The Author's Printing and Publishing Assistant Part 2

_Proof Corrected._

[Ill.u.s.tration: This page is a specimen of Lithographic Printing. The impression from the Type being first taken on Paper, in Lithographic Ink, the Corrections then added with the Pen, and the whole transferred to the Stone from which the Page is printed.]

_Proof Revised._

[Ill.u.s.tration: In all the more celebrated nations of the ancient world, we find established those twin elements of belief, by which religion harmonizes and directs the social relations of life, viz. a faith in a future state, and in the providence of Superior Powers, who, surveying as Judges the affairs of earth, punish the wicked, and reward the good.

It has been plausibly conjectured, that the fables of Elysium, the slow Cocytus, and the gloomy Hades, were either invented or allegorized from the names of Egyptian places. Diodorus a.s.sures us that by the vast catacombs of Egypt, the dismal mansions of the dead--were the temple and stream, both called Cocytus, the _foul_ ca.n.a.l of Acheron, and the Elysian plains; and according to the same equivocal authority, the body of the dead was wafted across the waters by a pilot, termed Charon in the Egyptian tongue. But previous to the embarkation, appointed judges on the MARGIN of the ACHERON listened to whatever accusations were preferred by the living against the deceased; and if convinced of his mis-deeds, deprived him of the rights of Sepulture.--_Athens, by Sir Lytton Bulwer_, vol. i. p. 52.]

_Explanation of the Typographical Marks._

No. 1, is used to correct a _wrong letter_, drawing a line down through it, and placing the right letter before a corresponding stroke in the margin; _a wrong word_ is corrected by drawing a line across it, as in No. 2, and writing the proper word in the margin.

_Where any thing has been omitted_, or is wished to be inserted, a Caret is marked at the place where it is to come in, and the word or words written in the margin, putting underneath an answering Caret.

_Where a s.p.a.ce is wanting between two words or letters_ that are intended to be separated, a parallel line must be drawn where the separation ought to be, and the mark No. 4 placed opposite in the margin. Also _where words or letters should join_, but are separated, the circ.u.mflex No. 5, must be placed under the separation, and the same mark be made in the margin.

_When letters or words are set double_, and are required to be taken out, a line is drawn through the superfluous word or letter, and the mark No. 6, which is the letter _d_, an abbreviation of _dele_ (_expunge or erase_) must be placed in the margin.

_A turned letter_, or one placed the wrong way upward, is noticed by making a dash under it, and placing the mark No. 7, in the margin.

_Where a black mark_ is seen in any part of the line, which is occasioned by a s.p.a.ce standing up, it is noticed by making a dash under it, and placing the mark, No. 8, in the margin.

_Where two words are transposed_, the word placed wrong, should be encircled, and the mark 9, (_tr._ an abridgement of transpose,) be placed in the margin; but where several words are to be transposed, that which is intended to come first should have the figure 1 placed over it, that second 2, and so on, the mark (_tr._) being also placed opposite in the margin.

_Where a new paragraph is required_, a crotchet should be made at the place where the new paragraph should begin, and a similar mark (No.

10.) be placed in the margin. Where a new paragraph should not have been made, a line should be drawn from the last word of the previous paragraph, and in the margin should be written, _No break_.

_Where several lines or words are to be introduced_, they should be written at the bottom of the page, and at the place where they are to come in, a Caret should be made, from which a line should be drawn to the first word of the pa.s.sage to be inserted.

If a word, or words, are required to be in Capitals, Small Capitals or Italic, such word or words should be underlined--for Capitals with three lines; for Small Capitals, with two; for Italic, with one; writing opposite in the margin, _Caps._, _Small Caps._, or _Ital._

If they should be required to be altered back, a line should be drawn under the Italic, and the word _Roman_, and under the Capitals or Small Capitals, and the words _Lower-case_, written in the margin.

_Where words have been erroneously struck out_, or are otherwise wished to remain, dots should be placed under them, and the word _Stet_ (_let it stand or remain_) written in the margin.

_Where the Punctuation requires to be altered_, the Semicolon, Colon, or Period, should be marked and encircled in the margin, a line being drawn at the word at which either is to be placed, as in No. 15.--16 describes the manner in which the hyphen and ellipsis line are marked; and 17, that in which the Apostrophe, Inverted Comma, the Star, and other References, and Superior Letters, and Figures, are marked for insertion.

Notes, if added, should have the word _Note_, with a Star, and a corresponding Star at the word to which they are referred.

_Where letters or lines are altered_, they are noticed by drawing lines before and after them, as in No. 18.

A little practice will soon render the use of these Marks familiar.

It has been before observed, that Correcting the Press, so far as the Printers are concerned, is an extremely troublesome, and to them, the most unpleasant part of their business. It occupies much more time than could be supposed, and consequently occasions an Expense which the mere alteration of a few Words in a Page would perhaps scarcely be thought sufficient to justify. But when it is considered that every alteration disturbs the whole adjoining ma.s.s of Type, and may do so to the end of the Page, or several Pages, it will be less difficult to perceive the reason of the well ascertained fact, that Printers always greatly prefer being employed in the Setting, rather than in the Correcting department of their office.

