Re: publishing and sales data?

John Cole. (jrc@TEI.UMASS.EDU)
Tue, 9 Apr 1996 16:41:58 -0500

Does anybody know where I might be able to access publication and sales data
on academic literature (especially textbooks)? For example: I would like
to be able to find out how many copies of James Deetz's _Invitation to
Archaeology_ were printed in 1967, 1969 and 1971, and approximately how many
sold in those years? Is there a place where such information is compiled or
do I need to seek out individual publishing firms?
best,
Matt Tomaso
Anthropology
U. Texas Austin

Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.
Horace _Epistles_ I, xviii. 65 - 8 B.C.


REPLY--
My experience working on text6book reform says, "Good luck!" Seriously--these
figures are treated as industrial espionage material, especially for
textbooks. The info is VERY closely held. The Deetz book may not be a
textbook, by this definition, tho publishers tend to be secretive about real
sales (as opposed to "50,000 in print" claims). Authors do receive annual or
biannual roylty reports listing sales numbers at least from some publishers.

--John R. Cole
PS--By the way: Contrary to Horace, old textbook editions get vacuumed up
every 3 years or so to make way for a new edition!