Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

G. P. PUTNAM & SONS, 4TH AVE. & 23D ST.

1870.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

A FEW words may be expected from the Publishers, in closing this second series of Putnam's Magazine, and in introducing the new periodical which will take its place.

It is not necessary for us to dilate upon the pleasures or the pains, the encouragements or the annoyances, connected with this department of a publisher's business.

The present Magazine was very generally and very kindly welcomed; for the earlier volumes, under the management of Messrs. Briggs, Curtis, and Godwin, were favorably and freshly remembered.

If we may take the verdict of perhaps ninety-nine out of a hundred of both our critics and our correspondents, during the last three years, we have the right to infer that the new series has given "general satisfaction" to its sensible readers, especially since it has had the supervision of Mr. Godwin. If a few insensible critics—for any reason, good, bad, or indifferent-have now and then dissented from this general verdict, their right to do so in this free country may not be questioned. Probably not many have spied out our defects more keenly than we have ourselves. If our own ideal of a Magazine has not been in all respects achieved, perhaps the fault is not wholly ours.

Our friends and contemporaries who have given us words of cheer and kindly appreciation, and have expressed regret at our transformation-and their number is legion-will accept our hearty acknowledgments. Insignificant exceptions to this general good-will

scarcely need mention.

This Magazine has had a larger circulation than several of its contemporaries at home, and much larger than a dozen of the English magazines whose names have been familiar for many years. Yet it is more and more evident that the paying popular taste calls for something different; it may be higher or lower, better or worse. But those who pay their money have a right to the choice.

We have aimed, from the first, to produce a Magazine wholly ORIGINAL, and essentially AMERICAN-i. e., devoted largely to American topics as a specialty. We have avoided all temptations to reprint from foreign magazines, or to cater for any thing merely sensational." In this we may have been Quixotic; but the aim, at least, was fair.

Doubtless better things may be done in this direction than we have been able to effect; but, so far, the best material sent to us-out of some 3,000 MSS.*—or, at least, those papers which were apparently most acceptable to our readers, have been printed in the six volumes now completed.

We now ask those who have expressed a friendly appreciation of the "pea-green," to permit us to introduce its better-looking successor, and to give it a fair and candid reception. Retaining an interest in the sale of this new work (our edition bearing the name of PUTNAM'S as well as "SCRIBNER'S "), we ask our friends and correspondents to continue their subscriptions to us, in reasonable confidence that they will receive the full equivalent for their money.

The exact number is 3,035 in three years: that is, about ten times as many as the six volumes could contain. Our contributors have all received their pecuniary compensation. We wish this had been a great deal larger; but we may state our relative reward thus:

(RECAT)

[blocks in formation]

1060

By profits on outlay of $100,000.....

1

[ocr errors]

bee.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

59767

« IndietroContinua »