Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2407

Letter of June 26, 1955 to Heath from Glenn Clairmonte at 11 Waverly Place, New York City 3, together with a proffered contract of July 3, 1955 for Citadel, Market and Altar by publisher Nathan Sherman, The Blackmore Press

 

 

 

Spencer m’ lad!

 

When I got back from Long Island yesterday I had to go to dinner with a family who had special clams, then had to see Tennessee Williams’ play, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, and this morning went to church. I purposely delayed getting another copy of your book from Mr. Solomon until I could talk to Mr. Sherman, the publisher. He has just been here, and he agrees with me that the ms. does not need my kind of editing. He says it is a serious and well organized work which interests him especially because he has had enough experience in the realm to realize that it is the first attempt to give this scientific approach articulation. He says it must be an edition worthy of the dignity of the material and he has some ideas about distributing in a way to start controversy and he thinks it ought to be recommended reading for college courses (not textbook but outside reading). I think you will enjoy talking with him about it. He will phone me again on Tuesday to see if you have returned.

 

I hope you are out of the hospital by now and feeling real chipper. If you get here before I have to leave I’m going to ask if you WANT to drive a charming bachelor girl and me to Connecticut. So better hurry up!

 

Warm thoughts to you, and hopes that all is well.

 

Yours ever,

 

-G l e n n-

 

 

__________________________________

                                          

 

July 3, 1955

 

The Blackmore Press will publish CITADEL, MARKET AND ALTAR in a standard trade edition of 4,000 copies for a subsidy of $9,750.00. Publication is defined to include manufacture of the book; and a full program of promotion and distribution.

The author will receive a royalty of forty percent upon all copies sold at the retail price of $5.00. If there is sufficient demand for more than the first edition, succeeding editions will be published by The Blackmore Press at their expense, the author to receive a royalty of 15 per cent.

Our contract will require six months for the publication of CITADEL, MARKET and ALTAR. If work on the book can begin early in July, I believe we can have the book off the presses in from three to four months.

We will be interested in receiving suggestions from the author concerning the type of book he envisages. However, the publisher will have the final decision in this matter, subject to the contractual provision that the book will be designed and manufactured in manner and quality comparable to standard book practices.

Effort will be made to have the book reprinted abroad. The financial returns for this type of publishing for the author and publisher are small; however, both would have the satisfaction of knowing that the ideas presented in CITADEL, MARKET AND ALTAR are reaching; a wide audience.

The promotion program will include the distribution of a four-page brochure to as large a mailing list as can be assembled. A pre-publication, autographed edition will be offered to subscribers at the regular retail price.

In addition to the usual publicity methods of book-selling, the publisher, within reasonable limits, would be willing to act as volunteer consultant in the field of public relations and community organization to The Science of Society Foundation.

The publisher guarantees the production of a fine volume, and an expert program of promotion and distribution. He does not, of course, guarantee sales, but has high hopes.

 

(signed) Nathan Sherman

 THE BLACKMORE PRESS