THE 
MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 
No. 221.] JANUARY 1, 1812. [6 of Vox. 32. 
As long as those who write are ambitious of making Converts,- and of giving their Opinions a Maximum of 
Influence and Celebrity, the moft extensively circulated Miscellany will repay with the greatest Effect the 
CciXiosity of those who read either for Amusement or Instruction,-JOHNSON, 
TO OUR READERS AND THE PUBLIC. 
T he Matu rity of the Monthly Ma.gazi'SE having, independentli/ 
of its literary interest, developed the value of those parts of its plan 
which serve as Records of Literature and Science, and of the public and 
domestic History of the Country, the completion and the purchase of the en¬ 
tire Series, from its commencement in 1 79^ to the present time, has lately 
become an increased object with its friends and the public. The irregular 
demand for particular Numbers having however rendered those Numbers 
scarce, it has, for some time past, been matter of difficulty with the Proprietor 
to meet the wishes of the Public, by supplying those scarce Numbers, and 
impracticable to make up complete sets for many new Patrons of the work, 
who have been desirous of possessing it from the commencement. At length, 
pressed by numerous applications, he has felt himself warranted, by the in ^ 
creasing demand for back Numbers, and by the regularly increased sale of 
the current Magazines, in reprinting several of the scarce Numbers; and 
he has now the satisfaction to be able to inform all persons who are desirous 
of completing and binding their imperfect sets, that every Number of the 
Monthly Magazine may be had from its commencement, at the regular 
price of two shillings each. 
The public will justly estimate the dfficulty of keeping the back Numbers 
of a periodical work upon sale, when it is stated that every reprint of the 
Monthly Magazine, costs nearly Forty Pounds; and it is evident that 
the demand cannot support such an expence, beyond a certain extent of 
Numbers. A period must consequently arrive ichen it can no longer answer 
the purpose of a proprietor to I'eprint back Numbers, as ivell from the in^ 
crease of scarce ones, as from dea'ease of purchasers owing to the increased 
expence of the series. The inferences, therefore, which the Proprietor of the 
Monthly Magazine wishes his readers to draw from those self-evident posi¬ 
tions are, that it is improbable scarce Numbers can for any considerable 
length of time continue to be reprinted, and consequently that it is ne¬ 
cessary that those who are desirous of perfecting or purchasing a com¬ 
plete series, should effect their purpose as soo7i as convenient. 
Till certain scarce Numbers had been reprinted, the value of sets had 
yisen in public auctions from twenty-five to thh'ty guineas; but the repro¬ 
duction of those Numbers has enabled the Proprietor, for a limited period, 
to offer complete sets (/thirty-two volumes, with calf backs, uncut, 
at sixteen guineas the set ; or ivith Russia backs at seventeen pounds, 
twelve shillings;—single volumes at fourteen shillings per volume ;—or 
single numbers at the regular price of two shillings. 
For the commience of persons who find it troublesome or inconvenient to 
get their Numbers bound, exchanges will be made of complete sets bound, 
for clean Numbers, and a proportionate deduction made. 
Orders may be addressed either directly to Sir Richard Phillips, 
Ao. 47 , Ludgate Hill, or through the medium of the booksellers and dealers 
kn books in every part of the empire. 
Monthly Mag, No, 3,3 S X Pir 
