Collins White Circle 1942 Books Part II

In part I I listed the 50 books in the White Circle Pocket Library imprint that Wm. Collins Sons & Co Canada published in 1942. In a May 30, 1942 Financial Post article we learn that "early in the spring from 10,000 to 15,000 copies of a title were printed [now] increased to 15,000 to 20,000 copies a title." The article also notes that "$1,000 [of production costs] is said to be the minimum necessary to bring out one title."

The retailer would receive (based on an American article from 1941) between 7 and 9.5 cents. Doing the math, this means, at 25 cents retail, assuming 15,000 copies sold the publisher's income per title would be between $2,300 and $2,700. The total 1942 publisher's profit, after production costs, for all 50 titles would then be less than $85,000. Of course the cost of reprint rights plus overheads such as advertising, distribution and editorial would have needed to be covered so the net profit in 1942 for the White Circle imprint would likely have been much less.

White Circle S - 1942

White Circle B6 - 1942

White Circle C1 - 1942

White Circle C2 - 1942