The sudden and successful rise of a cheap press was not viewed with complacency by the fathers of the trade, and for a long time it was believed that, like many other novelties, it would have its day, and disappear. Looked at, therefore, as temporary and undignified, the cheap press was left to force its way in the hands of two or three ardent young publishers, who, estending their operations, at length assumed a position which could not fail to command respect, and to excite a spirit of emulation. Latterly, the old established firms have begun, though in a hesitating way, to issue a cheap class of publications, by reprinting and otherwise. At the same time, these firms, besides; generallyaintaining the old prices, unite to keep it few editions of standard works in print. These "trade editions," as they are termed, are printed and supplied in shares; each party concerned taking an interest in their sale, and being so far precluded from attempting the issue of rival editions. The names of all the proprietors of these joint stock books are printed on the title-page; hut as no new books are added, this once popular method of publication will soon become extinct.
As circulating libraries, by creating a taste for reading, led to the estabiishment of the cheap press, so, as might be expected, has the cheap press extended the sphere of literature, and given rise to public libraries and book-clubs, and even circulating libraries, which for a time suffered from the deluge of minor publications, have begun not only to revive, but to assume dimensions beyond precedent. Mr. Mudie, in the year 1842, introduced a new system of subscription lending library, which in 1873 contained a million volumes, employing 80 clerks, and having no fewer than 18.000 subscribers to the London establishment alone. As many as 2000 copiesof a single work at 18s. or a guinea are sometimes added; so that iu many cases what would formerly have been con sidered to be large editions are absorbed by one purchaser. After being used for several months, the overplus copies belonging to these libraries are disposed of at from a half to one quarter of the original price; and the readiness with which they find cus tomers among the lesser libraries throughout the country is alone an evidence of the increasing demand for books. Mudie's library now contains more than 2,000,000 vol umes. haying absorbed the largest of the older circulating libraries, which was said to contain half a million volumes.
The selling of second-hand books from open stalls, and from booths (q.v.), is a prac tice so ancient as to be connected with the trade of the stationarii of the middle ages. Some men of considerable note in the book•trade began in the humble quality of stall keepers. The most celebrated instance of this kind is perhaps that of James Lacking ton. lie commenced his remarkable career by keeping, a small stall of old books, which, while working as a shoe-maker, lie placed at his door in one of the obscure streets of the metropolis; and from his ultimate success, was able to inscribe the proud boast, Sutor ultra erepidam feliciter ausus, on his very entertaining memoirs. Though more common
formerly than now, book-stalls are still seen in every large European city. They par ticularly abound in Paris—chiefly on the quays near the Pont Neuf; and at all the great continental fairs, stalls of new and second-hand books are conspicuous. Book-sellers at one time took their place among the stall-keepers on market-days in English provincial towns, nor have they altogether disappeared. Michael Johnson, book-seller in Lichfield, was in the habit of setting up a stall for the side of his wares, every market-day, in Uttoxetcr. On one occasion, confined to bed by indisposition, he requested his son Samuel to visit the market, and attend the stall in his place, which he refused to do. How this act of criminal pride and filial disobedience preyed in after-years on the mind of the great lexicographer; and how, in his old age, to expiate this juvenile delinquency, he went to Uttoxeter on a market-day, and stood on the site of his father's stall for the space of an hour bare-headed in the rain, exposed to the jeers of the bystanders, are among the most characteristic circumstances narrated in the life of this extraordinary man Boswell, Crocker's post edition, vol. x., p. 103). The flood of cheap publi cations 40 years ago, which has been already referred to, greatly damaged the stall-trade in old books. Nevertheless, there remained in London a few book-stalls and booths, and in Edinburgh, though fallen from their high estate, book-stalls arc still visible. In Paris the stall-trade still flourishes, and no book-hunter in that city loses the opportunity of a ramble along the quays. It must be admitted, however, that the business is losing its picturesque character; it is getting into a regular shop-trade, and attaining to dimen sions far beyond the notions of the old class of stall-keepers. London, of course, is the chief seat or the second-hand book-trade; but it is also conducted on a respectable scale in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, Cambridge. Dublin, Bristol, and some other centers of wealth and intelligence. The dealers procure supplies chiefly at public auctions of the libraries of deceased clergymen, professors. and private gentle men, of which sales there is a constant succession in London, Edinburgh. and else where. At these auctions, good editions of standard books may usually be obtained at moderate prices• but rare and curious prised by the " Libliotuanise," frequently bring very high sums. See BIBLIOMAYIA. Dealers in second-hand books send cats_ logues to their customers throughout the country; andiron' this source not a few gentle men's libraries are mainly made up. During the past 20 years, there has been a growing scarcity of second-hand high-class works, in consequence of the purchase of large quantities for public libraries forming in the United States. From France, Italy. and Germany, there has been a similar export-trade in splendid old editions to North America.