=Translations.=--We arrange, where possible, for translations of books into foreign languages, dividing the proceeds with the author. The underlying theory of this division is that, with the publication of a translation, both the author and the publisher suffer from the loss of sales of the edition in English.
The foreign publisher generally has to pay to his translator about the royalties usually paid to an author, and accordingly the amount which can be charged to a foreign publisher for rights of translation is, except in rare cases, small. Translations must be regarded as a by-product.
Our attempts to market books in foreign languages from New York, or from one of our foreign agencies, have not been encouraging. Accordingly, the first question, when we are endeavoring to arrange for a translation, is for us to find a publisher in the country selected who will undertake the work of securing a translator and publishing the book. When a translator offers his services, we find it necessary to ask him first to interest a publisher in his own country in the venture.
=Prompt Publication.=--From the standpoint of both the author and the publisher it is desirable that a book should be put on the market as soon as possible after the manuscript is completed.
From the moment the publisher undertakes to manufacture a book he has an investment which grows rapidly and yields nothing until the sales of the book begin.
The production of technical books is delayed, generally, by one of the following causes:
(1) The author wishes to submit his material to his associates or to specialists in the field. Except for purposes of proof-reading such submission should be made in manuscript.
(2) The author fails to return his proofs and manuscript copy promptly. The prompt reading and return of proofs is of the greatest importance.
(3) The copy for the index does not follow closely upon the return of the final batch of page proofs.
The printer, the engraver, the paper manufacturer, the binder or the publisher may also interfere with prompt publication; but if the author's end of the work is handled systematically and promptly, we are generally able to control the manufacturing details.
Sundry missing or damaged punctuation has been repaired.