Entirely separated from the general book-trade, there flourishes a sYstein of publish- 19g of a pecultar kind. We allude to the eanroming trade, which consists in ilm plait of disposing of books mostly in weekly and monthly numbers or parts. The business is conducted by only a few houses in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and one or two other places. Canvassers are employed to go from door to door, to procure subscribers; and the numbers are delivered periodically till the work is completed. On account of the expense of canvassing and delivery, books sold in this manner are necessarily much carer than if disposed of through the ordinary channels of trade. The method, how ever, of buying books in small portions at a time, accommodates certain classes of cus tomers, and has been tbc means of disseminating as improving literature—bibles, with notes and illustrations, and works of piety in particular—iu quarters not reached by the operations of the bookseller. During the past twenty years, the canvassing trade has larvly been engaged in selling, books, and especially bibles, in the compete form. On giving an order, the book or bible is left, and a small sum paid, and a similar sum weekly or monthly. It is said that but few bad debts are made amongst working-men, a fact that speaks well for their honesty.
Apart, likewise, from the general trade, the publication of small books, tracts, and periodicals is carried on to a large extent by associations for religious purposes, the funds for which are raised by voluntary subscriptions. As far as concerns the distribu tion of purely religious tracts among the unfortunate and less instructed members of the community, no fault is found with the operations of these societies. But when such associations address themselves to the publication of volumes and illustrated periodicals, differing in no material respect frotn the ordinary products of private ent-r1 rise. and intended not for gratuitous distribution, hut for sale, a certain injury is felt to be unbe comingly indicted on the trade, which can no more be justified than the damage done to free competition by the giving of bounties on particular manufactures. Notice has been taken of two periodicals of the religious tract society or London, the circulation of which must be allowed to be fostered in this manner, and other works could be pointed out as being so greatly cheapened by the same objectionable method as to be placed completely beyond the reach of fair commercial competition. See ItEntotous TitacT SOCIETY.
Another distinct kind of trade is that of printing and publishing authorized versions of the Bible, New Testament, and Book of Common Prayer. The preparation of these works has always been a prerogative of the crown, which grants exclusive privileges or patent-rights to certain parties for the purpose. From old usage, England, Ireland,
and Scotland are treated separately. The last patent for England was granted by George IV. to Andrew Strahan, George Eyre, and Andrew Spottiswoode, for a term of thirty years; and having commenced on the 21st Jan., 1830, it expired on the 21st Jan., 1860, and was then renewed during pleasure. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge have enjoyed the right of printing Bibles, etc., in common with the patentees; but in their case it is a simple affair of permission, they have no power to prohibit or prose cute. See PATENT.
In Ireland, George III., in 1766, granted a Bible patent to Botilton Grierson for forty vcars. Ile was succeeded by his son, George Grierson. who. in 1811, obtained a renewal. Trinitv college, Dublin, had also a concurrent right; but the English patentees, :mil both Oxford and Cambridge, arc permitted to import their Bibles into Ireland.
In Scotland, the last patent expired in 1839, and was not renewed in of remonstrances from that country, to the effect that if its printing were left free, the Bible would be sold at a considerably lower price than it 11;1(1 hitherto been. Such has proved to be the case. The crown appoints a board with authority to grant licenses to parties desirous to print editions of the Bible and other books falling within the royal prerogative, such as the Confession of Faith of the Church of Scotland, but the importa tion of English printed editions is not prohibited. (See Abridgment of SpeoffeotionA relating to Printing, cur., printed Lit order of the ConindAvionerg cf PotentA, London, 18.19.) The modification of the patent having tended to lower prices, the possibility of guy further material reduction seems doubtful. One noticeable feature of the trade in Bible• is. that the publishers in England sell large numbers in sheets. They are bought by book binders, who do them up in various styles; some very neatly with gilt edges, which they sell to retailers at about 11d. per copy. Other copies, costing, perhaps, not more than 1*. or 1:4. 6d. in sheets, are bound in velvet, morocco, tortoise-shell, or other ornamental bindings. and retailed as high as three guineas each. It is computed that in London alone, nearly 1000 persons tire:employed in binding, Bibles. rrayersbooks, and other books of de`votion. From their cheapness, but more partieulallyfrotn their accuracy, English-printed Bibles and New Testaments arc purchased in large quantities by the United States. Other large purchasers arc the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge makes large purchases of Prayer-books and church services in addition.