they were told that they had bought the most elegant -- and elegant it is.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: 22 December [1872]. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
My dear Blackwood
The accounts look better than I anticipated and if the Times would only give us a lift with its advertisement the rest of the 4 volumes would perhaps go off.
Touching the cheaper edition -- whenever you think the time arrives at which it may fairly be issued -- I am puzzled about the price. 21/- seems to me prohibitory except to the Libraries; and 12/- which would place it within reach of private purchasers seems too low a price for 4 volumes; and yet it would be impossible, I suppose, to print the 4 in two even on very thin paper; and it would certainly be desirable to save the expense of reprinting now we have the types. What says Von Moltke about the 21/? -- Might it be brought to range with the old 6 shilling a volume edition of Adam Bede, and only charged 3/ a volume? or is the size (and type) too dissimilar?
We will bear Smith's discount. But there will be the advertisements in each part to account for; and Asher ought to be sending in some money now. If it is equally convenient to you we should like a bill as before payable at midsummer.
Are you coming up to town at Christmas or thereabouts? I want to talk over the [Key to all Mythologies] with you. 670
Letters and testimonies from all sides come pouring in showing how deep an impression the book is making, so that one cannot but look forward to a continued sale, though 42/- must "give pause."
Mrs. Lewes begs me to send her thanks for the cheque and her best wishes to you and yours (not forgetting Willie) for Christmas and onwards!
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
On reconsideration 12/ is impossible at least for some time yet. Purchasers would feel less aggrieved at 21/- than at so considerable a reduction as 12/. Perhaps the 21/- edition might be issued soon if announced as on thinner paper -- with the 42/- edition still to be had. This is not unfrequently done: two editions, one large on fine paper and one on common paper are legitimate; and thus one would avoid that [sense of injury] which might be urged by those who had bought the more expensive, unless they were told that they had bought the most elegant -- and elegant it is.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, London, [22 December 1872], Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/94638