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A study of colonial editions in Australia, 1843-1972 Graeme Johanson Published by Elibank Press (2000) |
Book description
"Colonial editions in Australia, 1843-1972" summarises research into booktrade history. It has impact on
Australian cultural, economic, literary and political identity. Millions of copies of "colonial editions" were
published in the United Kingdom and shipped to British colonies as "the latest" in novels.
Australians purchased more of them than any other country, until the 1970s, sustaining the local reputation
of high literacy, enthusiastic acceptance of new products, and cultural dependence, which still persists.
They provided essential income for Australian booksellers; they assisted in closing the Australian market.
British publishers covered their costs of the first print-run of the new edition of a novel with the "colonial
edition" alone. It provided the largest single portion of income initially for them.
Australian authors could reach a world-wide audience by means of this form of publication from the centre of
the political Empire. In fact, local authors became better known when published in "colonial edition" than
when published locally by an Australian publisher. American publishers relied on them for reprinting
Australian fiction, legally and illegally, for the north American market, including Canada.
This books traces the evidence -- statistical, anecdotal, documentary, commercial and
governmental -- of these benefits provided by "colonial editions" to all the parties involved.
About the Author
Dr Graeme Johanson is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Information Management & Systems at Monash University.
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