Just a brief note—I received positive confirmation from Steidl in Germany this morning that there is no difference between the first and second printings of Saul Leiter: Early Color.
So, see Andy Moursund's last paragraph in the post "First Editions and Second Printings," below.
___________________
Mike
Featured Comment by Christopher Lane: "Frankly, I feel a bit troubled by all of the discussion here about the monetary value of Saul Leiter: Early Color regardless of which edition or printing we are discussing. The real value of this work is the images it contains, not the potential appreciation. In the end we are only caretakers of the objects that we possess. I acquired this photo book a few weeks ago after Mike’s first alert. Being a devotee of the Ansel Adams school, a friend of mine suggested that I wouldn’t like it. The night it arrived I spent some time paging through it. I found it to be a revelatory and instructional work. I was amazed at the creativity found in these pages and it has certainly changed my views on the nature of photography. This is a work that I will study and cherish for years to come."
Mike replies: I don't buy photobooks as investments and I almost never advise other people to do so (unless they have more expertise than I do—and more space). As I've mentioned before, where the price of a book really comes into play is that when books go out of print and then quickly appreciate on the used market, it can affect my ability to acquire the book, and I assume many others are the same way.
One example I've used in the past is The Book of 101 Books, which was too expensive for me when new at $100. Now, the cheapest you can get it for is $750 for the Deluxe Edition
There are many books I would really love to have that have appreciated right out of my price range. So, as I've written before, it's becoming increasingly important to buy books you really want when they're available new, simply because that might be the best opportunity you have to buy them for a reasonable price. That's really what's behind any discussion of value and money on this site, rather than any consideration of buying and selling books purely for monetary gain (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Most of readers are not care first edition or 2nd printing edition, only care the 2Q - quality and quantity.
Appresently Steidl and most of publishing are not like to disclose the quality and quantity to readers. : )
Recently I buy the photo book - Beaufort West [SPECIAL EDITION] (Hardcover)
by Mikhael Subotzky, the publishing Chris Boot said that the book only printed 3000 copies.
Another book is Manuel Alvarez Bravo: Photopoetry, since the publishing Chronicle Books said that it is a 350 duotones
printing book.
Posted by: whaletw | Monday, 10 November 2008 at 08:32 AM
Frankly, I feel a bit troubled by all of the discussion here about the monetary value of Saul Leiter: Early Color regardless of which edition or printing we are discussing. The real value of this work is the images it contains, not the potential appreciation. In the end we are only caretakers of the objects that we possess. I acquired this photo book a few weeks ago after Mike’s first alert. Being a devotee of the Ansel Adams school, a friend of mine suggested that I wouldn’t like it. The night it arrived I spent some time paging through it. I found it to be a revelatory and instructional work. I was amazed at the creativity found in these pages and it has certainly changed my views on the nature of photography. This is a work that I will study and cherish for years to come.
Chris
Posted by: Christopher Lane | Monday, 10 November 2008 at 04:06 PM
Hi Mike,
When you couch it in those terms, I find the price discussion much more palatable. I'm not so sure some of the commentators view it that way though. In any event, keep those recommendations coming. I appreciate the alert from the expert. BTW, I cannot view the Recommended by M.J. box. If there is something really special I appreciate a red alert post.
Chris
Posted by: Christopher Lane | Tuesday, 11 November 2008 at 05:28 PM
Well, the reply to the 'featured comment' got my attention. I bought a copy of 101 Books (if it's the same one, and I'm pretty sure it must be) for $40, I think, at Half Priced Books. But it's the Trade Edition, so it might not be worth so much. I see there was also a Limited Edition of 500 copies and a Deluxe edition of 101 copies. But the Trade edition I have is well-printed oversized hardcover -- in fact, I'd say the printing is terrific, and the dust jacket and binding are pristine. I don't know why you'd have to go without, if the Trade Edition is normally priced, and if you're not so much interested in the collector value.
To tell the truth, I looked at it when I bought it (I *do* remember looking at it) and put it on the shelf and haven't looked at it again.
Mike, I don't see anyway to put an attachment with a post, so I'm gong to e-mail a scan of the cover to you, to see if we're talking about the same book.
JC
Posted by: John Camp | Tuesday, 11 November 2008 at 07:21 PM
John, as Mike mentioned, the cheapest copies of the trade edition are now offered above $800.
If you don't care about the book, congratulations on a terrific investment - although to me the $800+ valuation is another example of absurd pricing, when you can still buy for less the Deluxe, which is certainly more valuable.
But I think you should give it another look before reselling it. See Edward Tufte's review on amazon (if you don't know who Tufte is, have a look at his own seminal books too).
Posted by: Quang-Tuan Luong | Wednesday, 12 November 2008 at 06:33 PM
Just wanted to let anyone reading this know that currently the book is available from Amazon again (both UK and US).
Posted by: Rolf | Wednesday, 19 November 2008 at 09:05 AM