THE UPLIFT OF BOOKS
SIR,—About a year ago, you published a letter from me in which I complained of the prices charged in Canada for English printed books. There followed some correspondence from the English publishing houses in which it was stated that the English publishing houses having offices in Toronto or the ordinary bookseller in Toronto charged what they thought was a price the prospective reader was prepared to pay. Private letters reaching me from readers of the Spectator in the USA and Canada recommended me to buy direct from English booksellers or from thedEnglish book-houses which cater for overseas pur- chasers, who will not pay the high prices charged by the local booksellers.
Another instance cropped up today. The firm of Collins is publishing a new series of illustrated Nature books called The Country Naturalist, each at 3s. 6d. net in England. enquired from Collins' house in Toronto what would be the price in Toronto of these books. The answer was $1.50. Now at the present rate of exchange, $1.50 is about the equivalent of 10s. So I replied to Toronto Collins that 10s. was a big increase over 3s. 6d. and the reply was that freight, etc., had to be paid, and that " anyhow, $1.50 was the price in Toronto." If I ordered one of these books from England I don't expect it would cost me more than 4s. 6d., so again I complain of the prices charged in Canada for English books. A more reasonable price would bring about larger sales. For the life of me, I cannot see why Canadian book-buyers should be " soaked " to this extent.—Yours faithfully,
JOHN SATTERLY
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