1895 Catalogue Foreword
The present List were incompletely set forth did not its publisher thank his clientèle of book-buyers for the very liberal way they have encouraged him in producing choice editions at moderate prices. He has a deep sense of personal friendliness from and toward a widening circle of book-men and women throughout the country, and gladly makes mention ot it here. To these, in a brief page or two, he would touch upon his aims in publishing, and state why he limits himself in production as well as in his selection of Literature.
Four years ago Mr. Mosher issued his first volume, believing that in the field of accomplished book-making there was a reviving interest that demanded satisfaction, and so far had not found it. He felt that what was being done abroad would bear transplanting. He did not feel it was needful to become an American factor of any London publisher, however excellent. For he saw, as many critics are seeing today: though much much produced there and imported here with mere change of imprint, exquisite so far as book form went, it was nevertheless largely literary impressionism, brilliant, defiant, but unsatisfying.
Perhaps no more noble words could be found than those taken from Ruskin, expressive of what is desirable to perpetuate in type. In this passage from Sesame and Lilies lies an entire book-making creed. As stated in the preface to THE BIBELOT it was not the publisher’s wish to exploit the new forces and ferment of fin de sîecle writers. Rather has he sought to appeal to a more catholic and saving taste in Literature ‘that is not of to-day nor yesterday.’ He would offer the less accessible ‘things that perish never,’ showing by his printed work that beautiful typography and inexpensiveness need not lie far apart.
The question of price,–a fair and just one for all concerned,–was duly considered and the net price system chosen as the only equitable one, of which it is no longer possible to say ‘it is an experiment.’ It was decided, too, that editions should not be made so large as to almost necessarily result in depreciated remainders; nor yet so very limited as to render their value a fictitious one.
Finally,–a little matter it would seem,–dainty bindings soil easily, and even the best English houses still send out their finest volumes with flimsy wrappers, oftener with none at all. Trifling details, it may be, yet adding much to the life and health of a book! With Mr. Mosher’s publications each has its parchment wrapper and slide case properly labelled, fit for the library shelf.
Book buyers are asked to consider these things, and to insist, if need be, upon getting Mr. Mosher’s editions. Where book-sellers appear indifferent, orders should be sent to him direct, as the mail equalizes distance, and all his books are post-paid upon receipt of net price.
The right is reserved to advance prices without further notice after the first demand for a book is over.
This List will be sent to any address forwarded the publisher by those receiving it, who wish copies mailed to their book-loving friends.
1896 Catalogue Foreword
In presenting his Autumn List the publisher desires to renew his thanks to the clientèle of book buyers scattered throughout this country, including also a very generous minority from over sea. As Mr. Mosher’s circle of friends widens he realizes how inadequate are personal replies to each individual; his works rather than his words must speak for him. It is possible, however, in a brief way to indicate the motif underlying his scheme of publication, and this he trusts will not appear unworthy of passing attention.
Mr. Mosher’s reprints are in most instances of books no longer procurable except in First Editions which have become hopelessly high-priced, or of volumes that have never received the typographic care their merits demand.
There are, regrettably, authors who prefer remaining out of reach; who take as it would seem, a pleasure in their books bringing as many guineas as originally they brought shillings. If, ignoring this insular view, something worthy our lasting regard can be withdrawn from the limbo of lost literature is it not well done to reclaim it? For ‘Oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy,’ and so many happenings come to mar our leisure, so few are the all golden hours of dawn, that one must select wisely, else his opportunity is gone. Should not the publisher see to it then, bringing together not a mere hap-hazard of titles, but, as it were, books not wanting in unity of design, or destitute of cumulative value?
Nor is it enough to possess world-wide masterpieces of literature put forth in some utterly inconsequent fashion. We can never have too many beautiful books, to whose making must go adequacy of format and genuineness of paper, margins of just proportion, simple yet artistic cover designing;–as a result things of beauty rather than of mere utility, and all this at a moderate price.
Conscious effort alone can ensure these desiderata: perhaps no one publisher has ever reached the ideal limit of book-making. And yet it is an incentive to know what has been done, while striving to equal if not to surpass it. To what extent Mr. Mosher has succeeded within these self imposed conditions, the present List is his tentative reply.
Finally,–a little matter it would seem,–dainty bindings soil easily, and even the best English houses still send out their finest volumes with flimsy wrappers, oftener with none at all. Trifling details, it may be, yet adding much to the life and health of a book! With Mr. Mosher’s publications each has a parchment wrapper and slide case properly labelled, fit for the library shelf.
Book buyers are asked to consider these things, and to insist, if need be, upon getting Mr. Mosher’s editions. Where book-sellers appear indifferent, orders should be sent to him direct, as the mail equalizes distances, and all his books are postpaid upon receipt of net price.
The right is reserved to advance prices without further notice after the first demand for a book is over.
