The Literary Revolution 
Story of the March 
Reinforcements 
The foundation of this enterprise was laid in New York, by the manager of the Ameri¬ 
can Book Exchange, in September, 1 S 75 , the capital in hand consisting of about fifty 
volumes of old books, about $70 in cash, and a favorable acquaintance with some thousands 
of Readers throughout the United States, with whom he had had dealings previously. 
For nearly three years the business was limited to exchaitging Second-hand books and sell¬ 
ing miscellaneous new books. In March, 1 S 78 , the business had grown to such extent 
that the American Book Exchange was organized as an incorporated company, and the 
business already established was transferred to it. 
1 he entire business transactions of the year 1 S 7 S aggregated about $ 30 , 000 . In the 
autumn of 1878 , it was decided to enter into' the business of publishing as well as selling 
books. 0 & 
In January, 1879 , the first volume was published, being volume one of " Chambers’s 
Cyclopaedia of English Eiterature. The cash sales for the year 1 S 79 aggregated about 
$ 100 , 000 , including second-hand books, and miscellaneous books of other houses as well 
as its own publications. 
During the year 18S0, the business of the company has grown beyond all precedent in 
publishing. Transactions have been limited almost entirely to publishing and selling its 
own books. Nearly 750,000 volumes have been manufactured in the binderies of the com¬ 
pany; over 1,000,000 volumes have been printed, and about 40,000 pages of new books 
put into, type and electrotyped. As many as 300 pages, containing nearly half a million 
printers "ems, have gone into type in a single day. For a period of more than 
three months, during the busy season of manufacturing, an average of over forty steam- 
piesses were constantly printing the books. 1 he cash sales of the year foot up $ 414 , 243 . 15 . 
I his remarkable growth of the business has not even approximately kept pace with the 
demands of the public upon us. The limit has been our resources for manufacture. 
1 he public has so long been taught to believe books to be expensive luxuries and low 
prices impossible, that incredulity has from the first been the greatest obstacle to the 
progress of the Literary Revolution. It was easier to make good books cheap than it was 
to make people believe it could be done. We could readily have made prices even lower 
than they have been, but for the terrible tax we have been compelled to pay to this incredu¬ 
lity. During the past year wc have paid $ 77 , 824.85 for advertising—an item which has to 
come out of the profits wc make on the books sold. Perhaps a thousand times during the i 
year,we have heard how rival publishers, who wished it might be true, have said that wc I 
coma not afford to male e books so cheap, and we must pail, and our friends have continually 
asked can you do it ?—haw can you afford it ?—will you continue? 
As one step toward the removal of this incredulity, and thus further increasing the 
possibility of multiplying good books at low prices, we will give a few simple facts and 
figures: 
“ Gcikie’s Life and Words of Christ” was published in 1 S 79 by D. Appleton A Co. at 
the price of $3 ,00 per copy for the cheapest edition. In December of that year we published 
an edition which cost: 
sss° in P r ' ce paper has varied consider¬ 
ably during the year, the above figures are 
i’:lio 00 ^ased upon the present cost of paper. There 
must of course be some further deduction 
1,360 00 made from the gross profits named to cover 
1,600 00 expenses of handling, and some small neccs- 
a, 3 u 2 in sar y expenses for advertising to customers 
that the book is published, but the figures 
1,050 00 £ l Y en sufficiently illustrate the possibility of 
eisiwoo this Revolution. 
7 i&w oo The unexampled success of ilu's Revolu- 
’ tion has resulted from the fact that it has 
k met the real wants ej the public. Urgent 
1 U ' 1 ' calls are every day being made upon us for 
,, , , , ... , cheap editions of scores and hundreds of 
other good books which we have not yet published but which will in time be added to our 
'l*. h T \ S a . mit to what can be done in a year, and a very much smaller limit to 
what can be done in that time with our present capital. We have decided to extend this 
imi by enlarging our capital. Do any of the friends of the Literary Revolution want to 
ave an interest in this enlargement? Wc do not solicit investments' from them, but until 
$100,000 additional stock is taken, preference will be given to applications for shares of 
capital stoex in small sums. Because the personal influence of every stockholder is sure 
to result in strengthening the enterprise, we would much prefer to receive $ 10.00 from 
each of ro.ooo persons scattered throughout the country, than to receive $ 10,000 from each 
01 ten persons. 
. T , he f. ock wiU be issued in shares of $ro each, and is.offered at par value in cash, and 
is we? subject to assessment. 
