WITH THE COLPORTEURS by N. Z. Town

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 9, 1913

WITH THE COLPORTEURS

By N. Z. Town

How the Printed Page Heralds the Message of Christ’s Soon Coming

MAY 6, 1852, the one paper that was then being published by Seventh-day Adventists was printed for the first time on our own press, an old Washington hand-press.

It is interesting to follow the growth of the work during the sixty years since that time. At the end of 1912, instead of having but one press and printing only one paper, this denomination was operating 37 printing plants and branches, in over 20 different countries of the world. Ten of these are being operated in mission fields. These 37 publishing houses are issuing literature in 75 languages, in the form of approximately 350 bound books, 300 pamphlets, 1,100 tracts, and 125 periodicals. Over 2,000 colporteurs are engaged in the distribution of these publications, more than half of whom are working outside of the United States.

The following figures show the growth of this branch of the work since its beginning:—

SALES FROM 1845 TO 1902
1845–62	$ 13,500
1863–72	56,000
1873–82	278,000
1883–92	3,350,000
1893–1902	2,950,000
Total for 58 years	$6,647,500

YEARLY SALES 1903–12
1903	$ 477,700
1904	436,600
1905	548,000
1906	824,000
1907	1,035,000
1908	1,290,000
1909	1,402,000
1910	1,560,000
1911	1,627,000
1912	1,836,500
Total for 10 years	$11,036,800

The first line in this total of figures shows the total value of literature sales during the 18 years from 1845, when the first Seventh-day Adventist literature was published, to 1863, when our General Conference was organized. Beginning with 1863, the figures are given by decades, as will be seen, until we reach the last period, where we give the yearly sales. These figures show that during the decade ending 1912 there was a gain of $4,389,300 over the previous 58 years; or in other words, during the last 10 years, 60% more literature was circulated by the denomination than during the previous 58 years. About 40% of this literature has been sold in countries outside of the United States.

Our colporteur work is well organized, and is being carried forward successfully in all the countries of Europe, as well as in South Africa, Australia, South America, India, China, etc. We fully expect that the total sales for 1913 will reach the two-million mark. We thank God for the efficient ministry of the press in spreading the good news of salvation.

N. Z. TOWN, Secretary Publishing Dept. Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.