QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S CHIUST-MAS GIFT-BOOK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14381, 26 November 1908, Page 5

QUEEN A LEXANDRA'S CHIUSTMAS GIFT-BOOK.

'' .. A UNIQUK VOLUME. ''■■ (Fnoii Oct. Own Corhesponmkt.) LONDON, October 16. An announoement in the' columns of tho Daily' Telegraph of the coining publication. ' ' of a unique volume of photographs taken by her Majesty tho Queen Hasi excited the deepest and most widespread, .interest. .From an early hour it was: evident that there would .be an unprecedented demamf , for '"Queen Alexandra's Christmas) Giftbook/' which is'.made up of '* Photographa from my <amera," and the proceeds of , which are to go to charity. .''By post iiid telegraph messages were received from'all parts of the United Kingdom from booksellers and others anxious to co-operate in lior Majesty's kindly scheme " for charity." One of the most'nlcasant features of this early demand was the spontaneous manner in. which newspapers alt over the country Hastened to offer their services." in cooperating with the Daily Telegraph.' Not only were the 1 advertising columns of thoso > journals freely placed at thai disposal of ' ' the publishers, in order that it might come under the notice of readers in all parts of Great Britain and Ireland, but newspaper offices, were generously suggested as' 'convenient central depots for the work of disr tribulion. The first day's orders practi-cally-absorbed the whole of the first impr'essibn of 100,000 copies; .and, 250,000 copies wore sold in the first three days. The scale upon which booksellers, newsagents, and others placed orders within, a few hours, of the first announcement- is without parallel. , ' ..'."'' Mr George Edwardes lias expressed his willingness to purohaso. 1500 copies of,the Queen's book, which ho intends to' distribute at a matinee of the "Merry Widow" at Daly's Theatre. Eighteen of the leading shipping companies have goiierously offered to comev tile book free nf charge or to sell it on (heir steamers. These companies will be able 1© effect the distribution/ | of the volume practically all .over, the world. Tho. sales on these ships will, it is believed, absorb about 25,000, copies. The companies which arc prepared to assist' in / ' this .manner include the New -Zealand Shipping Company and the White Star • Line. . The strictly net p'rico of the vo!umt>. is 2s 6d. ; ..;'.-■- / ■It may. bs stated that in preparing thd ■Christmas Gift-book for . publication her Majesty the Queen had been pleased to receive the advice' an,d..'assistance of.'Mb .Ralph Ball Cama, ■'■'"- '■■.'-. .