Longman's Colonial Library

I recently posted on a new book ; The Stark Munro Letters published by Longman's Colonial Library. This led me to look into newspaper articles providing some context for how and why a specific Colonial printer was created.

Let's look at some Australian articles, then a few from other Colonies. A few themes that emerge include the challenges obtaining literature across the Colonies, and the pricing of UK editions being out of reach of most people in the colonies. Articles from India and Barbados capture the same challenges, and highlight the locations books were distributed to.

These notes will be a good starting point for a new article. 

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA)

Mon 22 Aug 1892

Guy Bolding, in "The Caxtons," rode 30 miles in Bushland to have his offer of thirty sheep for a copy of "Kenilworth" refused. There are still many colonists who can recall the time when this implication on the scarcity of bush libraries was justified, when the most populous districts offered but imperfect opportunities for mental improvement, and a stray out-of-date novel or a work on the management of sheep was often all that even a prosperous country house contained in the way of literature. Nowadays we have changed all that. 

Readers have multiplied, as have books, and with the present facilities for communication it is not difficult for dwellers in the antipodes to keep themselves abreast of the newest thought of the old world. The difficulty is rather in an embarrassment of riches, the more so since London publishers have taken to catering especially for colonial readers by giving them the prior benefit of reduced prices, so that the best works are placed in the reach of the most moderate of colonial incomes at the very moment of publication, and before their prices in England render them available to any but the subscribers to the great libraries. 

This has been a feature of Messrs. "Macmillans' Colonial Library," and now our attention is invited to "Longman's Colonial Library," containing, like the other, the newest and best copyright works of fiction and general literature. The books in 'Longman's Library" are printed in the same type and on the same quality of paper as the more expensive editions for the home market, and special note is made of the fact that as far as possible they will contain the same illustrations. To this library the publishers promise to add from time to time standard works of solid character.

The Mercury (Hobart, Tas)  

Thu 22 Sep 1892

T WALCH & SONS' ADVT., No. 6,800.

LONGMANS COLONIAL LIBRARY.

A Series of Copyright Books of the day, issued at the following prices for the COLONIES ONLY:

In Paper Covers - Half-a-Crown.

In Cloth Lettered - Three and Sixpence.

The First and Second Volumes of Longman's Colonial Library are now ready, and others will be issued monthly.

Vol. 1. Nada the Lily. By Rider Haggard. Illustrated.

Vol. 2. Micah Clarke; a Story of Monmouth Rebellion. By A. Conan Doyle.

Postage Paper, 4d. Cloth, 6d.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic)

Sat 24 Sep 1892
Longman's Colonial Library. — Through Mr James Ingram, we have received the latest volume published in the series known as Longman's Colonial Library. It is the popular novel by Rider Haggard — "Nade the Lily." Beautifully printed, embellished with spirited illustrations, and comprising none but really high class works of fiction, this excellent series is published at a marvellous low price, and books which in England cannot be obtained for less than a sovereign may be purchased in the colonies for the eighth of that sum. Longman's Colonial Library is thus remarkable in three respects. Tlie literature is high class and new, the printing and general get out are admirable, and the price is such as to bring the books within the reach of all.

 

The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser (Qld)

Thu 20 Oct 1892

We have received from Messrs. J. H. Robertson A Co., Stationers' Hall, one of the latest of that excellent series of fiction, Longman's Colonial Library. The volume is Micah Clarke, by the well known author of The While Company, Dr. Conan Doyle, and is undoubtedly one of the best historical novels of the latter half of the century. It deals with the stirring days preceding the Revolution of 1688 and the interest mainly contres round the melancholy figure of the Duke of Monmouth, that strange mixture of chivalry and pusillanimity, who ended his brief, inglorious career on the block after the rout at Sedgmoor. The book is rich in character, and the weird old-time setting possesses an indescribable charm. The story will be read and re-read, each time with increasing interest. The pity is that there are not more of such books, and less of the mischievous novels under which the publisher's press groans dally.

The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld)

Sat 25 Feb 1893

Longmans' Colonial Library.

Australians are in an enviable position in regard to their supply of fresh literature. New books, which are being sold in the old world in their guinea and a-half three-volume form, are furnished to colonials at about one-tenth that rate by the enterprise the great publishing firms of London, who recognise that Antipodeans are a reading people, provided they are well catered for, at a price within the reach of all. And seldom, indeed, is a book placed upon the list of any firm's colonial library unless it is an assured success in the home of letters. Among the old country firms who have recently entered the arena for Australian patronage is that of Messrs. Longmans, Green, and Co., who, in July last, commenced the issue of their colonial library with Rider Haggard's new novel "Nada the Lily." This was followed in August by "Micah Clarke, " by A. Conan Doyle, and in subsequent months by O. Phillips-Wolley's "Snap," Canon Farrar's "Darkness and Dawn,'' Rider Haggard's "She," and Sir Edwin Arnold's "Seas and Land." Such names as these and such varied types of literature any publisher may conjure with, and it will be passing strange if the Longmans' Colonial Library, although so young, does not immediately command the popularity which it deserves.

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA)  

Mon 27 Nov 1893 

REVIEW.

"The Refugees:" a Tale of two Continents, by Dr. Conan Doyle.—Longmans' Colonial

Library.

Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co. deserve the gratitude of Australian readers for having added Dr. Conan Doyle's historical novel, "The Refugees" (received through Messrs. Geo. Robertson & Co.) to their "Colonial Library." Readers of "Micah Clarke" and "The White Company" will rejoice at the appearance of a cheap issue (designed exclusively for sale in the colonies) of Dr. Doyle's latest success, which compares favorably with those two works, and, as a source of instruction and interest, leaves far behind many even of the most popular of the "romances" of which, since Stevenson's "Treasure Island" delighted lovers of fiction, there has been quite an endless stream. 

