Item 2a - Letter from Kenneth Sisam to R. B. McKerrow

1 single sheet, 1 envelope

Clarendon Press, Oxford.—Proposes terms for publishing McKerrow’s ‘Elements of Bibliography’, which he and Chapman think would make an excellent small book.

(With an envelope.)

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Transcript

The Clarendon Press, Oxford
24th July, 1939.

My dear McKerrow,

Chapman and I have both had time to glance at your Lecture notes, and we think that when you have revised them as you suggest, eliminating the lecture forms, they will make an excellent small book, particularly suitable for those Library Schools in America which cannot afford the bigger book, and also for beginners at research in the Universities here.

I think the price should be 5s. The booksellers do not like very cheap books which are inevitably sold in single copies, because their working costs on them are too high, and anybody who wants them will pay 5s.

We should propose a royalty of 12½% of the United Kingdom published price on all copies sold in the United Kingdom, and 10% of the U.K. published price on all copies sold for Export or in the United States: you will know that a good deal of the U.S.A. demand does not come under this latter category, because so many copies are bought through agents or booksellers in this country.

We should supply you with 12 free copies.

Chapman thought it would be best if he raised any points of detail after you had revised the MS., as it is quite likely they will be taken up in the course of your revision.

I hope this will encourage you to get on with it. I am myself leaving on Thursday for a longish holiday in the Scilly Islands: August is a dead month with us, and I expect to be back about mid-September. I hope you will have good weather for your own holiday.

Yours sincerely,
Kenneth Sisam

Dr. R. B. McKerrow,
Picket Piece, Wendover, Bucks.

[Direction on envelope:] Dr. R. B. McKerrow | Picket Piece | Wendover | Bucks [Redirected to:] 11 Warwick Rd | Cliftonville | Margate

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Typed, except the signature. At the head is the reference ‘P.12977/K.S.’ The letter was sent by registered post, the envelope being postmarked at the Secretary’s Office, Clarendon Press, Oxford, and at Walton Street, Oxford, on 24 July 1939; at Aylesbury, Bucks, and at Wendover, Aylesbury, Bucks, on the 25th; and at Margate, Kent, on the 26th. ‘Registered’ marks were also added at Oxford and Margate.

Sent with Add. MS a. 355/6/2b.