William Blackwood to John Blackwood, Edinburgh, 8 June 1859
Title
William Blackwood to John Blackwood, Edinburgh, 8 June 1859
Title
William Blackwood to John Blackwood, Edinburgh, 8 June 1859
Sender
William Blackwood
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1859-06-08
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
William Blackwood to John Blackwood, Edinburgh, 8 June 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
June 1859.
My dear John
I send you the calculation for Scenes of Clerical Life uniform in two volumes with Adam Bede. Also a calculation for it in one volume of the same size. This I do not think will do -- it leaves so small a profit and will not make a nice volume. I think the two volumes should do, but after the subscription for the two volume edition of Adam Bede we shall be able to judge better. Slip leaf announcing this edition of Clerical Scenes should be put in every copy of the other book, Mr. Simpson says. This should be got ready in London.
There is another question: should the price be 10/6 or 12/-. I am rather inclined for the latter -- of the former edition I see we only printed 1000 -- having at first agreed with the author for only 750. Until yesterday I thought the number had been 1500. The author got from Maga for it 'a3262.10 and for the separate publication 'a3180 ('a3120 for 750, 'a360 after that number should be sold). The total profit estimated was 350 allowing 'a350 for advertising. If we give 'a3100 for a 2 volume edition at 12/- of 1500 and 'a350 when the whole or nearly so are sold, I think it will be a handsome offer, but if you feel confident about the 1500 going off I would make the 'a3150 certain. . . .
Yours sincerely
W. Blackwood
P.M.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
June 1859.
My dear John
I send you the calculation for Scenes of Clerical Life uniform in two volumes with Adam Bede. Also a calculation for it in one volume of the same size. This I do not think will do -- it leaves so small a profit and will not make a nice volume. I think the two volumes should do, but after the subscription for the two volume edition of Adam Bede we shall be able to judge better. Slip leaf announcing this edition of Clerical Scenes should be put in every copy of the other book, Mr. Simpson says. This should be got ready in London.
There is another question: should the price be 10/6 or 12/-. I am rather inclined for the latter -- of the former edition I see we only printed 1000 -- having at first agreed with the author for only 750. Until yesterday I thought the number had been 1500. The author got from Maga for it 'a3262.10 and for the separate publication 'a3180 ('a3120 for 750, 'a360 after that number should be sold). The total profit estimated was 350 allowing 'a350 for advertising. If we give 'a3100 for a 2 volume edition at 12/- of 1500 and 'a350 when the whole or nearly so are sold, I think it will be a handsome offer, but if you feel confident about the 1500 going off I would make the 'a3150 certain. . . .
Yours sincerely
W. Blackwood
P.M.
Signature
W. Blackwood
Citation
William Blackwood, William Blackwood to John Blackwood, Edinburgh, 8 June 1859, 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/95674