Page:On the economy of machinery and manufactures - Babbage - 1846.djvu/349

Rh We have shown in Chap. XXI. p. 205, the component parts of the expense of each copy of the present work; and we have seen that the total amount of the cost of its production, exclusive of any payment to the author for his labour, is 2s. 3d.

Another fact, with which the reader is more practically familiar, is, that he has paid, or is to pay, to his bookseller, six shillings for the volume. Let us now examine into the distribution of these six shillings, and then, having the facts of the case before us, we shall be better able to judge of the merits of the combination just mentioned, and to explain its effects.

No. I. the Publisher, is a bookseller; he is, in fact, the Author's agent. His duties are, to receive and take charge of the stock, for which he supplies warehouse-room; to advise the author about the times and methods of advertising; and to insert the advertisements. As he publishes other books, he