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 Replies: 93 / Views: 15,686 |
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Valued Member
Germany
194 Posts |
Bob,
so what are my chances for getting a hardcopy version directly from you in Scottsdale?
That way I'd save the shipping costs AND would be able to get it signed by you personally!
Best regards,
Ralf
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5362 Posts |
Ralf I am not certain - now that Amazon no longer prints hardback books if I can have it ready that early. Had I known before Tuesday (9/2) that Amazon had pulled the plug on hardbound POD books I could have gone elsewhere. It took from late May to 9/2 to get everything set up approved and proofed. That was 4 months - hopefully I can find a printer willing to use the Amazon PDF to make the book. So to answer your question - I am trying but it is starting to look dismal.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
jfransch Thanks for the very kind words
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New Member
United States
33 Posts |
So I brought two copies with me to the Mexico City show. I wish I could have carried more.
I sold one while sitting outside the bourse waiting for the doors to open to dealers.
Sold the other one within an hour of entering.
Those who understand what the book is are all very impressed. The guy who bought the book outside the bourse, himself an author of more than 10 books on Mexican numismatics, couldn't believe all the work that went into the book.
By the way, both of the buyers were dealers who spoke Spanish as their birth language.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
pruebas That is very interesting. On that basis a Spanish translation may be needed. That is way over my head in terms of capability.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1757 Posts |
I am also getting can't wait for the color version/hardbound with the two CDs - for anyone that already has purchased this kick around $40 version in B&W. One step at a time ... maybe if it goes Kindle - there is a way to Spanish? BTW - have an interesting GNL up on ebay now from my collection at "johnmenc" as the seller ID. Interesting - read about the similar copper alloy on the representative example in the book and the piece now being sold. Same maker ... tempting ... but with only XRF its only strongly suggestive ... John Lorenzo United States |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
The color book is in the works but costly. They just charged me over $112 to get one copy of the proof shipped. The B&W proof from Amazon cost much less at under $20 delivered. The weight is almost identical so color apparently ain't cheap. The list price had to be set at $169.95 or I would have to pay them for every copy sold in some overseas markets (Australian orders could result in a charge back to me - for every copy sold in the EU I break even or loose under 50 cents and I get about a buck for UK versions.) I am not sure they would actually deduct negative charges but the contract on that point is as clear as mud - so I am leery. They simply indicate they charge my credit card for EVERYTHING. I also paid $35 for correcting ONE error. This has always been a not for profit undertaking but I also do not want to lose money either. Out of pocket expenses for me are at about $4,000 now for the entire project. If I sell a few hundred copies in the US I will break even. After that I can drop the prices for both books to actual break even - I can not change the list prices but I can use discounts just as the publisher can. The reason that overseas sales are so costly is that the publisher builds in a 55% discount for overseas markets because the book is printed and mailed under contract with other companies. So an overseas sale starts at 45% of list from which actual production advertising and shipping is deducted. Not a whole lot is left over to pay the bills - but at least the IRS won't get much either. US sales are better so royalties will pay costs eventually after the inevitable IRS charges. A retiree on SS does not get a break and every cent is taxable as I learned last year when for the first time I had to pay the IRS $1,300 because of out of social security earnings. What a rip-off - I am supposed to live on $1,800 a month? I have to give up my own house and move into an addition at my daughter's home. Oh well that is how the government and big corporations take care of you after you have to retire. I notice that Amazon has stopped sales at the initial 22% discount level and is selling at 7% off as of last night. They base discounts on sales results and I would guess they like ANS felt the book would never sell 120 copies. So far 47 black and white copies have sold (a one week total sales). That sales result was actually better than I expected. Not bad for a guy that types with two fingers and can't figure out how to answer his wife's smart phone without missing the call. Lucky for me the technology needed to spot most fakes can be learned by anyone - even a technological dinosaur like myself - you just need the tools and it becomes easy over time with practice. With it now being 57 years since I bought my first 8R (Sept. 1957 for 80 cents) and about 54 years since I got my first counterfeit portrait 8R I certainly have the time angle covered. If anyone thinks they can not be successful at this - all of the scientific concepts needed to do this were fully covered for me by the time I was a Sophomore in High School - I just made the mental connection that what they were trying to teach me was useful for my hobby and I as a result I listened closely - stayed after class and bought an old lab scale. That was 1963. In our current move I have already thrown out 3 old worn out balance scales that could not be fixed. I guess since 1963 I have owned at least a dozen or more. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
686 Posts |
Got my copy last night. Don't remember the exact cost, but the total was under $50, for all 600 pages. Bob, John, Gordon, you guys did fantastic! I'll buy beverages in Scottsdale.
