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Re: RARA-AVIS: Debate on book prices
Hmmm, since people are getting testy, I should point out that James
Mountain wrote the following, not Doug Greene. Might I add however
that I have bought from Mountain Books--a fine dealer, who even if
they are trying to put food on the table do not overprice their
books.
I hope some others get into the debate about prices on old and nearly
contemporary "rare" books. Economics, supply and demand, is of
course a major part. But to me the question is: "is the demand
justified by anything other than 'it's there'?" Do the books in
demand have literary and/or historical value?
My previous comment is buried in some past postings. Look it up. I
seem to recall it as utterly briilliant, but it probably wasn't.
Following are James Mountain's and Curtis Leung's comments:
> Doug Greene (or is it James Mountain?) writes:
>
> >Oh stop, I'm getting all weepy. I want a Lear jet, and yet poor
> >little Bookseller me can't afford one. And mean old rich guy can.
> >It's so unfair.
> >You have to answer to the demands of faculty, students and the
> >general public? It must be really frustrating for you. Making a
> >liveing from bookselling can be really frustrating too. Your
> >job doesn't hinge on whether or not you can pick up a copy of The
> >Glass Key. You still get paid, you just suffer in self pity .
> >You're not spending YOUR OWN MONEY on these books either.
> >Stop whining. If I have a copy of the Glass Key, it means I've paid
> >for it with my own money, and now I've got to find a price that
> >will pay rent, put food on the table etc. I'd love for your Library
> >to have first in jacket of all the books you want, but really,
> >nothing really changes if you don't. No one starves, no one struggles
> >to find rent.
>
> So who's forcing you to be a bookseller? James Stephenson simply
> stated his _responsibilities_ as an academic librarian to the people he
> _serves_; you're the one bringing up rent and food on the table -- and that
> makes _you_ the one who's whining.
>
> I'm not a collector, but if I'm ever in the market for rare or first
> edition books, I'll make sure to remember you -- as someone not to buy from.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Curtiss Leung (212)267-7722 Voice
> hleung@prolifics.com (212)608-6753 Fax
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> An idea whose time has come has no time to waste. - T. W. Adorno
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
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