Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible SocietyBorrow, George
Religion
Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society
Borrow, George
Authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence; British and Foreign Bible Society; English letters
'After much consultation with the compositor, I have come to the
following result concerning the Mandchou business about which you
consulted me. If the work be printed on as thin paper as that of the
original, it can only be printed on one side. Now supposing that the
size is to be folio like that of the original, two sides will make a
sheet, and the price of composition will be 26 roubles, 20
copecks--that is to say; 12R. to the compositor, wages 2R. 50c.,
percentage to the printing office 11R. 60c., making 26R. 20c. The
printing of 1000 on one side 2R. 50c., percentage 2R., making 4R.
50c. Thus for composition and printing 30R. 60c. for 1000; for 2000,
35R. 10c.; for 3000, 39R. 60c.--
Your very obedient servant,
KORLER.'
In the meantime I had become acquainted with two German printers, Schultz
and Beneze, who being young men and just entered into business are very
eager to obtain the printing of a work of such importance, which they
hope will serve to bring them into notice, as well as being advantageous
to them in a pecuniary view. The difference, as to the expense of
printing, in the estimate made by these gentlemen and that of the
University Press, will doubtless as much surprise you, as it did me.
Here it follows:
'In respect to the printing of the New Testament in the Manchou
language, the undersigned oblige themselves to undertake the printing
of the said work. In the first place, as the Bible Society, and in
particular their agent Mr. Borrow, think fit to furnish the printers
with the necessary types and paper, the undersigned offer to supply
the sheet consisting of four pages with composition, clean and black
printing, at the rate of 25 roubles, paper currency, for a thousand
copies; for two thousand copies, five additional roubles assignats,
so that the same sheet, only by a greater edition, amounts to 30
roubles assignats; thirdly, for 3000 copies in the above proportion,
35 roubles. Fourthly, we promise during the interval of a certain
period to supply at the rate of three sheets per week.
SCHULTZ & BENEZE.'
You will perceive that the amount of this estimate is less, by more than
one-half, than the amount of the other. Schultz and Beneze's sheet
consists of four sides, and they charge less for it than the printers of
the University charge for theirs which consists only of two. I should
therefore think that upon this ground they are entitled to the
preference, were there nothing else to recommend them, which, in my
humble opinion, there is; for being young beginners, and not having very
much to do, they are more likely to push the work forward, than a firm
overwhelmed with business, from whom, whatever might be promised, a sheet
per week is the utmost to be expected, by which much valuable time must
be lost. Dr. Schmidt is acquainted with Messrs. S. & B., and highly
approves of their being employed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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