Perusing the Un-reales book this about counterfeit 8Rs, duh. Though I don't collect these coins on purpose, the information on the characteristics of the fakes and how they were made will really help figuring out what is what. The history of counterfeits is truly fascinating.
It will take me a while to understand all this stuff. Thank you.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Thank you and see you there.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1757 Posts |
Bob - the price is what it is ... as I said most serious collectors want good pictures and a good copy of this COLLECTIBLE. I think we have alot of good tools here for the collector:
1. A possible version in Kindle.
2. A cheaper $40 B&W version to kick around, note additions, etc. not for the CC8R collector but the person wanting just to understand the diagnostics of a CC8R fake and making suring he is buying REGAL.
3. The collectors copy at $170. Most collectors and bibliophile companies are waiting for this version.
4. CDs to view these Class 1 coins for coin show attributions/purchases.
As you also said in a month or so these B&Ws will be avialble in Spain and Europe at a cheaper P&H. I like the B&Ws as I will continue to give them out as gifts to non-collectors and other hobby people I know at a reasonable price.
Edited by colonialjohn
09/12/2014 1:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
I confirm, I'm waiting for a hardcover version :D
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
My copy arrived today, will take a while to read through. What's the word on a possible CD compendium of higher quality images? The ones in the book are kind of hard to work with, though at the price it's not a deal breaker
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
I was initially going to wait for the hardcover to order this book but I finally decided that for $40 it was worthwhile to own a b&w copy now. I will STILL order a hardcover copy when they become available.
I would recommend that anyone buy this book as the information contained is very comprehensive. Congrats to the authors. A job well done!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1757 Posts |
I will try to take some of the load off of Bob and give you this overview: 1. I think the ANS just rejected the book because of the expected very high publication costs to produce a book with so many images. Some of their comments were interesting to read but it was decided to produce a book of this level/specialization and depth it was best to go with several printed version types and not get LOCKED-IN to one expensive print version. There is no longer a need to comment on this point - we have ALL moved forward. 2. For the average collector just wanting SOME TOOLS in determining if his 8 Reale is fake or real this $40 Amazon Book fits his needs PERFECTLY. 3. This new hardbound book is in the works with the companion two CDs and it will be announced shortly on its release date. I believe we are trying to release this new version and SHOWCASE this bibliophile collector level book at the Mexican Numismatic Association Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 16-19, 2014. We knew from DAY 1 companion CDs were a MUST with nearly 600 Class 1 varieties being plated for collector inspection! 4. The two CDs will have MORE coin images than the 589 listed Class 1 varieities you now seen in the Amazon B&W $40 version. 5. THis will allow clear ZOOM-IN/ZOOM-OUT capabilities on each Class 1 and the other Class 2-4 coins in the B&W book and from our data base of Class 2-4 forgeries. 6. Write to Bob either via E-Mail or the address in the front of the B&W book to order the hardbound. This address is seen as Swamberbob Associates of North Carolina. Go to Amazon Books and the address is in the book overview. See INSIDE THE BOOK link 7. Most people I talked to are using the B&W version NOW as their note-taking kick around version and the soon to be released (October 2014? - probably) Hardbound as a collector's item or as a confirmation tool to cross-check if they have a Class 1 listed variety. The CDs provide that light travel companion capability to shows, etc.. 8. Further new varieities will simply be done in the CD - pack as Versions 2,3,4, etc. as more Class 1's are discovered. 9. Both Bob Gurney and myself will be at the MNA Coin Collectors Convention scheduled for October 2014. See the MNA site for further details. Best, John Lorenzo United States Edited by colonialjohn
09/16/2014 09:54 am
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
colonialjohn : go for a DVD instead of 2 CDs - it will be cheaper to produce (DVD are about 1.1x the price of a CD, but can hold up to 8 CDs), and easier to handle.
Just sent a note about that to Robert, not sure he received it (that was on facebook)
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Replies: 93 / Views: 15,686 |
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Posted 09/06/2014 12:21 am
