A COPYRIGHT QUESTION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SLR,—In your issue of April 3rd, you have inserted an advertise- ment, headed " Flaubert's Salambo," which we think must have crept in without your knowledge. This advertisement is -calculated to mislead the public and trade, and to do unjust injury to another firm of publishers. The advertisement can refer only to Sheldon's translation of " Salammbi5," announced by Messrs. Saxon and Co. last autumn, and issued by them about two weeks since. The advertiser speaks of the book deprecatingly as an "American importation," and begs the public and trade to withhold orders.
Now, Sir, the fact is, Messrs. Saxon and Co. placed their order with us last summer for printing an edition of 7,000 copies of Sheldon's translation of " Salammbo," and these have been printed with English type, by English men, on English paper, by one of the oldest English printing-houses in England. We may say further that the American edition was printed and shipped to America.
There can be but one opinion in the minds of all honest men and lovers of fair-play in regard to such an attempt to create a false impression in the minds of the public. The unfairness is enhanced by the fact that Sheldon's is the first translation, and has the sole and exclusive authorisation of Flanbert's heirs, and the publishers recognise the moral law of copyright by paying a
royalty to them.—We are, Sir, &C., WHITING AND CO.
30 and 32 Sardinia Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, April 7th.
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