In Monthly Volumes, each containing Three Hundred and Twenty Pages, and
from Thirty to a Hundred Engravings,
Price Half-a-Crown, Beautifully Bound.
* * * * *
The Age in which we live is essentially of a _practical_ character, and the
predominant principle influencing all classes is a marked desire for
_cheapness_. Cheapness, however, is too often found without excellence, and
hence this proposition to supply a deficiency at present existing in the
popular literature of this country.
For some time past the projectors of the present undertaking have felt
interested in watching the result of an experiment simultaneously made by
the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Book Trades; and, having seen that cheap,
and occasionally indifferent literature, "got up" in a most inferior
manner, _will sell_, they feel assured that good and judiciously selected
works, having the additional advantage of COPIOUS ILLUSTRATION, being
produced with the utmost attention to general excellence, and published at
the moderate price fixed upon, cannot fail to secure extensive patronage
from the Reading Public. The principle upon which they can undertake to
supply good books at a low rate is, that being themselves the _actual
producers_, they are enabled to save the public the expense of all
_intermediate profit_.
As a practical explanation of the above views, THREE SAMPLE VOLUMES of the
"NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY" were published on the 31st of March. It will
be observed that these volumes are widely different in character, in order
that the public may form some idea of the extent and variety of the series
generally. Afterwards, one volume will be issued monthly. Each volume will
contain at least 320 crown octavo pages, illustrated according to the
requirements of the subject-matter, by from 30 to 100 illustrations, and
will be _strongly bound_ in ornamental cloth boards. Thus, for 30s. a year,
in the course of a short period, a Library of great extent and interest may
be formed, which shall furnish materials for instruction and amusement
during the course of a long life.
The chief advantages which this series of works will present over all
others--more especially the closely printed double column editions, and the
new fashioned, though equally objectionable, Shilling books, with their
numerous errors, thin paper, and flimsy binding, are the following:--
1. A carefully Revised Text.
2. Judicious Explanatory Foot Notes.
3. Engravings really Illustrating the Text.
4. A new and legible Type.
5. Good Paper and Printing.
6. Strong neat Binding.
In carrying out their undertaking it will be the endeavour of the
projectors to bestow upon Half-crown Volumes for the _many_ the same
typographical accuracy, and the same artistic ability, hitherto almost
exclusively devoted to high-priced books for the _few_. Supported by the
co-operation of the Reading Public, no pains will be spared to provide
every English home with a complete treasury of knowledge and entertainment
in the volumes of the "NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY."
* * * * *
The following are the Volumes which appeared on the 31st of March,