The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 52, December 29, 2002, Article 8

STICKER SHOCK ANTIDOTE

  John Dembinski writes: "Regarding the Dec. 8, 2002 article,
  "Why Do Books Cost So Much?", I would just like to say that,
  personally, I rarely buy books at retail prices, just as I rarely
  buy coins at retail prices.  As with coins, so with books -- the
  "sticker shock" is unbelievable!

  I have turned to auctions at the local clubs that I belong to for
  buying coins for my collection.  For books, I have subscribed
  to Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller, Falls Village, CT  06031.
  Web address http://www.edwardrhamilton.com.   Their mail
  order catalog is free, sent out about once a month or so, and
  is jam-packed with thousands of titles, covering every subject
  under the sun, including a collectibles section (with some
  numismatic reference books) at discounted prices!  And the
  shipping costs only $3.50 regardless of how many books you
  buy!

  This is the way I buy most of my books anymore.  The only
  time I buy books at a retail outlet is when I see a "bargain
  books" sign.  I recently purchased a book this way titled
  "Mythology - The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth and
  Story Telling", edited by C. Scott Littleton, a huge volume
  that measures 11"x 9"x 2" with 688 pages (profusely illustrated!)
  For 20 bucks!  You just can't beat a deal like that.  No more
  "sticker shock" for this fella!   Kiss those outrageous sticker
  prices goodbye!  Try the Hamilton catalog.  You'll like what
  you see!"

  [Everyone loves a bargain, and if you don't mind waiting for
  a title to go out of print and wind up in the remainder bin,
  waiting is a reasonable strategy.  I comb the Hamilton catalog
  too, and have picked up a few numismatic titles I needed
  on the cheap.  But few numismatic books are printed in runs
  so large that many copies would be remaindered.  While I've
  purchased many nice new hardbound copies of outdated
  editions of books such as some of the Krause catalogs, I've
  yet to see something like Dave Bowers' Gold Rush History
  remaindered.  That's a book that like his Silver Dollar
  Encyclopedia will likely bring multiples of the issue price
  once it goes out of print.  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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