Joseph Pennell: Making Sure of Quality

"On the River" by Joseph Pennell

"Five books came out in the autumn of 1897: the third edition of 'Pen Drawing,' the second edition of 'Makers of Modern Rome,' 'Aquitane,' 'Cornwall and Devon,' and 'Charles Keene.' Hitherto his chance to see his books through the press was small as most of them were issued in America. But these new books were manufactured under his eyes with a friend as publisher, he looked for greater things. He seldom went out of town in the winter, he could watch them through their every stage. No detail escaped him. Paper, ink, type, illustrations, reproductions, copyright were passed by him, and he directed the distribution of the book, the places where it should be sold, the newspapers which should have it for review.

He sent old printing and publishing traditions flying. 'To me,' he said, 'the matter of trade and taste are of small moment in comparison with the making of a decent-appearing book.' If printers refused to understand his edicts conveyed by post, he would descend upon the printing works and deliver them in person. When they objected, he asked, 'Is it a crime for me to be interested enough in my own books to want to get them decent?' When he was admitted, if the printing had begun and he did not approve, it had to be begun over again. He would not stand the ink and paper chosen if cheap in quality or inappropriate. 

He would take no responsibility for mistakes. Nothing would induce him to pay for revision. He was not one of those authors who fail to read the publisher's agreement through and are appalled when they find what the unread clause on the subject lets them in for.

But if for certain additions for which he was responsible, the publisher refused to pay, he would settle the bill. He spent liberally in order to include the artists he thought should be included in 'Lithography and Lithographers.' He wrote to Fisher Unwin, 'I have got both Strang and Legros. The former wants 10 guineas and the latter 20. I am perfectly prepared to pay... and as I have now got all the big English lithographers, I may through Lemercier, make a try for two or three Frenchmen. Of course, I shall pay for them myself.' The book was ready in March and, thanks to his care, more satisfactory than he supposed possible."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "The Life and Letters of Joseph Pennell" by Elizabeth Robins Pennell.)