In July 1980, the manuscript of "This Earth of Mankind" was sent to the Aga Press printers. 5,000 copies of "This Earth of Mankind" sold in 12 days. Soon other publishers in Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Australia asked the publishers, Hasta Mitra, for permission to make translations. The Wira Karya publishing house in Malaysia paid royalties of as much as 12% direct to Pramoedya.