EVOLUTION OF SUBSCRIPTION SALES
17th Century - England
John Minsheu
Ductor in Linguas, or The Guide into Tongues
London: John Brown, 1617
This is the earliest known book to be sold via subscription. In this instance the method of financing the publication through subscription was initiated by the author. With only the income of a teacher, subscription allowed Minsheu the ability of publication through a means other than financing it himself or seeking patronage (both methods he had employed previously). (Salmon, 2003, pp. 262).
"A worke for all Louers of any kinde of Learning"
As can be inferred upon examanition of the description provided on this title page, this was a scholarly book aimed at personal educational pursuits.
Image Courtesy of http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/agents/case2.html
Ductor in Linguas, or The Guide into Tongues
London: John Brown, 1617
This is the earliest known book to be sold via subscription. In this instance the method of financing the publication through subscription was initiated by the author. With only the income of a teacher, subscription allowed Minsheu the ability of publication through a means other than financing it himself or seeking patronage (both methods he had employed previously). (Salmon, 2003, pp. 262).
"A worke for all Louers of any kinde of Learning"
As can be inferred upon examanition of the description provided on this title page, this was a scholarly book aimed at personal educational pursuits.
Image Courtesy of http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/agents/case2.html
18th Century - England
Daniel Defoe
The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe and The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
London: John Stockdale, Picadilly, 1790
By the middle of the 17th century and through the 18th century, selling books through subscriptions was an accepted method of financing expensive and prestigous works. "The response" to the sale by subscription of this book "was overwhelming and generous" (Griggs).
Image Courtesy of http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/defoe/rceditions.html
The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe and The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
London: John Stockdale, Picadilly, 1790
By the middle of the 17th century and through the 18th century, selling books through subscriptions was an accepted method of financing expensive and prestigous works. "The response" to the sale by subscription of this book "was overwhelming and generous" (Griggs).
Image Courtesy of http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/defoe/rceditions.html
18th Century - United States
The Holy Bible
Philadelphia: Printed by Mathew Carey, 1790
Subscription publication began in the American colonies during the 18th century. Since printers and the populace alike had few financial resources, subscription publication was an important method of publishing works that would have been published without subscription financing in Europe.
This is the first Catholic Bible printed in America. Without a significant demand for Catholic Bibles in America, the only possible way for Carey to print this work was by securing at least 400 subscribers.
Image Courtesy of http://greatsite.com/ancient-rare-bibles-books/bibles/mc1790/
Philadelphia: Printed by Mathew Carey, 1790
Subscription publication began in the American colonies during the 18th century. Since printers and the populace alike had few financial resources, subscription publication was an important method of publishing works that would have been published without subscription financing in Europe.
This is the first Catholic Bible printed in America. Without a significant demand for Catholic Bibles in America, the only possible way for Carey to print this work was by securing at least 400 subscribers.
Image Courtesy of http://greatsite.com/ancient-rare-bibles-books/bibles/mc1790/
19th Century - United States
Mark Twain
Life on the Mississippi
Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1883
While subscription publications declined in England from the late 18th century on, this system of publishing books was just reaching its peak in America during the 19th century. However, unlike in England where subscriptions were primarily reserved for very expensive works, in America subscriptions were taken for popular books such as this to be accessible to all.
Image Courtesy of http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1299208890&searchurl=an%3Dmark%2Btwain%26amp%3Bbsi%3D30%26amp%3Bds%3D30%26amp%3Bfe%3Don%26amp%3Bpics%3Don%26amp%3Btn%3Dlife%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bmississippi
Life on the Mississippi
Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1883
While subscription publications declined in England from the late 18th century on, this system of publishing books was just reaching its peak in America during the 19th century. However, unlike in England where subscriptions were primarily reserved for very expensive works, in America subscriptions were taken for popular books such as this to be accessible to all.
Image Courtesy of http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1299208890&searchurl=an%3Dmark%2Btwain%26amp%3Bbsi%3D30%26amp%3Bds%3D30%26amp%3Bfe%3Don%26amp%3Bpics%3Don%26amp%3Btn%3Dlife%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bmississippi
20th Century
D. H. Lawrence
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Florence (Privately Printed), 1928
Although declining in America, subscriptions continued to be a method of selling books throughout the world, particularly those that were difficult to obtain or educational in nature (which were aimed at students). Due to the sensational subject matter and language of this book, traditional publication in America and England was banned thus subscriptions printed elsewhere were one of the only means of obtaining it.
Image Courtesy of http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=2063434218&searchurl=bsi%3D0%26amp%3Bds%3D30%26amp%3Bkn%3Dflorence%2B1928%26amp%3Bsortby%3D1%26amp%3Btn%3Dlady%2Bchatterley%2592s%2Blover
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Florence (Privately Printed), 1928
Although declining in America, subscriptions continued to be a method of selling books throughout the world, particularly those that were difficult to obtain or educational in nature (which were aimed at students). Due to the sensational subject matter and language of this book, traditional publication in America and England was banned thus subscriptions printed elsewhere were one of the only means of obtaining it.
Image Courtesy of http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=2063434218&searchurl=bsi%3D0%26amp%3Bds%3D30%26amp%3Bkn%3Dflorence%2B1928%26amp%3Bsortby%3D1%26amp%3Btn%3Dlady%2Bchatterley%2592s%2Blover