John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 21 November 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 21 November 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 21 November 1876
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1876-11-21
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 21 November 1876
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
November 21/76.
My Dear Lewes
Since I came into Edinburgh I have been looking again into the cost and produce of The Works, and I am disappointed to find as I feared, that the inclosed offer of lordship cannot be much varied.
The printing paper and binding are put in the accompanying statement as cheaply as they can be done and the advertising etc. at a less rate than we have estimated during these ten years. The discounts to the Trade are very large, but we do not see how to lessen them without checking the sale -- as Dickens and other similar works are sold at the same rates of discount. For instance the 3/6 volumes of Dickens are sold by the agent here to the retailers at sale price 2/6 13 as 12 to 6 Mos. Acct. and 2'bd per cent discount, so the Agent must have 10 per cent off sale to cover his transaction.
I am disappointed at the result as I was ten years ago when I calculated the whole matter, but I did not then or now see a better form, and we have all reason to be pleased with the steady increasing sale the books have met in their present shape.
While Middlemarch goes on as it is doing it will not be desirable to make any change there, and it is to be hoped Deronda will follow suit. We are going to bring out the Deronda at 21/- immediately and I hope we have not been rash in printing 2000. 560
When Middlemarch and Deronda have run their course as separate books at 7/6, the plates will readily print on paper uniform with the other works, perhaps as two volumes each and they with Romola 561 may give the whole series a fresh start. By that time too I hope there may be a new book to be reckoned among the works of George Eliot.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
WORKS OF GEORGE ELIOT CABINET EDITION
Pages
Romola 918 2 Vols.
Silas, Lifted veil and Jacob 416 1 Vol.
Scenes 644 2 Vols.
Adam Bede 800 2 Vols.
Mill on the Floss 822 2 Vols.
Felix Holt 780 2 Vols.
Middlemarch 1276 3 Vols.
Deronda 1230 3 Vols.
Gypsy 320 1 Vol.
Jubal 154 1 Vol.
19 Vols. pages make 230 Sheets
Cost
Setting type 230 sheets 460
Stereotyping 368
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
November 21/76.
My Dear Lewes
Since I came into Edinburgh I have been looking again into the cost and produce of The Works, and I am disappointed to find as I feared, that the inclosed offer of lordship cannot be much varied.
The printing paper and binding are put in the accompanying statement as cheaply as they can be done and the advertising etc. at a less rate than we have estimated during these ten years. The discounts to the Trade are very large, but we do not see how to lessen them without checking the sale -- as Dickens and other similar works are sold at the same rates of discount. For instance the 3/6 volumes of Dickens are sold by the agent here to the retailers at sale price 2/6 13 as 12 to 6 Mos. Acct. and 2'bd per cent discount, so the Agent must have 10 per cent off sale to cover his transaction.
I am disappointed at the result as I was ten years ago when I calculated the whole matter, but I did not then or now see a better form, and we have all reason to be pleased with the steady increasing sale the books have met in their present shape.
While Middlemarch goes on as it is doing it will not be desirable to make any change there, and it is to be hoped Deronda will follow suit. We are going to bring out the Deronda at 21/- immediately and I hope we have not been rash in printing 2000. 560
When Middlemarch and Deronda have run their course as separate books at 7/6, the plates will readily print on paper uniform with the other works, perhaps as two volumes each and they with Romola 561 may give the whole series a fresh start. By that time too I hope there may be a new book to be reckoned among the works of George Eliot.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
WORKS OF GEORGE ELIOT CABINET EDITION
Pages
Romola 918 2 Vols.
Silas, Lifted veil and Jacob 416 1 Vol.
Scenes 644 2 Vols.
Adam Bede 800 2 Vols.
Mill on the Floss 822 2 Vols.
Felix Holt 780 2 Vols.
Middlemarch 1276 3 Vols.
Deronda 1230 3 Vols.
Gypsy 320 1 Vol.
Jubal 154 1 Vol.
19 Vols. pages make 230 Sheets
Cost
Setting type 230 sheets 460
Stereotyping 368
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 21 November 1876, 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/95389