Letter from A.P. Watt to Messrs Osgood, McIlraine & Co.
Harper & Bros, Graphic 1898 story, serial and book rights, Grey Man terms, dramatisation rights, royalty increase, corrections
Acknowledges receipt of Messrs Harper & Bros letter 2nd inst and their letter 22nd inst; had opportunity of placing before Mr Crockett offer Harper & Bros made for rights of story to publish serially in Graphic first half year 1898; with one slight modification Crockett authorised to accept proposal; notes they'd be pleased to arrange for exclusive serial and book rights of story in United States and Canada on same terms as Grey Man; referring to agreement covering American Book Rights of Grey Man, Crockett in some doubt whether document makes perfectly clear only dealing with exclusive book rights and wishes to consider right to dramatise story in his own hands; wishes clearly understood reserves right to dramatise new story; while accepting proposal with slight modification, Crockett considerably disappointed shouldn't have felt able to take view entitled with greatly increasing popularity to expect some small increase in royalties (view readily accepted by all other publishers both here and America); Crockett also desires to say Messrs Harper & Bros only publishers who now think necessary to suggest should pay for corrections; regarding Lad's Love, as American rights of volume in which at present arranged intends to publish this story have already been disposed of regrets much being unable to accept Harper & Bros suggestion should agree to their having subsequent book rights; trusts as in case of long story above mentioned consented to take from them lower royalties than habit of now receiving from any other American publisher with dealings, that will on further consideration see way to waive stipulation should have book rights of comparatively short story as condition of accepting serial use; presumes will at once cable Messrs Harper & Bros, trusts will kindly favour with final decision by cable also; in event of declining to meet Crockett in matter of Lad's Love should of course wish to have as much time as possible to make arrangements for publication of story in some other quarter
Messrs Osgood, McIlraine & Co, 45 Albemarle Street W