MORE ON PRESS RUNS OF NUMISMATIC BOOKS

A few observations on Dave Lange’s informative contribution:

1) "I printed 300 of this title, which was the minimum figure for an established printer that was known to do work of the quality I demanded.”

The 300 print run makes sense as far as unit cost is concerned but most any quality printer will print fewer if the author/publisher is willing to pay a higher price per copy, i.e., the 300 copy price, less paper and binding costs (press time and ink costs are negligible).

2) "One thing I've noticed is that book sales for both my own titles and the more popular titles of commercial publishers in the numismatic field haven't recovered from the 2008-09 recession.”

While I basically agree with Dave, it is also true that an astonishing number of new numismatic works continue to be published worldwide. Further, the success of Whitman Publishing in recent years is even more astonishing. Anyone who has seen their booth at a major coin show or perused their publications online cannot fail to be impressed. An estimable contingent of talented authors and the firm’s outstanding marketing program, combined with hefty print runs, enable Whitman to sell well written, well produced books at insanely reasonable prices.

3) "One thing weighing in favor of smaller press runs is that modern printing technology can produce quality works at a reasonable cost that is not necessarily related to the number of copies ordered.”

I have no experience with “print on demand” services but “quality” of illustration still appears to be a key factor in the unit price cost of small print runs in my experience. This is particularly where illustrations are produced by stochastic or fine line offset printing methods.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THOUGHTS ON PRESS RUNS OF NUMISMATIC BOOKS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n41a07.html)

Archives International Auctions, Part XXIX

U.S. & Worldwide Banknotes, Scripophily, Coins,
Historic Artifacts & Ephemera, Artwork, Autographs
and Security Printing Ephemera

October 24th & 29th, 2015

Click the links! Highlights include:

• Lot 26: Thomas Spencer - Honolulu - Sandwich Islands 1858
• Lot 320: Accelerating Steam Navigation Co. 1841 Ten shares
• Lot 363: Confederate States Bond. $10,000. Cr.146, B-339.
• Lot 413: First Liberty Loan Converted 4 _% Gold Bond of 1932-1947
• Lot 607: Fijian Government Debenture, 1872 Issue
• Lot 715: Bono De Caja, El Banco Comercial Refaccionario De Chihuahua
• Lot 738: Banco Nacional Del Peru, 1877 Provisional Issue Specimen
• Lot 809: Bank of Zambia, ND (1964) Specimen Banknote.
• Lot 948: British American Bank Note Company Engravers & Printers Proof
• Lot 960: Draper, Underwood, Bald & Spencer, ND, ca.1820's Sample Sheet.
• Lot 1000: Colonial Pennsylvania, 15 Shillings 5.20.1758.
• Lot 1056: Cherokee Insurance & Banking Co. 2 Dollars. 1862.
• Lot 1139: Bank of America, 1879 Specimen $10,000 Clearing House Certificate.
• Lot 1148: Manufacturers Bank, 184x Proof Banknote on a Proof Vignette Sheet
• Lot 1229: Confederate States. 5 Dollars. 1861.
• Lot 1280: Legal Tender Note. 1863 Series. 5 Dollars.
• Lot 1298: Hackettstown National Bank of NJ., Second Charter $10.00

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