Why is the Whitman Redbook of Auction Records: Colonials, Early Copper, Commems, & Others 2001-2

Longacre

I was taking a look at a book dealer's website, and I noticed the Whitman Redbook of Auction Records: Colonials, Early Copper, Commems, & Others 2001-2007.

The MSRP was $99.95, and the dealer was offering the book at a discounted price for $89.95. Now don't get me wrong, I like the books that Whitman produces. However, I was wondering why this book is so expensive as compared to the rest of the titles in the Whitman line.

Let's compare the new QDB book on Colonials. If you check the Stack's website, the book is listed as being 352 pages, contains over 1,000 pictures, and in QDB's recent Dave's Notes, he indicates that he has been working on the book for approximately two years, and he has had the assistance of countless dealers and professionals.

The last time I checked, I don't think QDB is a charitable organization, so I assume that Whitman pays him for his work. The book was offered in a special for $37.

The Colonial Encyclopedia is obviously full of original content. In contrast, and correct me if I'm wrong, the Auction Records book is a listing of auction results in the public domain. Sure, there is some manipulation and classification of the information, but that can be done with a quick outsourcing project to Bangalore for ten cents per hour.


Does anyone know why the Auction Records book falls far outside the price range of the other Whitman titles? This might be a good way for us to be educated as to why a certain book costs one price, while another book costs another price.

amiller

Economy of scale perhaps. Will the auction records likely sell fewer copies to a more select group, where the encyclopedia will have a larger print run for a larger collector base?

RWB

To me, this kind of guide is obsolete six months before it floats off the boat from China. Two decades ago it would have been great.