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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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