This List will be sent to any address forwarded the publisher by those receiving it, who wish copies mailed to their book-loving friends.
1897 Catalogue Foreword
Once more Mr. Mosher’s thanks are due the clientèle of book-men and -women who for the past six years have shown an ever-widening appreciation of his efforts in producing choice editions at moderate prices. The present List indicates more clearly than before the publisher’s fixed policy in selection, the ten new volumes offered this season being notably those no lover of beautiful books would willingly neglect.
Some of the special features of Mr. Mosher’s editions demand a passing remark:
I. His various Series are printed from the type upon hand-made paper, no electro-plates being used.
II. Every volume has its parchment wrapper and slide case, properly labelled, ready for the library shelf. This is a trifling detail yet much is thereby added to the life and health of a book!
III. The prices are net, postage included; and remittances can be made by cheque, Post Office or Express order, or by New York draft.
IV. The right is reserved to advance the price without further notice where an edition not to be reprinted is announced of any work.
V. This List will be sent to any address received from those who wish copies mailed to book-loving friends.
Mr. Mosher omits printing the very many favorable notices he has received from leading critical journals. He is not the less grateful because space prevents quoting their words of praise. He feels, indeed, that without this public as well as private encouragement his attempts at book-making might have lacked immediate recognition. He likewise feels that his imprint may now be accepted as standing for books to whose making has gone adequacy of format, genuiness of paper, margins of just proportion, simple yet artistic cover designing–and which are in one final word–Literature.
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In response to many inquiries Mr. Mosher desires to say that he has printed a sufficient number of his book-plate on Japan Vellum, which he will be pleased to send upon application to those interested in Ex Libris.
1898 Catalogue Foreword
With the yearly growth of Mr. Mosher’s List, he feels that the personal good-will existing between book-lovers and himself not only widens but deepens as well. Conscious of a clientèle which has come to look for certain definite results at his hands in the somewhat unique capacity of editor and publisher combined, he believes that he has not disappointed reasonable expectations.
It is not,–it never will be–his aim to see how many books he can bring out in a given season. Every reprint has been carefully considered not only by itself, but relatively to the Series in which it appears.
This year some very notable additions to the List still further emphasize the fact that the hap-hazard quality, seemingly inseparable from works that are published in a Series, has so far been avoided. Introuvables such as The Germ, and The Heptalogia; a second re-issue of Essays from the Guardian; Modern Love with the inclusion of eleven poems from Mr. Meredith’s 1851 volume:–reprints of this kind indicate no falling off in the ensemble of Mr. Mosher’s publications.
In this connection it may not be inappropriate, or devoid of interest, to mention the fact that American and foreign binders have chosen many of these books whereon to lavish their skill. In America, Mr. Otto Zahn, the Misses Nordhoff and Bulkley; in London, Miss Prideaux and the Guild of Women-Binders have re-clothed in exquisite bindings not a few of the special copies of Mr. Mosher’s editions.
Thus this little collection of books from wide-existing lands and literature has been brought together, to find a still wider appreciation. And for such sympathetic recognition it is Mr. Mosher’s pleasant task to render thanks in this brief Foreword–as from one bookman to another.
“La vie est vaine,
Un peu d’amour,
Un peu de haine,
Et puis–bonjour!
“La vie est brève,
Un peu d’espoir,
Un peu de rêve,
Et puis–bonsoir!”
1899 Catalogue Foreword
Five years ago in the Foreword to his short List, enumerating seven titles all told, Mr. Mosher ventured to say: “If I can produce books equal to the choicest here or abroad, it is evident that such work is not excluded from the republic of book-lovers by any local surroundings however isolated.” What was thus put forth, tentatively rather than as an irrefutable statement, has since become a verity. His List, including the new titles for 1899, now embraces over sixty works (not counting out of print volumes), which are, as examples of careful book-making, well known both in America and England.
A friendly critic recently commented on what seemed to him a curious little detail:–that Mr. Mosher was the only publisher who dared to send out a List of Books with uncut edges. It was not so much courage that induced him to do this, as a recognition of the unique pleasure which is to be derived from leisurely cutting the pages of a Catalogue, having pretensions of its own quite apart from being a List of desirable books for sale.
It is believed that this season’s output will enhance the prestige which these editions already enjoy. A reprint of Swinburne’s incomparable first series of Under the Microscope has long been a desideratum, while the rarity of Under the Microscope and of Symonds’ Wine, Women, and Song renders such re-issues peculiarly acceptable to book-men.
The many words of encouragement and good fellowship received from widely scattered book-lovers the world over have been of great personal aid and delight to Mr. Mosher, who hopes he may look forward to other years of enlarging regard. And, mingled with the pleasant sentiment of conveying thanks for this appreciation, comes an unfailing tinge of regret, that–with so few of these friends is it permitted to touch hands,–a regret so inevitable, whether we part with smiles for a brief season, or for that longer period which comes at last to all.