Category: Other Book Dealers

Are Some Booksellers Out of Register?

14

By on Mar 12th, 2012

Front cover

It happened again. I found a title with divine illustrations that I could afford, and ordered it from ABE or another seller on the bookfinder website. I eagerly mutilated the box tearing tape and cardboard in my haste to see the promised art. A Mother Goose naturally, this one illustrated by Edna Cooke, a new artist to me after having found 2 storybooks, during a road trip, full of lush colorful plates. I had enquired, making certain that all plates were present, something I’ve learned from experience isn’t a given. They were, the description of the quality of the book and plates was clear and fine, so here I was ready to ooh and ah over each picture as I turned the musky smelling pages.

Out of register. The frontispiece was out of register. I’ve used the term, but never really looked into its definition–yes, it’s exactly what I thought it was–meaning, the printing process faltered making the plate’s lines and colors jumbled and off, as if you were looking at it after receiving a sharp blow to the noggin. Deep disappointment. No matter how you cut it, out of register plates are useless. OK, I tell myself, so the first plate is off, not all is dire, let’s see the one on the title page–slightly off, not nearly as bad as the frontispiece. So I go through the book plate by plate. One is perfect, crisp, colorful, lines delicate and in place, another slightly off–as if you need glasses, and more plates badly off, so much so it ruins the artwork altogether. Gaging, I would guess at least half are out of register in some manner, and one third off completely. Since there are only 11 color plates within, that’s a large chunk that are useless to the collector of illustrated books.

Extremely off register

My question–do booksellers have an obligation to inform a potential buyer of out of register artwork? Should they describe the illustrated plates the way they must the rest of the book–with this detail in mind–as well as any tears, writing, coloring, or water damage it may have suffered throughout the years? I’m aware the cost of the book was low–a total of $18.00 including shipping–but if that’s the reason the book is valued such, shouldn’t the customer be told? Booksellers, if they look within the book they are hoping will leave their inventory, must note  schizoid plates. Not describing this problem results in customers like myself, horribly deflated and extremely unlikely to buy from the vendor again.

I was curious as to the causes for misregistration, the term the printers prefer to use. Here’s what I found:

Misregistration is caused by a number of factors.

  • “The largest area of problems used to be in the distortion or inaccurate planning of film during the platemaking process. These problems have largely been bypassed with the advent of CTP (computer to plate) platemaking.
  • Changes in the temperature or humidity of the environment, which can affect how paper behaves under pressure.
  • Stretching of plates during exposure or fitting to the press.
  • Inaccuracy of the printing press.
  • Human error on press.
  • Bad batches of paper.
  • Paper bounce and stretch.”
Naturally, today’s printing world is vastly different then back in the late 1920s when the Mother Goose edition was published. Hopefully, out of register plates are practically nonexistent in newer pieces. But for those of us who crave the artistic achievements of the past enough to spend time, energy and money following leads on the internet, checking out various websites, finally finding what editions are available at a decent price, the unpleasant shock of revealing artwork ruined in this manner, and knowing your purchase of it could have been prevented, or you could have made an informed decision, rankles.

Slightly off register

This is the description from the bookseller specifically about the plates:

“All 11 color illustrations present and excellent“.
I do not consider a book that depends greatly upon it’s illustrative appeal, can be called ‘excellent’ if a third are visual junk.
And here’s where book selling on the internet becomes problematic for the buyer–if in a bookstore, one turns the pages and sees instantly the condition of the plates, and if out of register can decide the pros and cons of purchasing it. With no photos, no description of it online, it makes a measured decision impossible
Contacting the bookseller and asking why he or she sold it this way is certainly an option. Then comes the pain in the neck process of healing all the boxes’ wounds, and mailing it back, that’s assuming the seller doesn’t think the complaint is out of bounds. Because I have found some dealers are not swayed by out of register problems. Actually, they don’t consider it a problem! Or, the response could be something like–’well, how did  you think you could have afforded this book if it didn’t have some drawbacks?’ Faced with these responses as possibilities, I rarely contact the seller when confronted with misregistration. And, here’s something I believe those who sell books in this condition bank on–the buyers’ desperate desire to own at least some plates from the book, and sending the book back deprives the buyer of the enjoyment of the pieces present without problems. And too, in the case of this book and many like it, the artist also filled the text with gorgeous black and white illustrations, pictures the collector wants almost as much as the colored plates.
So I am now the sad owner of a halfway wonderful book, only half of which I can enjoy, with the conundrum–should I try to find another copy, so as to have all of the color plates, or since I have a partial copy, should I put my money towards a title I have nothing of?

