Editorial

This Editorial will touch on three topics:—

• a.The position regarding complete sets of the Journal;

• b.special rates for students at psycho-analytical institutes; and

• c.the change of editorship.

• 1Complete Sets of the Journal. When this Journal was launched in 1920 no one thought it likely that the demand would call for a printing run of over a thousand copies per issue. The modest beginning proved to be below requirements thirty years later, and it is gratifying, but somewhat embarrassing for the administration, that there has been such a demand for complete sets.

• Rumours have got about that there were fifty sets left and, as always when there is scarcity in any commodity, there was a scramble for them. In fact, there are now (nor were there when the rumour began) no complete sets available for sale by the publishers.

• The reasons for the shortage are first, that, in fact, thirty years ago too few copies were printed (as we who are wise after the event now know); secondly, a large number were destroyed by fire and flooding during the war, a lesser but considerable number during those years found their way to the bottom of the Atlantic; and lastly, there is both an increase in the demand from psycho-analysts and the beginning of a dispersal of sets to non-analysts. The death rate among the subscribers of the early 1920's is now beginning to be rather rapid and many of their libraries are dispersed. If members of the many psycho-analytical societies would make in their Wills a provision that the Psycho-Analytical Institute in their neighbourhood could buy their psycho-analytic journals the situation would in time be eased. But this alone would not be sufficient.

• To meet the demand it is proposed, should enough sets be required to cover the cost, to reproduce the missing volumes by the photolitho-offset process. Enquiries should be sent to the Secretary, The Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 96 Gloucester Place, London, W.1.

• 2Special Rates for Students of Psycho-Analytical Tra