CHEAP READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10249, 27 May 1911, Page 6

CHEAP READING.

A REMARKABLE WORK: 500,000 COPIES SOLD IN TEN DAYS. In the whole history of commercial enterprise, probably nothing of more vital importance to the thinking public has been more pronounced than the great change that has, within recent years, come over the method of the publishing of books. Until quite recently, any new work of, &ay, Biography, Travel, Science, and Philosophy was invariably issued at a. price that has been prohibitive to anyone other than those who were fortunate enough to be blessed with I unlimited means. As an example: Some two years ago the "Letters of Queen Victoria" were published. Ailmost everyone was at least curious to see this work. The cost, however, was £3 10s. The same book can now be obtained for something under 4s. This is astonishing, and on the face of it it is inconceivable to imagine anything in the way of a sensation as regards cheap hooks. Nevertheless we have to-day had the privilege of inspecting a. work that in this respect far outclasses anything of the kind hitherto published. The work alluded to is nothing less than an "Encyclopedia of Universal Knowledge," which Messrs Thomas Nelson and Son are now issuing in twenty-five fortnightly volumes at the remarkably low price of Is 3d per volume. Judging by the first volume that has just reached us, we are not surprised to learn that the sales for the first ten. days of publication constitute a record, and

that something over 500,000 copies have been disposed of. ' riie Times" describes the work as being of "amazing value," and the most competent judges consider it to be the most astonishing value ever issue?!

in the whole annals of British publishing. For ourselves (and we havt. carefully compared the work with others of a similar Mud), we find the first volume thoroughly up-to-date in every respect. It is produced in a maimer that does credit to the best traditions of English printers and hinders. In size it .measures 6} inches by 4 inches, and it contains 460 pages, closely hut clearly printed on excellent paper. It is illus-

trated throughout, and the binding, which is exceptionally strong, is the acm© of neatness. In order to realise the exceptional value and cheapness of this work, it is only necessary to mention that when complete it will contain more reading matter than the famous "Chambers Encyclopedia," which still costs £5, and that the fact of it being published by Thomas J\ T elson and Son is the best guarantee one can get as to its universal excellence. Messrs Nelson and Son are among the foremost publishers, and in Scotland the name of Nelson is venerated as an historic institution. Their name being associated with this Avork, ensures it as a standard reference, being quite as authoritative as even the "Encyclopedia Britanmica." W.e almost omitted to mention that one of the special features of this work is that it has been prepared with a view of meeting the requirements of the ordinary intelligent man or woman, and that while all the articles of a scientific or technical nature are written in non-technical language, the student, for whom no mere reference book is sufficient, will find at the end of each article a list of books which may be used for further study i or research. * i Our limited space does not permit us describing in detail all the special features of this work, hutMessrs S. and W. Mackay, booksellers, of Masterton, who insert an ad- . vertisement in this issue, will be glad to supply further particulars.