General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

A UNION OF INTERESTS AND EFFORT

Would it not be best for us to arrange for a union of effort between the managers of the London publishing house and the managers of the Bible Echo which shall secure the co-operation of authors and tract societies, so that whenever a new book comes out from the American houses, there will be someone responsible to give it a thorough examination with reference to its usefulness in the British field, and to correspond with tract societies, and inform them as to the advisability of using the American edition, or of waiting for a British edition? GCB April 2, 1901, page 9.6

There could be an agreement between the London and Melbourne publishers that the burden of adapting and issuing such works shall be divided between the two houses, and that both houses unite their efforts to make a successful sale of the British editions of books that are brought out by either one. GCB April 2, 1901, page 9.7

Could we not secure such a system of co-operation between the London and Melbourne publishers and the tract societies that authors would feel it worth their while to meet the expense of having books adapted to the British field, and thus by furnishing manuscripts ready for use, place the British publishers upon as good a footing as the American houses which have a territory that is much more easily worked, and which at present will quickly absorb twice as many books? GCB April 2, 1901, page 9.8

May we not arrange with the Review and Herald, the Pacific Press, and the London and Melbourne publishers such agreements regarding territory as will protect the British publishers against loss through the premature importation of books from America which, a little later on, might be secured from the British houses? ... GCB April 2, 1901, page 9.9

It is perfectly plain that we must not take any step nor make any rule that will prevent our people from obtaining the books on present truth as quickly as possible after their publication, but it seems to be equally plain that definite arrangements should be made by which the purchaser of plates and rights to territory will be protected on two points,—first, the canvassing field must not be entered until the party responsible for the territory consents; second, whatever books are shipped into the territory, that have been sold by publishing houses outside of that territory, should be subject to an adequate percentage, that should be paid to the party that has incurred expense in its behalf. GCB April 2, 1901, page 9.10