SALE OF ILLUSTRATIVE WORKS. 401 



the loss upon the publication; but when, out of 

 these scanty proceeds, eleven other copies are to be 

 carefully coloured and then given away, the proceeds 

 to set against the first cost would be nil. It might 

 be reasonably supposed, by any one ignorant of the 

 actual state of science in this country, that a work 

 which would thus fall, as it were, still-born from the 

 press, was either utterly worthless, or at least pos- 

 sessed no claim to scientific excellence or beauty of 

 execution. But such is by no means the case. The 

 author is of established reputation, the scientific 

 merit of the work has called forth encomiums in 

 British and foreign periodicals, and the beauty of 

 the plates excites general admiration. We could 

 give other instances of similar works published in 

 England sharing the same fate, although, perhaps, 

 not so deplorable. Enough, however, has now been 

 stated, to show, that, however excellent and lenient 

 the tax imposed by the copyright act may be, upon 

 the generality of authors ; still, that on the description 

 of works we are now considering, it is peculiarly 

 oppressive : inasmuch as it falls with a threefold 

 weight upon those authors who are least able to 

 meet the demand, and who receive none of the 

 benefits these laws extend to others. It is only 

 when a work is eminently successful, and has an ex- 

 tensive sale,, that piracy need be apprehended, and 

 the enactments of the legislature become really 

 useful. As for the value of copyright to the authors 

 of illustrated works on natural history, it is absolutely 

 nothing; for no one, with the least knowledge or 

 experience in these matters, would be so inconceiv- 

 ably silly as to infringe the laws for the sake of in- 



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