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Fair Value "The Type 38 Arisaka" Book, Allen-Macy

3.5K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  Francis C. Allan  
#1 ·
It is in very good condition, have no idea what it is worth. Someone on Trader Board is looking for a copy to purchase.

Thank you
 
#10 · (Edited)
Let me preface this with an: I'm not an author, publisher, writer, illustrator or dabbler and I normally read fiction.

When it gets to the point that a book with a $70 dollar initial purchase price (just found what I think was the price in 2007) will cost $100 due to demand and no more supply why do the original authors not print more?
(As a complete aside let me say that when Farscape DVDs were going for north of $150 a season and I had bought mine for $50-$80 per season I was very tempted to sell them. I love the show too much though and didn't know if they would make anymore so I held on to them. Now they are $13-$30 with the whole series on Blu-ray at $93. I should have sold when I had the chance!)

Is it just that hard to print out a new run of the same book with no changes? Is it the amount made not worth the hassle? Rites issues? Look at some of the sword books or the Luger books. Hundreds of dollars a piece. You'd think there would be some money to be made just reprinting the ones already on the market (or on book shelves any way). Or am I just off my rocker and they cost that much to begin with? It's hard to find out what books cost a decade or two ago.

Just an uneducated person wondering out loud and looking for an answer/s.
 
#11 ·
Depends on who holds the copyright. If the author self-published they have the copyright and could indeed have more printed. There are several "on-demand" printers now who can print and bind books as needed. Used to be small quantities was costly, not any more! If the book was printed by a major publisher it's a different story. The author probably has no printing rights, ad major publishers typically use traditional printing means, so they make large runs to keep costs down. I wish more would convert their low volume books to a higher cost print on demand. Everyone would still make some money, and the books would be available -- especially reference books like this.
 
#13 ·
With on-demand printing companies that's just not true any more. It costs a few hundred to get the files set up for printing, but after that you can print as few or many as you want at just a few bucks more than a big run. There are some limitations on binding and cover, but you can still get a high quality book without the big outlay needed for traditional printing methods. Some limited services are even free.

https://www.lulu.com/

http://www.infinitypublishing.com/publish-in-print/
 
#14 ·
Dear farna:

In most cases, such as a simple novel, you would be correct. However, for the Type 38 book, it was prepared with two electronic systems, MSWord and Excel, plus it is just short of 500 pages. Because of the weight, I had it bound in a special spiral binding that is made of some space age plastic that rebounds when crushed by the weight and simple use. I knew it would be used as a reference book and frequently opened and closed. This special binding was the successful answer to that issue. Setting up that process again is difficult and expanse.

Sometime in the next few years I hope to do an abbreviated version of the book, with color photos (I need a lot of help here!) and keep it in one system after reducing the number of spread sheets. Still thinking about it. At present my efforts need to go to help Trey Stancil and his efforts to keep BANZAI going in one form or another.

Thanks to all for your interest.

Frank