Dividends are declared once a year, in January, of profits accruing during the previous 
year. „toek issued after lebruary 1 , will receive a pro rata dividend from the full year’s 
ficrimniintY f t*Arvi tl-in i... •_ *u .1 r J 
lion will become t he most popular publishing house 
nan in the country. Herewith I hand you $10 as a 
sslon, Kan, 
lostal received, and I herewith inclose a cheek on 
- ■ -- Miy order. Jtyfirst impulse was to take ten 
, - want (o cultivate a grasping spirit, I decide 
very truly, E, L. S. 
,!ETr.y' vill f 11 salary of about $200 per annum, yet I feel for mv own sake, and also for 
si'ce,..7 a. v that, r can spare the above ($2oi for two shares interest in the work, r wish 
....’ -(Uev.) \v. Ff».fcKR, Steplientown Center, N. Y. 
1 have full confluence In your integrity, honor.aml success. For the inclosed 
--E. O. Htilbs, Preston, Md. 
i , -;r .■, '•"* ."«™. »..J my whole heart wishes yon God-speed 
inclosed please fiud till) lor one share of stock. Mbs. Jennie s, Souires, Fort¬ 
in the world, its patrons will include 
subscription to capital stock. t\ F. Hi 
Philadelphia, 1 mo., 22, 18.81.—Rospe 
llundrcc .. m , 
times this amount, but ."is 1 do not nrnt to make tuoilev, and don’t 
to let others havtf the chance. But l want ten sharer.. " 
I am a 
the sake oi . | __ JH|| ...,„ w ... 
you every success in your more flittO iaUdable’tVnderiaitiio;. 
I wish I could send you $MJ0. I 
$10 please enter my name as a stockholder. 
in so ] mdd e 'an S'l j r ? a , "umber of your books, and my whole heart wishes yon God-speed 
land, n! Y ‘ ,D unis' - Inclosed please fiud *10 lor one share of stock. Jilts. Jennie S. Squires, Cort- 
send te b a Ord?.-, Sift ycarS - 1 pr ° 1,08e to bcco,nc a stockholder by 
til)K\l luolcse$10 hcIp “ " nrt mysolr at llle 8a,no 
fi'ok uiion tour enterprise as one of the most beneficent educational agencies of the nineteenth ceil- 
linii ft ui fm-oVi’,.' !7,r "’rf "I? 1 »l‘* rs 111 elevating the literary tastes of the people of this country. Inclosed 
11,1(1 Sal lor on t si Kite of stock. S. Mansfield, Wflpplugor's Falls, N. Y. 
I hiHoio y ^)iVr!!2i , wo r ’ ,, i' >r . ,s }ll° means of hlrsslng many, many thousands more than have been yet reached. 
I UK lose 5,20 fur two shares. (Hev.l John Noon, Amherst, Mass. 
lie wm'i^ilof C 7.', t, ! US,r (V n V, v *' r lh< ’ Revr.ltitton. I envy the man of his glory Who organized the movement, 
glint' J F Vouv MavtlnsSurg 1 'oK['! UClanvc ,,wwler ® of good books. Inclosed Bttd$W. I wish l could invest 
co,,a l M!i,','„ lak i'\ M ST?,* ym'r/’ompany ever since its first publication, and think It a wonderfully 
good Hung. I send you $3«J. \\ m. II. Uovr,, .Salem, Mass. 
\ llle 7,T dially nct ‘T® y°dr proposul mid will take ten shares, for which f inclose $100. Charles Clark. Greeu- 
„ work, inclosed find $10. I wish I could take more. I find your paper a perfect 
gem. 13. J>. LKt.oETT, Concordville, Penn. 
It seems to the you have already done more to disseminate good reading, among n class of neonle who 
ot “«* book firms m die 
i.'i bUJUv, lb. UTTItil, (jUodt 1. 
Rliion YJo’-Tmo 1 ' < ]o r T,‘’ « s, o < 'o' R ,0 ° ‘Mnptmjr With privileges attaolied, and here is $10. I think your propo- 
sinomsa tut. (Ucv.) 8. M f Tlmmoston, Comb 
CT°» n 0,0 lirsl a beep interest in your enterprise of giving good books to the millions, ami as 
It KcooL^^arn'toutf CoUege 1 '^'J 1 *^ l ° 8Ubs< ? rll>a r,J1 ' llve shares, and inclose cheek for $50. Prof. Ebwakd 
... ., I ,' f ! v ‘'L r,n , cl . ud , r<l . to ' is k in . 1,10 Uterary Revolution. So long as you continue to publish good books. 