Crisp clear illustration

Booksellers out there–give some input on this common problem, please. Thanks!
I found my info of misregistration on this site:

A Passionate Bookseller–On The Sidewalks Of Manhattan

2

By on Oct 5th, 2011

Sidewalk booksellers were a common sight in New York City when I lived there. And I frequently bought from them. At first I was surprised they were allowed to set up shop–I didn’t notice a merchant’s license, which vendors selling anything from berets to Falafel needed in order to stay in business. A friend of mine way back in the 80s was selling tee shirts to make some cash to support her acting bug. On the corner of Tiffany’s she had a pile of shirts. No table, or even over turned crates to support the wares. It was a discreet business. I was handing out flyers for an upscale shoe store a block away. The undercover police popped up and took my friend and her tee shirts away. But nothing happened to me. True, I wasn’t trying to sell anything, but I was in front of a business handing out another business’ advertisement. What I learned from this incident–freedom of speech trumps New York City police.

Apparently, that’s what I had, freedom of speech in the shape of flyers boasting 10 per cent off waterproof boots (which by the way, turned out not so water proof during a 4 foot snow storm). I was perplexed. I understood freedom of speech in the way it related to politics, but not so much in regard to flyers, and the guy peddling books down the street from where I stood. The fact that I could disseminate information for sales purposes was surprising. After some research today, I found that this point has been bantered around the Supreme Court a few times, and for now, it’s considered free speech, The selling of books on the side of the road has been a given for a long time. Here’s what Street Vender has to say about first amendment rights for the vendor:

“Under the First Amendment, people who sell newspapers, magazines, cds, books and art on the street may do so without a vending license. However, you still must abide by the city’s many restrictions on where you put your table, and there are many streets where you cannot vend at all . You must also abide by the New York State tax law by getting a tax ID  and by collecting and paying sales taxes on what you sell.”

When I first encountered sidewalk sellers, I thought it was crazy to lug so many books around to set up during the day, and then break down at night. How could anyone make money at this? Well, some do, at least enough to live on, if you live cheaply.

One of those who has done just that is Charles Mysak. Mr. Mysak has had several 15 minutes of fame in his life, starting with being a lawyer in high standing in NJ, to suing the state to keep housing from being built in a flood area, to being disbarred by NJ for embezzling money from clients–which he still denies. And recently he’s been the subject of a short film made by an NYU student, and a couple of articles in the NY Times and NY Post. He has kept the space for selling books for the past 11 years, with his old car parked in a spot at 68th and Columbus Ave. His wife drives him in from Wayne NJ, everyday, in time to move his car out of the spot on street cleaning days, and then back again. He says it takes him 4 hours to set up everything and the same amount of time to break down. He’s outlived the Barnes and Noble down the street that started up around the time he did, and recently shut down. He’s had dogs pee on his books–the owners browsing and not caring, he’s had police give him citations for books sitting on the ground, and a flower fanatic has summoned authorities every time he may put a book against the tree the person insists on planting flowers around. And he endures the varying assaults of the weather.

What would compel someone to go through this kind of hell just for piles of used books? A passion for books. For all kinds, types, years, genres. He has stated :  “in this three-by-eight stand is the answer to every human question.”

He quotes everyone from Dante to Raymond Chandler and can pull out the most boring looking book, and convince a passerby that it holds beauty within. But the business has slowed down considerably lately, and not due to a bad economy.  People are too involved within themselves, he feels. When someone walking down the street years ago appeared to be talking to themselves, it was an oddity and the person thought to be insane. Now with earphones and technology, everyone is talking to themselves and not paying a bit of attention to anything around them, including his books. Years ago certain titles would leap off the table within hours of being offered, now they sit there for days, and no one bothers looking. He makes far less than he used to each day, but still enough to live on frugally. From reading articles about him I’d bet even if he wasn’t making any money, he’s still find a way to sell books–or in his case, bestow knowledge upon others–because more than anything he enjoys giving a passerby a a gem pulled out of his stock, and conveying whatever knowledge and magic contained within. And that’s the mark or a true bookman!

