Description:

Americana



Sell Books, Get Free Watch or European Vacation! Attractive 19th Century Publishers' Advertisements

 

2pp double-sided newspaper page entitled "Our Premium Circular, For the Encouragement of Agents who are in earnest and want to make money at the book business." Featuring lovely half-page illustrations of products and services promised to book-selling agents of the Historical Publishing Company, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, ca. 1875-1900. Printed on yellow paper. With light expected paper folds and gently chipped edges, else near fine. 6.25" x 10.125".

 

Front page: Book agents were promised a two-month-long all-expenses-paid European vacation to "Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, the Baden States, Germany, Belgium and Holland" as long as they sold 500 copies of company-published titles, excluding Bibles. "Our object in arranging for these European tours is to stimulate those who engage in business with us to canvass regularly. A few months' regular, every-day work will convince any person who tries it that there is more money in the book business than anything else…"

 

Back page: Canvassers achieving their book-selling quota could also receive a complimentary Elgin National Watch Company timepiece, because, "Whether you go to Europe or not, you will want a nice watch…" Watches varied in quality, from an open-faced silver pocket watch, to a solid gold hunting case watch!

 

The Historical Publishing Company proliferated thousands of popular books throughout the United States in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It often published the works of James William Buel, known by his pen name J.W. Buel (1849-1920), the author of dozens of adventure books. Buel explored natural history, human interest stories, and travel accounts of Africa, the American West, and Siberia; celebrities including outlaws; and natural wonders found on land, sea, and in cities. His books, while informative, also relied on sensationalist tactics, and were profusely illustrated to appeal to mass audiences.

 



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University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000