John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 October 1868
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 October 1868
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 October 1868
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1868-10-20
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 October 1868
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 379.
Edinburgh | October 20/68.
My Dear Madam
I am happy to tell you that the second edition of the Gypsy is so nearly out of print that we ought to proceed with a reprint at once.
We have been considering what shape we ought to throw it into and think that a page like the inclosed, which will make a handsome volume of about 416 pages to sell at 7/6, is about the thing to do now. Of this we would propose to print a thousand 821 and then stereotype, paying you a lordship of 1/6 on every copy sold.
The sale is very gratifying, especially considering the number of hostile criticisms, and I am in great hopes that the Poem is working its way into the knowledge of the general public. Whether it is not too refined ever to reach the point where a cheap edition with a view to a vast sale one cannot tell, but at present we certainly do not think it would be wise to try that plan.
We propose to settle with you for the first and second editions at the turn of the year, but if you have expected the payment sooner it will be quite the same to us.
You will now I suppose be fairly settled in London for the winter, and I hope you are both well and strong. Are thoughts of writing in your mind? We still linger in the country but will break up from Strathtyrum at the end of the month. It always makes me melancholy to leave the country, but I intend to have ten days of it yet.
Tell Lewes that I have a review of his book 822 in forthcoming number which I hope he will like. I daresay I do not require to tell him who is the writer. Look at the beginning of a story called Doubles and
Quits 823 in the next No. It is not in your line, but I should like to hear what Lewes and you think of it.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes
The inclosed specimen page will best give you an accurate idea of what the size of the book will look. It will be a volume like the small edition of Aytoun's Lays. 824 I think I must have given you a copy of that; if I have not tell Langford to send you one.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 379.
Edinburgh | October 20/68.
My Dear Madam
I am happy to tell you that the second edition of the Gypsy is so nearly out of print that we ought to proceed with a reprint at once.
We have been considering what shape we ought to throw it into and think that a page like the inclosed, which will make a handsome volume of about 416 pages to sell at 7/6, is about the thing to do now. Of this we would propose to print a thousand 821 and then stereotype, paying you a lordship of 1/6 on every copy sold.
The sale is very gratifying, especially considering the number of hostile criticisms, and I am in great hopes that the Poem is working its way into the knowledge of the general public. Whether it is not too refined ever to reach the point where a cheap edition with a view to a vast sale one cannot tell, but at present we certainly do not think it would be wise to try that plan.
We propose to settle with you for the first and second editions at the turn of the year, but if you have expected the payment sooner it will be quite the same to us.
You will now I suppose be fairly settled in London for the winter, and I hope you are both well and strong. Are thoughts of writing in your mind? We still linger in the country but will break up from Strathtyrum at the end of the month. It always makes me melancholy to leave the country, but I intend to have ten days of it yet.
Tell Lewes that I have a review of his book 822 in forthcoming number which I hope he will like. I daresay I do not require to tell him who is the writer. Look at the beginning of a story called Doubles and
Quits 823 in the next No. It is not in your line, but I should like to hear what Lewes and you think of it.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes
The inclosed specimen page will best give you an accurate idea of what the size of the book will look. It will be a volume like the small edition of Aytoun's Lays. 824 I think I must have given you a copy of that; if I have not tell Langford to send you one.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 October 1868, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/95220