ZT–Jansen McClurg & Co 12.9.1883

Zacharias Topelius till Jansen, McClurg & Co. 12.9.1883

Mess:rsMessieures J. M & C:o
Chicago.

1 Last January I had much pleasure in receiving your esteemed letters of the 23:d & 28:th of Dec., 1882, together with the first volume of the Surgeon’s Stories, old & new translation, as well as the notice ofProf. Andersson’s notice of this work. The second volume has since then also arrived. I thank you, Gentlemen, for this loyal attention to a foreign author to whom, (I am aware) you have no legal obligations.

2 My long delay in answering you has been caused by certain difficulties, the nature of which your differences with Miss Marie A. Brown must have made you only too well acquainted with.

3 As regards the question of right in this matter I, for my part, cannot form any decided opinion. You have paid for the copyright of her translation: probably the differences between you & Miss Brown (have arisen out of) depend upon some other stipulation unknown to me. It seems to me as if the principal source of disagreement were some point of literary sensibility, owing perhaps to the fact of Miss Brown’s name having been omitted on the title-page. The new version is better & more careful than the previous one, you have corrected errors & filled up defects. An author must acknowledge such a merit. The greatest part of the present version however, at any|| rate more than one half, is word for word the same as Miss Brown’s, and is thus a work of her hand. I think therefore she has a just claim to be named as joint translater.

4 Having promised the authorisation to Miss Brown, I cannot recall my promise before the question of the copyright is decided. Are you not therefore willing, Gentlemen, to propose an equitable compromise; I wish nothing better than to be able to approve your edition.

5 Moreover BesidesIf Miss Brown does not obtain a publisher, my obligations to her cease.

6 As to my conditions for giving over the copyright to a translation they are always as follows:

7 a) no addition, no striking out, no change of the text is admitted without the authors consent;

8 b) the publisher prints 3000 copies without any other recompense to the author than that of sending him 10 copies;

9 c) For every 1000 copies from the first 3000 and upwards, the publisher proposes (bona fide) a certain sum as fee to the author, and the author likewise accepts (bona fide) this proposal without up to 10,000 copies. From 10,000 & upwards both either party is is at liberty to insist on a new agreement. (From 10000 & upwards the matter to be regulated by fresh agreement.)

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10 Well, Gentlemen, at the present moment foreign authors are defenceless and publishers are at liberty to pay exclusive attention to their own interests. But the public conscience progresses, and a convention between the U. S. & Russia (Finland) concerning copyright is only a question of time. I think too you in any case allow an authorised edition some precedence.preference. I thank you for the introduction of my works in America and I moreover hope to have further occasions for expressing the great consideration with which I am, Gentlemen,

yours truly

Z T

Hfrs.
B.den, the [    ]Tomrum of August