Page 5 Advertisements Column 5

Evening Star, Issue 13102, 7 November 1908, Page 5

At its present pr/^ The Times’ History is the CHEAPEST book ever published, but thisprice refers only to the Subscription Edition, for which the LIST WILL NOW SOON CLOSE. A single payment of Tje is all that is required to secure delivery of the History at the subscription price; but that 7/e must be paid NOW. If you have received a subscription form USG it at once ; if not, write for one, and the 84-page pamphlet. TO-DAY. Begun ten years ago, when the question of its ultimate price had occurred to no one, the History was brought to completion at a moment when The Times was contending that the current prices charged for new books of general interest were exhorbitant. The Times had arrived at its conviction in this matter from experience of The Times Book Club-—a library and bookshop established by The Times in London for the use of its subscribers. It is unnecessary here to enter into the history of what has become known as the “ Book War.” Suffice it to say that when the “ war " was at its height the work of making the History came to a completion. The Times to seize the opportunity thus offered of giving practical expression to its advocacy of lower prices for books. The History—a work which had been prepared with the greatest care and at a heavy expenditure (£70,000),. to meet a generally 'felt need should be published at such a low price as should justify beyond all loubt the attitude assumed by The Times towards other publishers. The drawing (reproduced from a photograph) below, will suggest the extent to wheih The Times has succeeded in its object. The two. piles of books here showmeost the purchaser in New Zealand the same amount. But striking as the contrast looks, the difference is really greater than is suggested by the photograph. A computation recently made reveals that books sold at such prices as those charged for the three here shown give the reader, on an average, 739 words for one penny; the History, at the introductory subscription price, gives 4,585 for one penny, so that the price charged by The Times is actually less than one-sixth of ordinary book prices. But, this price which is, as it was intended to be, a record, could only be named in respect of prompt purchasers of a subscription edition. The subscription list has already been closed in England and the price raised. I would be in time to take yoar advantage of the offer in New Zealand you must apply at once. A feature which, in the opinion of The Times, particularly condemns the ordinary system of publishing, is the custom of re-issuing an expensive book at a lower price, if, in spite of its exhorbitant price, the expensive first edition proves successful, thus doubly penalising the early buyer to whom the book owes its success, by first overcharging him for the copy he buys, and then depreciating its value by the issue of a cheaper edition. The Times reverses this process, opening a subscription sale at the lowest price immediately upon publication. Those who decide to purchase while the subscription list remains open, secure the best terms, and the higher price is reserved for those who come later. In order to derive the advantage of the system instituted by The Times, theraforet you must make your application for a set of the History' at once, before the subscription list closes. INQUIRY FORM, to the times (London). n.z. office, 2 Harris st.. Wellington. Please send me. post free, 84 page descriptive pamphlet of the Historians’ History of the World, with full particulars, and form of subscription at the present temporary price. , L m-11 wl-l^ L atiw 5 k s acptkg t/i 'Bos* £ '■ w"iTi v i YrMiffijaataM m .Si SSK as | iisg i * f. Sc tea w *a | »x ® 3 woe a; Ob.O z | s>o» ul mi >- S S» B kO. o mm : v> COO Sr • ' r - £ W - - 1 ' ■■ v flcOu,o wwgo v>k 2650? \SE ac » |i rA; v- A- jn-r.-Att; iufeilaafciaf «K ; CB PUjS B&& 3°?S These two piles of Books cost the same amount. On the left hand are shown nine volumes of the History, tor which—at the present subscription price—The Times charges the purchaser in New Zealand the same price as is asked for the three recent books shown on the right hand of the photograph. i) k /// r i B \ K BPS* «a» m •E A So long as the subscription list remains open, a single payment of only 7/6 brings the complete set of THESE 25 HANDSOME VOLUMES WITH OAK BOOKCASE IF DESIRED. Carriage free to any port or railway station in the Dominion, or to any address within the 2-mile radius in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and 18 other towns. Dimensions of Books: — 10\ inches high, 7 inches wide, indies thick. The Bookcase stands 4 feet high. . Name Please write clearly. . Db7 Address