To view the student film about Mr. Mysak go here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/19/new-york-street-bookselle_n_931980.html

Photo from the New York Times

 

 

 

 

Refreshing, Odd, Bizarre, Weird, and Wonderfully Offbeat Books

6

By on Feb 17th, 2011

One of the cool things about AbeBooks.com, is the theme e-mails they send to customers, like myself. I use bookfinder.com, which in turn sends me to various internet used book sellers on Abe and other large sites. Before the invention of the internet, it could take months, sometimes years for a wanted book to be found. But with the internet, snap! There it is. Ok, so what about those odd titles you may have seen once and not again, but you’d really love to own. Not to fret–on Abe every subject for every reader is covered.

For the crafter: Toilet Paper Origimi;  How to Preserve Animal and other Specimens in Clear Plastic; or get ready for the inevitable;  Do-It-Yourself Coffins for Pets and People.

For the music lover these are must haves: Elmore Vincent’s Lumber Jack Song with Yodel Arrangements; American Murder Ballads; and the indispensible, Bar Mitzvah Disco.

And what about something for courageous cooks? Simply Seaweed: A Book of Tempting Recipes for Samphire, Seaweed, and Sea Vegetables; Critter Cuisine; or my favorite, The Radiation Recipe Book. I bet we’d get a real bang out of that book!

Certainly self-help books are essential. Who wouldn’t benefit from The Pop-Up Book of Phobias? And we all need– Old Age, It’s Cause And Prevention. If we could only find the root cause of old age, darnnit! I see a telethon in the making!

And forget those counselors. all you need is: How to Be Happy Though Married. For the girls a little practical help: A Stress  Analysis of a Strapless Gown. On the spiritual plane,  Do It Yourself Holy Housewifery.

Strictly for the guys: How To Understand A Woman Through Her Cats. Here’s a caring and thoughtful title–Teach Your Wife to Be A Widow; and the ever popular misogynist bible-Let’s Make Mary: Being a Gentleman’s Guide to Scientific Seduction in Eight Easy Lessons. Come on fellas it only requires 8 lessons, AND it’s scientific, how can you lose? (a kick in the royal jewels by the enraged Mary, doesn’t count)

To loosely quote someone “if we don’t study history, we are destined to repeat it”. Hey, I got the gist of it. Anyway, no self respecting historian would miss reading: Death in the Pot; the Impact of Food Poisoning on History;  Knitted Historical Figures; and Who’s Who in British Beheadings. The last two could be consulted to create Anne Boleyn, knitted severed head and all!

Of course the religious aspect of life is never ignored. There are many wonderful spiritual guides listed: So You Want to Be A Shaman; The Beverly Hillbillies Bible Study; (I believe Granny goes after  sinning readers with a shotgun) and Jewish Chess Masters on Stamps (if you can name just one-this book is for you) are but a few.

And last but never least, our pets. How we love to pamper and spoil them. A few fun picks: Bombproof Your Horse; 101 More Uses for a Dead Cat (I guess the ‘get to know women through their cats’, didn’t help); and Goats: Homeopathic Remedies. The last one confuses me. Is it about cures for some goat disease, or are we supposed to be *using* goats as homeopathic remedies?

But my favorite of all the wildly weird books Abe has for sale is: People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead.

Oh, you don’t think that ever happens? You’ve never known a person who just refuses to accept  his death, no matter how many times he’s shown the tombstone and gravesite? Well, how do you think *they feel*? The book tells you:

“When people die by accident, in violence, or maybe they’re drunk, stoned, or angry, they get freeze-framed. Even if they die naturally but have no clue what to expect, they might not notice they’re dead. It’s frustrating to see and not be seen. It’s frustrating to not know what you’re supposed to do next. It’s especially frustrating to be in someone else’s body and think it’s your own. That’s if you’re dead. If you’re alive and that spirit has attached itself to you, well that’s a whole other set of frustrations.”

Heck yeah! That’s if you’re dead. If some bum spirit attaches itself to you, brother, that’s another kettle of weird fish!

Check out the two pages full of  offbeat titles on Abe–

http://www.abebooks.com/books/weird/index.shtml

More on Sprout