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Barbados Herald 

Monday 30 October 1893

Longman & Colonial Library. 

MESSRS LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO., the enterprising publishers, are introducing a series of works into the British Colonies, under the title of Longmans' Colonial Library, which comprises not only the favourite novels of the day but also Standard Works of the best authors. The intention of the publishers is to make the Colonial Library an ever-increasing catalogue to which, from time to time will be added for circulation in India and the Colonies, the productions of all the famous novelists and writers of the day.

The following books, Specimens of Longmans' Colonial Library, have, through the courtesy of the publishers, been forwarded to us : 

Snap, by PHILLIPPS-WOLLEY ; The Refugee, by CONAN DOYLE ; Short Studies on Great Subjects, by FROUDE; The Mischief of Monica, by WALFORD; The First Crossing of Greenland, by FRIDTGORF NANSEN; Beggars All by DOUGALL ; Micah Clarke, by CONAN DOYLE; Seas and Lands, by Sir EDWIN ARNOLD; Eric Brighteyes by RIDER HAGGARD; Nada the Lily, by RIDER HAGGARD ; She, by HAGGARD; and Allan Quartermain by the same author. 

From the above list it will be seen that the works of which the Colonial Library is comprised, are the works of the day and not authors who being left to languish in despair by the British public, are bought cheap and poured upon the heads of unoffending colonists. The project of Messrs LONGMAN, GREEN, & CO. is a bold one and deserves the gratitude of all English speaking Colonies. To be treated as colonists, to ??? all to ourselves is a fact of which we may reasonably be proud, and we may be more grateful that Messrs LONGMANS, GREEN, & Co. have departed the usual modus operandi of dealing with the Colonies, by giving us a special edition of the best that the Mother Country can produce. It used to be an old habit of the English merchant to ship off to the Colonies and sell at exorbitant prices all his refuse stuffs for which he could not effect sale, and even at the present day good and port wine which is abundant in London is never seen in the West Indies at least. The Wine Merchant, acting on the superstition of his forefathers, believes that the West Indian taste requires a liberal supply of honey, and logwood should be added to, and consequently effect the spoiling of, every pipe of port exported. Any attempt therefore to place before us a good article at a very cheap price is a departure from the usual mode of the English Merchants dealing with English Colonies, and will certainly be appreciated. Events have shown that the above publishers have taken hold of an opportunity which may never be offered again, at any rate in this quarter of the globe. For years, owing to the very unsatisfactory condition of the Laws of Copyright as internationally arranged between England and America, the moment a popular book was published it found its way into the United States where it was published in a cheap form, and thence scattered broadcast among the British Colonies to the great injury of  the author who thus found the sale of his work (which was perhaps an expensive one) confined to the United Kingdom. The recent changes in the copyright agreement have to a considerable extent stopped the flow of cheap editions of good English authors into this and other Colonies, and Messrs LONGMANS, GREEN, & Co. have undertaken to feed the reading public of HER MAJESTY'S Colonies with literature, a taste for which has already been created, at prices which place them within the reach of all. 

It is a relief to turn from the cheap editions of books which used to be imported here to Colonial Library, the general get up of which makes it quite worthy of a place in any library. The books are bound in post octavo size, with handsome paper covers. Indeed, a good many of them team with illustrations throughout, but above all, and this is a point worth the especial attention of readers, the print is large and clear, being either pica or bold face long primer, so that the eyes do not get injured by the trying and confusing type which generally characterises cheap editions. 

The price of each volume of Longmans' Colonial Library is two shillings, so that our readers will see that each of them may have a creditable library of authors who are best known and read, at a very moderate cost. It is our sincere wish that the response which Messrs. LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO may meet with, will encourage them to give us more and more of the literary gems of the world.

Colonies and India 

Saturday 19 May 1894

LITERATURE 

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. By A. CONAN DOYLE. (London) Longmans, Green & Co.) 

SHERLOCK HOLMES is ubiquitous now-a-days. No man may escape his keen eye and deductive methods. Age cannot stale nor custom wither his infinite variety. He meets us at every turn, and ever affords us some delightful detective story. He now appears incorporated in a volume of Messrs. Longman's "Colonial Library," with cleverly done illustrations, some of which stir the pulse and erect the hair. The only fault—if fault it be—we can find with our old friend Picklock Holes — that is—er—Sherlock Holmes—is that he lends himself too readily to the sacrilegious purpose of the parodist. So accurate is his judgment that he can tell the inevitable Watson's weight within half a pound. Says he to that adventurous medico, "How do I know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and careless servantgirl'!" Holmes explains that he sees it and deduces it. Of course, Watson is, as usual, profoundly astonished, as all that his friend says is correct. This sort of thing occurs every few pages, and nothing could be funnier than Watson's continual remarks something after this style: "1 saw by the look of his eye that the sleuth-hound within him was awakened ; " "I was simply dumbfounded by this fresh instance of his almost preternatural penetration ; " and so on ad lib. Notwithstanding these little absurdities, however, the tales are written with wonderful vigour and freshness, and fully deserve their popularity. 

Homeward Mail from India, China and the East

Monday 22 November 1897

LONGMAN'S COLONIAL LIBRARY

(A SELECTION)

By A. CONAN DOYLE

The Refugees. With 24 Illustrations.

Micah Clarke. With 10 Illustrations.

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. With 25 Illustrations.

Last Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. With 25 Illustrations.

The Sign of Four.

The Stark Munro Letters.

The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard.

The Captain of the Polestar.