BookFinder.com Journal

BookFinder.com Report near misses

So now that the BookFinder.com report has been available online for a few weeks, I wanted to mention a few of the interesting books which we were forced to cut from the list.  By this I don't mean all of the thousands of in print books but rather books which nearly made the cut, I mentioned one such book in a post way back when I first started researching this years Report but there were many more.

One example is Dead in Dixie by Charlaine Harris which is technically out-of-print however after a short discussion we decided to leave this one off the list.  You see the book is an omnibus edition of the first three novels in Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series.  All three books are still available and a boxed set  as well as individual editions so we decided that Dead in Dixie failed to qualify.

Perhaps more interesting was The Essential Woodworker by Robert Wearing.  This book was last published in 1998 and is most definitely out-of-print, but was only ever printed in England.  So even though buyers in the US are eagerly looking for this book, and there are no new copies being printed, technically, we could not include in the list as it has never been in print in the United States.

The title which I was the most displeased with having to leave off the 2009 BookFinder.com report was Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: the story of Irena Sendler by Anna Mieszkowska.  This would have been our number one Biography however this book was also never printed in the US. 

The book details the work of Sendler who was a social worker who served in the Polish Underground during the German occupation and saved 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto.  Copies are very hard to track down and at the time of writing this post there are no copies available on BookFinder.com.  If you like you can keep checking back here, but unless we see a reprinting I would not hold my breath

Outside of the great story within what made this book so interesting was that despite the fact it had never been printed in the US it was adapted into a "Hallmark Hall of Fame production", titled The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler and broadcast on CBS April 19, 2009.   With that kind of press and huge search volume, I think a publisher could do well with a North American reprinting.

BookFinder.com Report 7 released

We have released the 2009 edition of the BookFinder.com Report.

The Report tracks the most sought-after out-of-print books in America, breaking down demand for popular out-of-print titles in ten different genre categories.

As usual this edition features a number of books with very interesting stories:

• Cop Without a Badge by Charles Kipps, had a sudden spike in demand after a run in with The Real Housewives of New Jersey
• The Recently Deflowered Girl by Edward Gorey, got a second wind on the back of an internet meme
• Secrets of the Federal Reserve by Eustace Mullins, a conspiracy theory propped up by the economic collapse

There are many more so go ahead and read the whole 2009 BookFinder.com Report

Also if any of you are interested I will be on CBC Radio One tomorrow (September 17th) on the All Points West program between 3:30-4:00pm PST.  I will be talking to Jo-Ann Roberts about the BookFinder.com Report.  If you like you can listen online here.

Author's family also seeking the most sought after out of print book in Australia

BookFinder.com’s most searched for out of print books in Australia list is making waves in Hawks Bay, New Zealand. The top book on the list, “The Guide to Fresh Water Angling in Hawke's Bay, by Charles Russell Barham” has been out of print for years and it seems the family of the author is also looking for a copy.

Hawks Bay Today first published BookFinder.com’s list at the beginning of January. When Barham’s widowed wife Maree returned home from her Christmas holiday and read about its online popularity she was floored. In a followup article published yesterday, Maree spoke to the paper, and explains that her family is also searching for a copy of her husband's book.

"I was just blown away, it's been more than 25 years since he died," she said. "When I saw the article in the newspaper I thought, 'what's this?'"

"To know that 40 years after it was published people are looking for it now is amazing. He put his heart and soul into that book."

She said Barham, who went by his middle name, was a great outdoors man and angler. Born in New Plymouth in 1932, he spent most of his adult life in the Bay.

The book's appearance in the news also stirred emotions for the couple's youngest daughter, Cathy Davel, who was 9 when her father died. Mrs Davel, who now lives in Wellington, said she didn't have much to remember him by or much to give her own children to know him by, either.

"I'm a mum now of two children and it would be special to have something to pass on to them."

So if you are a bookseller, or an avid angler, and happen to have a copy of this sought after tome send us a note and we will put you in touch with the family who would be very happy to hear from you. Come on everyone, let's make this a happy ending and find them a copy of this book!

