Black Sparrow typesetter selling her collection

mjp

mjp

Founding member
mz.monzter said:
Oooo and I thought I was a smarty pants!
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I was a printer for 20 years. You're talking a bunch of shit, and I'm just trying to make sure it isn't accepted as fact without question. I really just want to clarify exactly what it is you have, which will help you sell it. But rather than asking the source and coming back with, "Well, Sasha said they printed the covers on peanut shells," you're just doing some weird, made-up bullshit dance that makes me wonder where you're getting your information.

O.K. heres the more detailed version- Black Sparrow Press, unlike most custom mixed the inks for all of the covers and first edition title pages- so for all printings after the first they used a book for comparison when mixing the inks.
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Well you're talking about the covers, which have nothing to do with the text.

Now as to corrections I have absolutely seen with my own eyes-pencil notes in margins, even pages cut out with corrected ones stuck in, single words cut out of a page etc. I swear it!
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That's great. Who are you? You're obviously more than just a "neighbor" helping with the sale.
 
M

mz.monzter

wow you are really nasty and its completely unjustified and what earthly reason would I have to lie? I said they were SHOP work copies not HER work copies and I have a 15 year old daughter that never made it home all night and I don't know where she is and I really don't need to be attacked for no reason right now thanks asshole
 
bospress.net

bospress.net

www.bospress.net
Look for your daughter. get back to us later. Really it is a bit odd to be even reading bukowski.net when your daughter is missing.

best,
Bill
 
mjp

mjp

Founding member
mz.monzter said:
what earthly reason would I have to lie?
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Who said you were lying? I'm asking questions and you can't answer them. I'm pointing out where you are mistaken about how printing works, and you are whining.

It's not complicated, our relationship. I still love you.
 
M

mz.monzter

Well thats what I get for blurting out something personal cause I was pissed at what mpj said and as for looking at forum posts when my daughter is missing, well sadly my daughter does this not coming home all night at least once a month for the last year and even though she has always come home safely the next day I still spend those nights pacing the floor,worrying, scared shitless that something has happened to her and it's pretty awful so I just try to keep busy so I don't go nuts
 
S

Stavrogin

Sounds like you need to take this "working copy" of ill repute and beat your daughter's ass with it. Its value would increase immeasurably.
 
Black Swan

Black Swan

Abord the Yorikke!
mz.monzter said:
... well sadly my daughter does this not coming home all night at least once a month for the last year and even though she has always come home safely the next day I still spend those nights pacing the floor,worrying, scared shitless that something has happened to her and it's pretty awful so I just try to keep busy so I don't go nuts
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Unfortunately, these are the innumerable joys of parenthood!
Think that she is just doing what she is supposed to do, which is to become her own person, one step at a time. And she is giving you back some of your lost freedom. It is up to you to find out what to do with it. This sounds cold but it is what it is. Show yourself some respect, she'll pick up on it.
Don't beat her ass with "Women", let her read it.
 
kilgore

kilgore

Just throwing this out there -- I picked up a few of these books, and the transaction was smooth sailing.

The PBs are just that, used BSP copies, at least the four I got are. Nothing special, later printings (except the one that explicitly said first printing in the listing), and all are exactly as described -- smudged, etc. I get the feeling these were just copies that hung around the printer's room(s), vs. being galleys, advance copies or anything like that. I'd say they're good as a neat historical curiosities, but probably not much else. The fancier book I got is super nice and I'm really pleased with it.

Mz. Monzter sent pics before I bought and was very communicative throughout. I got exactly what I paid for, quickly, and the seller (typesetter) has a blog, included a letter, and was also very cooperative.

I'll agree with those who've suggested the prices ARE a little high for posting in this forum. I'm pleased with the sale though because I'm psyched about the 'strange historical curiosity' aspect of these books.

Just adding this as it seems there's some miscommunication leading to a little friction, which shouldn't get in the way of good books trading hands.
 
mjp

mjp

Founding member
The friction is caused by the lack of believable information.

I'm sure Sasha is a fine seller and a wonderful human being. But you aren't buying printer's copies (there was one printer's copy of most BSP titles, and it was always a special hardcover, and always marked "Printer's copy"), you're buying Sasha's used books.

Your comment (strange historical curiosity) is just what I wanted to avoid; people buying her used books thinking they are getting a piece of BSP history.

Suggesting that a printer has a bunch of books lying around just in case they need to check up on text changes or "custom mixing" inks is misleading. The printer may well have had copies of the books they printed, but they wouldn't work from those books. Ink isn't mixed by eye, it's mixed following a formula, and if that formula isn't written down (or in a Pantone color book) you will never match it by looking at it and mixing inks. That's just not how it works.

