With cheap printing options available, why are we still getting hit with $600 new numismatic books?
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
I was taking a read through the latest issue of the Esylum this morning. I was initially in a frenzy to read about some upcoming books, but then I was distressed to see the selling price. Here is the excerpt:
"[George F. Kolbe announced a new book for sale]: 'The Feel of Steel: The Art and History of Bank Note Engraving in the United States', by Mark Tomasko, price $600-150 copies printed by Bird & Bull Press."
I fully understand that authors never make up their costs when selling numismatic books. Although I don't want the authors to take a major bath on their books, I wonder what the rationale is for writing a seemingly good quality book, and pricing it way out of reach for the average consumer? With the proliferation of cheap printing alternatives, what is the reason why a book should be sent to an extremely expensive printer, then print a limited number, and then charge several hundred dollars for the book? Wouldn't a wider audience be what the author is after?
Maybe the authors in the house can comment. If this "Feel of Steel" book is any indication, a series of books like Renaissance of American Coinage should have sold literally for thousands of dollars per copy.
"[George F. Kolbe announced a new book for sale]: 'The Feel of Steel: The Art and History of Bank Note Engraving in the United States', by Mark Tomasko, price $600-150 copies printed by Bird & Bull Press."
I fully understand that authors never make up their costs when selling numismatic books. Although I don't want the authors to take a major bath on their books, I wonder what the rationale is for writing a seemingly good quality book, and pricing it way out of reach for the average consumer? With the proliferation of cheap printing alternatives, what is the reason why a book should be sent to an extremely expensive printer, then print a limited number, and then charge several hundred dollars for the book? Wouldn't a wider audience be what the author is after?
Maybe the authors in the house can comment. If this "Feel of Steel" book is any indication, a series of books like Renaissance of American Coinage should have sold literally for thousands of dollars per copy.
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
0
Comments
I would say in a way it could be underpriced.
I would say in a way it could be underpriced.
Especially with only 150 being printed.
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
I would imagine a person interested in the subject of Bank Note Engraving in the United States which involves attention to detail, craftsmanship and ultimately printing may value
a book published with the same care...in this throw-away society it is refreshing to see quality-over-quantity once in a while.
An example is the deluxe edition of COMITIA AMERICANA AND RELATED MEDALS...yes, expensive but a treasure.
Pages all fall out.
Ray
Unless theres one or two known and I have the best.
If it costs too much to make these books, someone needs to find a more cost friendly way to produce them.
$600 is ridiculous!
<< <i>If it costs too much to make these books, someone needs to find a more cost friendly way to produce them. $600 is ridiculous! >>
Not directed to the author of the above but I do not think it is the case that it costs too much to make these books rather it costs
that much to make these books at the quantity (not many) and the quality level (paper, binding, materials etc.) that the author/publisher
wish for their work. A bad analogy I'm sure but the pictured John Lobbs, one of my favorite shoes I may add cost let us say $2K; a
more cost friendly way to produce them would not result in the same shoes...whether it is nice shoes or nice books if one appreciates
craftsmanship, fine materials and at least some resemblance however tenuous to the old-world way of making goods then one often has
to match their appreciation with the commensurate commitment...after all we are taking about purchases that will last one's lifetime.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
high resolution pictures if they were truly interested in sharing their work with
any people who wanted to see for a small fee or free.
but then they would not have a hard copy for posterity... but to each their own.
600 for a book is too pricey to me.
That is called bonded leather and is actually pretty common. Check your belts....the ones that say 'Genuine Leather' are most likely bonded, while 'Split Leather' is the hide version. A good split leather belt will last a lifetime while a bonded leather belt has a limited useful life and will crack/break after a while.
K
edited to add italics...
that's just nuts!!!
now as for the shoes, as long as they fit nicely and keep my feet warm and dry it really doesn't matter to me if they cost $15 or $150, i'll buy them. those $2k whatever they are's don't look like they'd be too comfortable despite how snappy they might be and how impressive all my friends would be when they saw them. i wouldn't be caught in a storm in them and surely wouldn't want to wear them in the snow.
i have always favored usefulness over fashion, but that's just my style.
Certain publications are not intended to be published and presented to a mass audience. This helps to maintain a higher value from the begining, exactly like low mintage figures.
Knowledge is what books and printed matter is all about. They are indeed collectibles in their own right. Just ask George Kolbe who has been in the numismatic literature business since the 1960's.
Most advanced collectors/numismatists have both metallic objects or paper, along with a quality reference library (often regardless of cost).
Dave Bowers has often related that he would not sell any of his reference library for it's weight in gold, if he could not replace it.
Personally, I have several pieces of American numismatic literature in my collection where there are less than 5 copies extant. That's fewer known than the 1913 Liberty Nickels.
Over the years, I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on coins as well as my personal reference library. Because of nearly 5 decades of interest in this field, I am willing to spend more on knowledge than objects. This makes me a minority based on the actions of the majority. To me, that makes the knowledge even better!
For the quality of photos that I'd want and the number of pages I'd need, even going to a QuikPrint place it would cost nearly $100/book (softcover) in a quantity that would far outnumber the number of shield nickel collectors.
http://www.shieldnickels.net
cares about little details...I inquired yesterday about having the Goldberg Dan Holmes catalog bound...
RTS: I forgot to ask: is it possible to have the titling in white on the maroon leather as it is on the actual catalog - thanks.
Binder: While we can stamp with a white foil pigment, I would prefer to stamp in palladium (silver color) which is genuine rather
than pigment. Think about it, though we certainly can do white.
...many details of a binding project are discussed back & forth with the common objective of creating a beautiful and functional work
that will last a lifetime...this is one of a myriad of reasons some books cost more than run-of-the-mill books...but of course all books
are wonderful things; AEG or not.