Posted by Scott

Top out-of-print books in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom

Last week BookFinder.com revealed the most searched for out-of-print books from the United States and now, after some additional research time, we present the most searched for out-of-print books for Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

BookFinder.com most sought-after out-of-print books in Australia

1. “Guide to Fresh Water Angling in Hawkes Bay” (1968) by Charles Russell Barham
   Fishing guide for the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island
2. “Souvenirs of the Sunny South : being a collection of Australian horse verse” (1915) by William James Wye
   One of ten works by outback bush poet and horse lover Billy Wye
3. “The Raider Kormoran” (1959) by Theodor Detmers
   An account of the WWII naval battle between the German raider Kormoran and Australian HMAS Sydney, written by the Kormoran’s captain. The location of the Sydney’s wreck was only discovered March of this year, renewing interest in the important naval battle in Australian history. You can read this news article to get some of the back story.
4. “Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia” (1975) by Harold G. Cogger
   Comprehensive guide to the identification of Australia’s rich and varied herpetofauna
5. “Little Dream” (1969) by Cynthia Leonetti
   A children’s picture book about the land where dreams live before they are chosen to inhabit the heads of children for the night.

BookFinder.com most sought-after out-of-print books in Canada

1. “Waiting in the Wings” (1986) by Doreen Tovey
   In this book, the author focuses on her relationship with her husband Charles and adjusting to his passing, which is a departure from her usual focus of the idiosyncrasies of her cats.
2. “The Last Great Frontiersman : the remarkable adventure of Tom Lamb” (1982) by Leland Stowe
   Tom Lamb, described as “a backwoods giant,” lived his life in the northern Manitoban wilderness as a trapper, logger, bush pilot etc.; written by Pulitzer prize winner Leland Stow.
3. “Knitting Lace: A Workshop with Patterns and Projects” (1992) by Susanna Lewis
   An essential textbook when designing lace
4. “Cocaine” (1975) by Marc Olden
   Olden is best known for his crime fiction however he got his start writing non-fiction. His second book, Cocaine, investigates the rising tide of cocaine abuse in America. The contacts he made within law enforcement ranks and the knowledge gained about their world would bring a distinct authenticity to all his future crime novels.
5. “Once a Runner: A Novel” (1978) by John L. Parker, Jr.
   The cult classic distance running novel, coming back into print in April 2009

BookFinder.com most sought-after out-of-print books in the UK

1. “Whispering Wind : adventures in Arnhem Land” (1957) by Syd Kyle-Little
   Whispering Wind is the account of Kyle-Little’s early attempts to found a trading post on the coast of the Arafura Sea in the years immediately following World War II. Kyle-Little’s book was reprinted in Australia in 1993 but has once again fallen out of print.
2. “Walkers Pitch” (1959) by Richard Walker
   British angling author, considered by many to be one of the best fishermen of the twentieth century. Walkers Pitch is a collection of articles from his column in Angling Times.
3. “Sex” (1992) by Madonna
   The pop icon’s book of erotic photos, a perennial favourite
4. “The modern Antiquarian : a pre-millennial odyssey through megalithic Britain” (1998) by Julian Cope
   Book exploring the sites of Britain’s megalithic heritage written by British rock musician Julian Cope
5. “The Silent Scream and poems” (1979) by Larry Winters
   Also includes a biographical introduction by Daphne Brook, who visited the author and convicted murderer, in Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow, before his death there in 1977. Winters’ story was also the basis for the 1990 film of the same name directed by David Hayman.

I really enjoy comparing these lists and finding out how interests differ from country to country; only two titles ended up on more then one list (Madonna’s Sex and Once a Runner by John L. Parker). Both Canada and Australia love stories about their wilderness adventurers, and Australian out-of-print searchers are mainly looking for Australiana.

But the one trend I find really interesting is that on all four lists, you find instructional manuals for fishing, knitting, woodworking or the like. Publishers produce new instruction manuals every year, but when trying to hone your skills tried and true advice is worth its weight in gold—and I believe it after looking at the price for some of these books.