It is not uncommon for Authors, unaware of these circ.u.mstances, to deliver their Ma.n.u.script for the Press, in a very unfinished state; and in some instances, as if they actually considered that they could not satisfactorily Correct their Work, until they saw it in Print--an error which it would probably only require them to combat to overcome: it should, however, in all such cases, be distinctly understood, that the Expenses of Correcting will, if considerable, unavoidably enhance that of the Printing, and this in a ratio that would very naturally surprise those unacquainted with the subject.

All errors which are not in the Ma.n.u.script, are considered as errors of the Press; the correction of which devolves on the Printer. Indeed, no proof should be submitted to the Author, until these have been made: a careful Reader in the Printing Office will also sometimes draw the Author's attention to some Word or Sentence, which appears to be susceptible of improvement, and which might otherwise have pa.s.sed unnoticed; this is, however, not always done, unless requested.

In Correcting a Proof, for the reasons already given, as few alterations as possible should be made; when these are, however, unavoidable, it would be advisable to observe this Rule, namely--always if possible, to insert in a Line or Page, as much as is taken out, or vice versa; this is in a great majority of instances very practicable; and the advantage of it is, that it will avoid what is technically called _Overrunning_.

This will, perhaps, be best explained by referring to the Corrected Proof (p. 40) in the 3rd line of which, it will be seen that the word _for_ is marked out, and the word _of_ inserted in its stead; which, it will be perceived by the opposite Revised Page, has occasioned no alteration beyond the line; but at line 17 there is an insertion marked without an omission; which would have rendered it necessary to carry as many lines as were inserted to the next Page, if the Page had been previously filled up in the usual way. This is called _Overrunning_, and often requires that each subsequent Page should be altered to the end of a Chapter, or if the work is continuous, to the end of all that has at that time been set in Type.

There is also another point to be observed; which is, that where Revises are considered necessary, as few as possible should be required, each Revise requiring the repet.i.tion of the process already described in striking off a Proof, and which will not only occasion additional Expense, but will also frequently cause considerable delay in the progress of the Work. Generally speaking, if the Corrections are clearly marked, and not very numerous, the final Revision may be safely entrusted to the care of a skilful Printer. If any error should escape the notice of the Author, or Corrector, and be Printed off, it may be corrected by Re-printing the leaf in which it occurs, which is called a Cancel. This is, however, seldom necessary, when the error is clearly typographical.

It is frequently a convenience to the Author to have two proofs of each sheet, one to be returned corrected, the other to be retained for reference.

It is not, perhaps, generally known, that Works Printed in London may be corrected by Authors residing at any distance, the Proof Sheets pa.s.sing and re-pa.s.sing through the Post Office at Single Postage, provided they are not cut, and that the direction is Written _upon_ the Sheet. An Envelope would occasion Double Postage. It is usual also to add the words "Proof Sheet" in the corner.

The various kinds of

ILl.u.s.tRATIVE ENGRAVINGS

have already been slightly referred to. They are of three kinds: Engravings on Steel,[50-*] or Copper; Lithographic Drawings, or Prints from Stone; and Engravings on Wood. The first two are Printed independently of the Work; the latter in connection with it; either incorporated with the Text, or otherwise, as may be desired. Each of these modes may be employed with advantage, where Embellishment is intended, or information beyond that which description is adapted to convey. Coloured Engravings are also frequently employed in such cases.

Next to the Printing a Work, is the

CHOICE OF BINDING.

Until a very recent period, Binding was of two kinds only--that in Paper and that in Leather. The former, called Boarding, being used for Books when first Published, or when purchased for use in that state; the latter for Books when read, or intended to form a permanent part of a Library. Binding in Leather has been carried to very great perfection; and, according to the skill employed, is susceptible of the most varied and tasteful embellishment. The t.i.tles of Books in Boards are affixed by printed Labels--those of such as are bound in Leather in Letters worked in Gold. These latter are produced by laying a leaf of Gold on the Leather, and stamping each Letter singly, a process requiring great skill and labour.

Recently a new mode has been introduced, called Cloth Binding. This is done by covering the Book with Cloth; and, by means of a strong pressure, Stamping it with some Ornamental Device Engraved for the purpose, and which is called Embossing. There is in this new method also another improvement--that of Lettering the back in Gold at one operation, which is thus effected:--instead of the mode employed in Leather Binding, of impressing each Letter singly on the Gold, the whole of the Lettering is cut on a solid piece of bra.s.s, and in this form impressed on the back at once. This is not only a great saving in time and labour, but admits also of much tasteful ornament in emblematical and other fanciful devices, which produce a very pleasing effect at a comparatively trifling cost.