For making the electrotype plates. 
26,001 copies Acme edition printed, cost for 
paper aud printing, at 12 cents . 
Binding of the same in cloth, at 9 cents... 
8,0oocopies Aldus edition, printed, cost for 
paper and printing, at IT cents. 
Binding of the some In half Russia, gilt top, 
at 2o cents... .;. . 
Total cost of 31.01X1 copies. 
26,000 Acme edition, estimating all sold tit 
greatest club rate of discount, 50 cents 
each, less 15 per cent. 
8,00o Aldus edition, ditto at $1.00. 
Total receipts for 31,000 copies. 
Gross profits in one year from an invest¬ 
ment of $ 882.16 . . 
“ A Dutchman’s 10 per cent” profit! Do 
we can afford it ? 
Cyclopaedias. - 
bibtary of Universal KnawMip. barge typo, 15 Volt. Cloth, 
$1}.00; nnif Russia, <jj!t ^| (| ^2^.A0, 
Chainbrrs’e Eni-yt'Iiijtii'iliri. Small tyn,', 1 S V,,i .. Cloth. #7.50, 
American A.Miriom. Lur^o t.vfi:,' 4 Vob, Clntli, i l.iw; half 
Runsia, gilt toj>, 
Library of History. 
Milnmii'f OitihnnRome. 5 Vul«. Cloth, AJ.OO; half Russia. 
Kilt top. ft.an. 
Macaulay’s Eaghtml. 3 Vi,ls. Cloth, #1.25; half Russia, gilt 
lun. jf 
Rr,Hill’s Ancient History, Cloth, if 1.75 ; half Russia, sprinkled 
(‘tvu-y'- rj/twmPocitiAv Rnlili'* oftlio 'W'nrM. CJ'*lh, JJ5 rents. 
I’li'ishiiri’t Cbronick-. lllmiruted. Oloili. exi»;ic-»lt,irilt 
etlirt-S i-J.bU. 
PRKI'AKfNG: Gri'ltriro.'re, Momti' Roine. Green’s 
(lui-tferj EnpliitHl, Mu8roi» ? > Frnmv, (.‘firlyle’* I'ruiich Rev- 
oliitiun. Aliihst lliKrumnv, brlilllrr'- Thirty Years' War, A ili, 
lory of llie United Status, hy an umimnt htstorioo. 
-Acme Library of Piet ion. 
Sir Walter Scolt’s Ivunhi* 1 -, cunts. 
Advjmtarusui 1 >,iq Qollvt". lllu.ur. 50 cents. 
11agile,\ Tom lintiVT, :,i Raghy, Alt cents. 
Citi-pcr*. Uitoflts Motilciuis, :co cents. 
Bidv'cr’, I .list pass of I’lmipull, r M> cents. 
Varda; A Rotnnncc of Am-lcnt Egypt, 35 cents. 
George Eliot’s Hounds, 35 cuts, 
Irving’s K olekethneker, 30 cents. 
FREPARIXtt: Dickens's Iht' i,l Conperfield, Thackeray’s Netv- 
eotnet, Vi-'h i Hugo’s Lts M V’cahl,-,, Kliigsley's livpatla,'Goethe’s 
Wilhelm Meiitor. la- Sage’s Gil Bin;. Jean I'nttl UlehU r’- Titan, 
Madame tie Steel's Coritllie, TiugeiieitT* Father, ami Sons, Gc.a-ge 
McDouakr, Alee Forties, Me. Mnla.k craik's .1 hit llallla.v, Char- 
h'ttu firoute'. Jane Eyre, Cltarle, Kc.-Lil, Love .Me Llltlu. 
Literature—Classics. 
Chambers's Cyelojtnnlia nf English Literature. 8 Vols. in 4. 
Cloth, # 2 . 00 ; half Russia, gilt tnp.’if l.oii. 
Acme Library of Modern Clu-sics: (list series. Vicar ofWake- 
6el.l, Ra>-chf. Fieeiolii, Paul ami Virginia, I'mliiie. anil The Two 
Captain,; in one Yul. Cloth, lu edits ; half Russia, gilt top, SO 
eeliU. 
Mnooulity’s Cnmjilt ! • E.says and P,wans. 3 Vols. Cloth, 81.80: 
hall Rmda, gill top, # 2 . 70 . 
The Koran ,.f Mohammed. Translated hy Rale. Cloth, 3n cents; 
half Rmvla, gilt top, DO cents. 
