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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,449 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
While doing some searching for Roger Burdutte's book "From Mine to Mint" it appears as though most, if not all, of the publishing houses are getting away from hard cover editions. The book in question, as well as a few others such as the Mega Red, are only available in paperback. Maybe I'm just a purist, maybe I just enjoy reading books more than once. Simply put paperback can not hold up to repeated use which is why 99.9% of my library is hardcover, several first edition-first print. So, what gives?  ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12847 Posts |
Well... I think it's just the trend as the market shifts from physical media to digital. As fewer physical books are being demanded and thus produced, it costs more per book to produce that smaller amount (at least that's the "scale of economy" theory). Where once a printing shop could justify the expense based on an estimated amount of sales, now the numbers just don't work or are too close for comfort.
Regardless of market trends, I can't imagine what it would cost to hard-bind a Mega Red and what the cost passed on to the buyer would be.
You are clearly a book lover, and for that I salute you.
Edited by CelticKnot
06/09/2019 9:02 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
When it comes to the the Krause 'telephone book' series, the thin card (= paper back), has one very distinct advantage: the books can be stored vertically, library style, with zero stress on the spine of the book. With hard card covers, the edge of the cards are larger than the area of the pages, and the body of the book between the card covers collapses, and thus the spine comes under stress. Large area, heavy books should always be stored flat, but that is not always convenient. Apps cost much less to transfer information from the publisher to the buyer. (And no spine to worry about!  ) Edited by sel_69l
06/10/2019 05:44 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Both good points from CK and sel. I want to add that there is a big difference among paperbacks between sewn and glued binding. I have the Complete Calvin & Hobbes  in paperback. The original printings used glue and quickly failed because of the dimensions and weight of the books. It was later changed to a sewn binding (what I have) and there are no problems I know of. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Soon enough there will be no actual books. Everything will be digital and can be viewed on a monitor.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
789 Posts |
There is a thing called "Print on demand". It's used in colleges a lot. You go top the print shop (or email your order in) and they print the book right there.
The machines that do this are 30 feet long (or more) copiers that have all the materials integrated.
They are quite the machine.
I figure someday most books will be printed this way.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Like a halfway house between e-books and actual books, but with the benefits  and long term storage problems  of hard copy. My numismatic library consists of the reference style of book, so I (mostly) prefer hard copy. Nevertheless, I have choice between Krause books covering the last four centuries (I use a lot), and NGC World Coin Values on line (I use a lot) |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12847 Posts |
Quote:
I have the Complete Calvin & Hobbes in paperback. Awesome!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Quote:Awesome! Haha. Thanks, CK. I have wanted it for years and was finally surprised with it last Christmas (it was truly a surprise and couldn't think of what would be so heavy!). I finished it within a couple weeks while trying to "spread it out." It's about due for a re-read, though. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,449 |
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Posted 06/09/2019 9:05 pm