This latter process, now very generally adopted, and of which the Binding of this little Work, presents a Specimen, is applicable to almost all works of Science, History, Biography, Travels, &c., and not only gives to them a very superior appearance when first Published, but also, from their close imitation of Leather Binding, renders them fit to be placed at once in the Library. This mode of Binding does not, however, possess much durability, as it differs only in the exterior from the former Boarding--still, until a Book is Bound in Leather, it certainly forms a very agreeable subst.i.tute.

Cloth Binding, general as its use has become, has not, however, been adopted for Novels, which are still usually published in Boards. For Annuals, and other Embellished Works, as well as many of those of a smaller size, this mode has been justly and generally preferred.

PUBLISHING AND ADVERTISING.

Publishing, though the last step in order, is undoubtedly one of the first in importance to most Works issuing from the Press. There may perhaps be some few exceptions, but, generally, their success must in a great degree be influenced by the mode and means adopted for their Publication. Not that it can be supposed that all Works can alike succeed; but that many fail in obtaining that degree of attention which they might otherwise have received owing to some circ.u.mstances attending the means adopted in the final step of Publication.

London is undoubtedly the great emporium for Literary Works, as for almost every other species of Production. Even Printers in the country are so well aware of this, that they rarely fail to obtain the co-operation of a London Publisher in bringing out any Works in which they may venture to engage; though Works thus Published labour under the disadvantage naturally arising from their not being entirely under the management of the London Publisher.

There are other reasons which render London[54-*] the peculiar, and it might be said almost the exclusive channel for Publication. In it all the branches of the Periodical Press are conducted; Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly, the various avenues to the public, not only in this vast city, but in every part of the empire, and of the world, are here open, and consequently all the vehicles for Announcements, Advertis.e.m.e.nts, and Criticisms, are here only accessible. Add to this that from London every species of literary production is constantly despatched to every part of the empire and of the world, and it will then be seen how small a probability there can be that any work not Published in London can obtain even the most moderate share of general attention.

London Publishers are of two cla.s.ses: those who reside at the West End of the Town, and who confine their attention to Publishing only; and those who reside in the City, and who are also engaged in Wholesale Bookselling. Wholesale Booksellers generally devote their especial attention to the supply of the Retail Trade both in Town and Country.

Some make no further arrangements for Publishing than simply to supply, when applied for, such Works as their Country Correspondents, who are Printers, may have transmitted to them for that purpose; while others are Publishers to a considerable extent of what are called Standard Works--Works on Education, Science, &c., and such as are in regular and constant demand. To these, therefore, the attention of the City Booksellers is very generally directed; while that of the Publishers at the West End of the Town is almost entirely devoted to what may be called the Literature of the Day--Works of Amus.e.m.e.nt and light reading, Travels, Memoirs, Novels, Tales, Poems, and other productions of a similar character.

This distinction of the two Cla.s.ses of Publishers arises therefore, in the first place, from the nature of their avocations, and in the second from their peculiar Locality; the one having their Establishments in the centre of resort, for those who are engaged in Trade and Business; the other in that of Fashion and Amus.e.m.e.nt; so that there is not only a convenience but propriety in the arrangement that custom has established, that works of what may be called Current Literature should be Published at the West End of the Town, while those more immediately connected with the Business of Life should appear in the City.

It is generally understood that the name of an Established Publisher operates not only as a Recommendation to those Works to which it is Prefixed, but also tends to make them known through Extensive Connexions already formed. It also tends to a.s.sociate them with other Popular Works issuing from the same Establishment.

There are three modes of Publishing--that in which a Work is Published entirely for, and at the expense of the Author, who thus retains the Property of the Work; that in which the Publisher takes all or part of the risk, and divides the profit; and that in which the Publisher purchases the Copyright, and thus secures to himself the entire proceeds. The First of these is the basis on which many First Productions are Published; the Second, where a certain demand can be calculated upon; and the Third, where an Author has become so popular as to ensure an extensive circulation.

The first step that should be taken by an Author intending to produce a Work should be to take the opinion of an experienced Publisher, by doing which not only much unnecessary trouble may be spared, but frequently much unavailable labour and even expense. It is not at all uncommon for Authors, in the course of their reading, to become so impressed with some favourite subject as to conclude that it must prove of the same interest to others, and under this impression proceed to bestow considerable labour upon it. Had they, however, taken the course here recommended, they would probably have learned either that there was already some very similar Work, or that the production proposed would not, from some cause known perhaps only to the Publisher, be at all likely to meet with the success antic.i.p.ated. These are circ.u.mstances of constant occurrence, which the Publishers of this little Work have had frequent opportunities of knowing.

Generally speaking, Publishers are the most competent advisers on all subjects connected with their peculiar avocations, having constantly before them the best means of judging, and being naturally interested in the success of the Works in which they engage. Authors cannot therefore adopt a more judicious course than to commit the entire management of their Productions to their care.