The typesetter may well have marked up copies of books around, but again, the printer wouldn't be working from anything like that. And the typesetter for a publishing house doesn't generally work in a printing shop. I think the problem here is using typesetter and printer interchangeably when they are very different things (in modern terms anyway) and may never even be in the same room together. Don't take my word for any of this, ask anyone who ever worked in printing or publishing.

None of this matters at all in the big scheme of things, but we're talking about Black Sparrow "collectibles," and as far as those are concerned, a "Printer's Copy" is a very specific thing, and these ain't that.

If I'm an asshole for introducing some reality into this conversation and trying to keep you from wasting your money, so be it.

You'll think I'm an asshole for something else soon enough. At least in this case it's in your interest.
 
kilgore

kilgore

MJP you make excellent points, and I agree. I should've added that I don't think the paperbacks are collectible, and basically standard used paperback prices should be applied (in my opinion), for potential buyers. All that being said, I just wanted to stand up as a satisfied buyer, so that if people were feeling skeeved out they could have a little reassurance about these books, and that they weren't going to get straight up ripped off.

As to me thinking you're an asshole, well, having read the boards for a few months before posting, I saw a response from you and thought, 'oh shit, what did I do?!?' Turns out I agreed with you. Phew!
 
Rekrab

Rekrab

Usually wrong.
I'm relieved to have been out of town all week and thus avoided collateral damage. I can sympathize with the missing daughter all night situation. It's hell, a knife in your guts twisting. Somehow I survived that period in my life. As for the "strange historical curiosity" vs "just used books", I don't know nuthing. But the printer connection is still cool, as long as the story is straight on just what that means and doesn't mean.
 
Lttr Prssd

Lttr Prssd

Color me confused. I thought Sasha was a man. Actually met "him" at Ed Smith's book store in Ojai back in the early 1990s. At least that's who he told me I met. Could have sworn I've some pictures of "him" as well. And I vaguely remember him telling me about the little printing operation "he" and his wife had. Must've been a different guy.
 
Papillon

Papillon

bospress.net said:
Given that most booksellers will give a 20% discount just for the asking, you may want to cut your price in half. I'm not saying this to be difficult, but at that price, you will not sell it. If you list it on ebay, expect to get less than $75 for it, if it sells.

#3 is available on abe for $262.50 (probably less if you ask nicely), but routinely sells on ebay for the $150 - $175 price range.
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Please forgive the hijack. Is there an art to bartering with booksellers? I tried this once and the whole thing blew up in my face. I made an offer for a number of items via email and was mocked by the dealer. I must've been having a bad day because I fired back and the next thing I knew, cyber-fists were flying. Unfortunately, I no longer have those emails or I'd be willing to share. Luckily, the items were not Buk or BSP-related.

Let's say Book A lists on abe for $400 and is the only signed and lettered listing at the time and I want the book. Do I just pony up the $$$? Make an offer? If so, 10% off?

Thanks in advance.
 
bospress.net

bospress.net

www.bospress.net
It is hard to say if there is only one copy. Much of it may depend on what they paid for it. Most of the time, they are paying LESS than they are offering it for, so there may be some wiggle room. There are a few booksellers who are known to be extremely difficult (much like the soup nazi.) Offering less to these type of booksellers will get you yelled at and thrown out of the store.

Still, it is a buyers market with the economy being down, so many people will barter. Still, there are some great book sellers out there and if they are offering a book at what seems like a fair price, why not just pay it? Bartering seems more appropriate when there are multiple copies and the preferred seller may be a bit higher.

That is just my take.

I know a book seller who discounts some books automatically if you visit his store in person. That being said, I always make my selection knowing what the asking price is and am willing to pay that amount, so any discount is a nice bonus from the seller. This seller has a great reputation and is a great guy to deal with to boot.

Bill
 
M

mz.monzter

Papillon said:
Please forgive the hijack. Is there an art to bartering with booksellers? I tried this once and the whole thing blew up in my face. I made an offer for a number of items via email and was mocked by the dealer. I must've been having a bad day because I fired back and the next thing I knew, cyber-fists were flying. Unfortunately, I no longer have those emails or I'd be willing to share. Luckily, the items were not Buk or BSP-related.
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All offers will be considered and I would never be so nasty as to mock someone for an offer - seriously offer what you think is a fair price and chances are we can work with it.
 
hank solo

hank solo

Just practicin' steps and keepin' outta the fights
Moderator
Founding member
Perhaps you can post an updated list of what is still for sale. The 'Upload a File' button should make adding some photos quite simple now.
 
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