J. D. B. Stillman

sometime ago that the dealers on the Pacific coast would not handle the book on a margin of 25%. We understood that you were going to refer the question to Gov. Stanford, since which time we have heard nothing and have, of course, had no orders of any account from any of the dealers there.

This closeness of discount appears to have worked somewhat against the book in other places, although of course not to the same extent as in California. We are inclined to think that if we had made the book Twelve Dollars and given the trade 40%, it would have been better. It is, of course, too late to raise the retail price now, but perhaps you and Gov. Stanford may think it wise to reduce the price to the trade to Six Dollars.

On July 1st we will send you an account of sales up to that date. This account will no doubt disappoint you as it has disappointed us in the number sold. The book is selling slowly though steadily, but at the present rate of progress it will take a long time to exhaust the first edition.

We were led to expect from our early conversations with you that Gov. Stanford himself would require a large number. We have, however, never received any orders from him except for twenty two copies.

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We send Gov. Stanford a copy of this letter.

Yours truly

James R Osgood & Co

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James R. Osgood & Co., Publishers,

211 Tremont Street.

Boston, June 16 1882.

Dr. J. D. B. Stillman

Dear Sir:

We have a letter from Mr. Samuel Carson dated June 14th in which he states that you were in his office, endeavoring to find a copy of "The Horse in Motion," without success, and also expressing the opinion that there is not a copy to be found in San Francisco.

We think it quite likely that this is true, and we are very sorry for it. We do not, however, feel responsible, as we pointed out to you

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know anything of the sale of the book except from you and that has not been much. I expected a reporta report from you on the 1st of June according to the agreement made with Mr osgood as the book was announced for sale in the papers on the 28th of February. So far as responsibility is concerned for the sale of the book, I am quite sure it cannot be placed on me so far as it has not been placed on the market in California. The terms on which it was placed in your hands for sale were gone over. I received your letter accompanied with Bancroft's and answered it sending the answer to Gov. Stanford for his approval with a request to forward it to you. It seemed too late in the day to advance the price of the book and as to giving

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Mr Bancroft the exclusive sale I did not approve and it seemed a great imposition to Mr Stanford to reduce the price to him, but as the case now stands on your statement of the slow sales, and the chief expense of a second edition being incurred I would advise that the reduction which you recommend in your last letter be made to $6.00. I was informed when in San Francisco that Gov Stanford had rec'd two boxes of books to be distributed as presents. The volume intended for the Prince of Wales was to have been accompanied with a note. As the Governor has now returned to California I will write him about it and send you the note of [recommendation]

Truly Yours

J D B Stillman

Reply to Jas R Osgood July 6th 1882

San Bernardino Cal

July 6th 1882

Mssrs Jas. R. Osgood & Co

Dear Sirs: Yours of June 26th is at hand.

It is true that I called on Mr Carson to find a copy of The Horse in Motion and could not find one in San Francisco.

I previously called on Mr Doing with whom Mr Jewett informed me he had made arrangements to sell the book by placing it in their names at a reduction of the cost of transportation, thereby putting them on the same footing as dealers in the East, but he told me that since Mr Jewett had gone he had heard no more about it. I have been but once since to San Francisco and do not

We enclose herewith statement of sales to July 1st - this being the date we understood we were to make it up. We have as yet heard nothing from the English copies sent on consignment.

The amount due under this statement is at your orders. Shall we use it to pay the balance of the Heliotype Printing Co's a/c, or pay it over to you, or hold it as against legal expenses? W Maybridge has returned, and last week he called on us and informed us that he should bring suit shortly.

Yours truly

James R. Osgood & Co