A HINT TO PUBLISHERS.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE SPECTATOR:'] have read with much interest the letter of "An Englishman Long Resident in New Zealand" in your issue of March 28th; but I am afraid that if one gave the particulars of postage to different parts of the world of every book advertised it would unduly increase the necessary advertising space, since cost of transit depends largely on the location of the purchaser. For instance, I have before me a demy octavo volume, 558 pp., the postage of which, including corrugated packing-board and wrapper, amounts to 5d. for England and 10d. abroad ; and a crown octavo volume, 430 pp., the postage of which would be 4d. and 7d. respectively. It occurs to me that the simplest solution would be to add the measurement and weight to the advertisement of each book published. The purchaser could then estimate the cost of carriage, always allowing, say, an extra id. for the wrappings. Perhaps the day is not far distant when the Publishers' Association will become the active centre of information, through a classified bulletin of the week's publications, printed only on one side, with bibliographical notes as to the nature and contents of the work, number of pages, if illustrated, the number and nature of the reproductions, according to the metrical system, to every bookseller and librarian throughout the Empire, as well as to those of the principal European cities. It only needs a little organisation and union to become an accomplished fact. Then your correspondent could get the nature, cost, and carriage of every book published from his bookseller, or from the nearest public library.—I am, Sir, &c., The Bodley Head, Vigo Street, W. JOHN LANE.
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