_ American Patrioti-m. humous Orations and Patriotic Papers, 
from Washington to Lipeoln, Cloth, 50 edits ; half Russia, gill ton. 
$ 1.110. 1 
The Choice of Books, Bv Charles p, Richardson. Extra cloth, 
?5 cents ; cheap paper edition, 5 cents. 
.Juvenile Classics. 
Itiinyan's Pilgrim’s I’rngrnfs. Illustrated. Cloth, 40 cents. 
1 he Arabian Nights. Illustrated. Cloth, 4(1 cents. 
Robinson Crusoe, Illustrated. Cloth, 40 rents. 
Adventures ..f Baron Munchausen and Gulliver’s Travels, in one 
sol. Illustrated, t'loth, dO.cents. 
'I he Book ol Fables. By .”,up ami others. Illustrated. Cloth, 
40 cents. 
Cecil’s Books of Natural History. 3 Vols. in I. Illustrated. 
Cloth, # 1 . 00 . 
Stories and Ballads. By Ellon Tracy Alilcit. Illustrated, Cloth, 
50 cents. 
Revolution Pamphlets. 
Literary Revolution Curiosities, all in brevier or larger type. 
Macaulay’s Life ot Frederick the Grunt, Former to fee. 41.95. 
Price, 3 cents. * 
Carlyle’s Life nf Robert Burns. Fortner priec, #1.25. Price, 3 
cents. * 
to.wu uticreu ior sale. uncle bam s Tarm is an 
immense y large one, and there will be enough people not stockholders remaining who 
will want books, from whom we can earn ” profits ” for “dividends.” 
Remittances for capital stock should be made to 
John B. Alden, President, 
EXCHANGE, 
TRIBUNE BUILDING, NEW YORK 
ANAGEU 
AGENTS WANTED for “The Ladies of the White House 
in the Homes of the Presidents.” the most interesting hook 
WASHINGTON LIRE over published. A History of every 1 
io present time. Includes much 
(■!■ before published. Address WW 111 1III 0 fi If «hfr. 
\Tobtxr.\-.‘i Jk«km * * t Aa H'ett, IJuUUJUUU 
Nacres w*D.wale«d 'J’lniljer and Prairie Lands 
1 N\ l ‘ l0 U : Utakno rif the St. Louis nrnt Sao Fran- 
■ij XcIeco R. H. for sale at fro in #2.50 to £8 
S 0 • Nj H -' r n N r 9 frH Ayrrri j/earn’ ffi nr. Free trans- 
from Bt. Louis to purchaserB 
VvEST Sena far maps and circulars, 
-N^VdH. Doffix .Lantl Commissioner, 
Garmore’s Artificial Ear Drums 
I*EKI i:t II,Y ItlNTOItH TUB IIRARIMI 
and perform the Work of the Nkilural Oriim. 
Always ill pokilion, liut in vioiblo to ottirrw. All 
Conversation nud * veu wlus,pers heard di.itinelly, W» 
refer to those u«lng them, (rood for descriptive Circular, 
(iAiHiintK x to., nr Nhhhuii 8t.*. New York* 
or 8* W. tonur X Uucc HIr., i'lneliMiuil* O, 
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY 
AGENTS WANTED FOR THE 
SUMMIT 
i 8tove-I*ipe Shelf .-thr most 
l ctmeenienf article ever offered to Routt* 
keeper*. One Agent made 1^114,67 in tei% 
*- No freight charge*. 
Ad4r««»,fi. 8. IfABTZELL A CO. 
Itt South TkUJ 8t v PhUadelphla. 
MEm Til* LAMP WIC K. ■_ ! 
Gives a Brilliant, Whitts and Steady l.igtit, reiiuires 
Ao T'l-imuilng, and lasts for man tits. 
Circular and Sample Wick sent for 10 conts. 
Metal Tip J.miip Wick t u,, 
Ayatts Wauled. _70 Coi tlumlt, St.. Now York. 
........ K v."one jiuu uommiHsioner, 
MISSOURI N?^ 16 Building, St. Louie, Ma 
Ihe addresB of a good lionest working man, that 
would be willing to come to Ohio. A man of a family, 
and under 35 yeara of uko. To eiicli T wouJd ^ive 
steady omploynient. 
O. F. BKNTON* St. Marys, O. 
dlUtEE MONTHS ON TRIAL for lO cents 
. THE FEOPLb S JOlUiNAL. Hagerstown, Md. 
thograpbod Chromo Cards, no 2 aliko.Ulo. Name 
fancy typo. Conn. Card Co., Northford.Ct. 
