Like death and taxes, increases in journal subscription rates seem to be inevitable. Almost a year ago, Duke University Press alerted us to the likelihood of a sizeable increase in HAHR rates effective in 1973. During this past spring, the proposal became specific and involved fifty-percent increases in both institutional and individual rates. Supported by the Advisory Editors and the members of the Board of Editors, your Managing Editor undertook to negotiate the new rate structure with Duke University Press.
A study of the past history of HAHR rates revealed that individual subscription rates were $4.00 between 1950 and 1954, when an increase to $6.00 was initiated which was maintained until 1970 when the current $8.00 rate was established. The Press could and did argue that in 1970-71 alone, the per page production costs rose 12.4 percent and have continued to climb. The average gross per issue barely covers production costs leaving little for the overhead expenses of Duke University Press.
The final agreement, I believe, meets the legitimate requirements of Duke University Press while protecting the interests of our readership. Individual subscriptions (“individual members of acknowledged historical societies”) will rise to $10.00 while institutional subscriptions will increase to $12.00. Duke University Press has agreed to maintain the Pan American and student subscription rates at their present $4.00 per year level. The price of current single numbers will be increased from $2.00 to $3.00 while back numbers will cost $6.00 rather than $4.00. The new rates will be effective with the February 1973 issue.
While the increases we are announcing unfortunately are attributable to inflation rather than to improvements in the journal, the editorial staff sincerely hopes that the quality of the HAHR will continue to compensate for the increase.