Is there an out-of-print book you have been in search of for ages ? (Or just trying to find it for a price you can afford?) Tell us in a comment.

Posted by Scott

Top 10 US out of print books of 2008

The BookFinder.com team spends a lot of time looking at used and rare market demand trends. Per our research, the following are the top 10 most sought-after out-of-print books in America in 2008.

1. Once a Runner: A Novel (1978) by John L. Parker, Jr.
   The cult classic distance running novel, coming back into print April 2009
2. Sex (1992) by Madonna
   The pop icon’s book of erotic photos, a perennial favorite
3. Promise Me Tomorrow (1984) by Nora Roberts
   An early novel that the bestselling romance novelist refuses to reprint, describing it as “mediocre”
4. Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstellar Record (1978) by Carl Sagan
   A document from the first great era of space exploration
5. Carpentry for Beginners: How to use tools, basic joints, workshop practice, designs for things to make (1900) by Charles H. Hayward
   A century-old (!) title from a prolific Canadian carpentry author
6. A Lion Called Christian (1972) by Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall
   A memoir about a pet lion, coming back into print April 2009; the video of the authors’ reunion with Christian was all over YouTube
7. Comanche Heart (1991) by Catherine Anderson
   The second book in the series. The first, Comanche Moon was reissued and placed on the New York Times bestseller list. This will be coming back into print June of 2009.
8. Legally Sane (1972) by Jon K. Hahn with Harold C. McKenney
   An investigation of an international killing spree and the chilling accounts of a psychopathic murderer
9. Woodworker’s Essential Shop Aids and Jigs; Original Devices You Can Make (1992) by Robert Wearing
   An indispensable resource for DIY craftspeople
10. The Principles of Knitting: Methods and Techniques of Hand Knitting (1989) by June Hemmons Hiatt
    Incredibly popular comprehensive knitting guide

We’re excited to see that three of these long tail “bestsellers” will be coming back into print next year. We love out-of-print books, but I look forward to a world where no book ever has to go out of print again, thanks to the magic of print-on-demand and ebooks.

Posted by Anirvan

BookFinder.com Report 6 released

We’ve released the 2008 edition of the BookFinder.com Report.

The Report tracks the most sought-after out-of-print books in America, breaking down demand for popular OOP titles in ten different genres.

I’ve been fascinated by the dramatic stories—and sometimes shady publishing histories—behind some of the books on the list:

• Smith County Justice by David Ellsworth, an exposé of a long pattern of alleged police abuse in Texas
• The Autobiography of Howard Hughes by Clifford Irving, a hoax book that almost got published as the real thing
• Escape from Laos by Dieter Dengler, the autobiography of a US pilot held as a prisoner of war during the secret bombing of Laos
• Raven: The Untold Story of The Rev. Jim Jones and His People by Tim Reiterman, a journalist who was in Guyana investigating Jones as the massacres took place

Read the whole 2008 BookFinder.com Report.

[Now Reading: The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America by David Hajdu]

Posted by Anirvan

Helicopters?

Every year we put together the BookFinder.com Report, where we list the previous year's most sought-after out-of-print books in ten categories. For the past couple of years, one of the books we've listed in our Popular Science and Technology section has been a book with an intriguing name, about helicopters of all things. John F. Straubel wrote "One Way Up" in 1964, when he was working for the Hiller Aircraft Company here in Northern California. We've been wondering why this book is so popular, so we decided to pester the author. We were happy to discover that he had heard of the BookFinder.com Report and knew that people were searching for out-of-print copies of his book, although he himself couldn't say for certain why "One Way Up" was enjoying a renaissance in popularity. We learned that the book focused mainly on Stanley Hiller, Jr. and his various helicopters, vertical rising aircraft and assorted flying contraptions. There weren't many copies made, which might explain why the book is so hard to find these days. Stan Hiller died in 2006, and perhaps his death sparked a renewed interest in his life and work. Mr. Straubel told us that he was working on an expanded second edition of the book, and is also considering reprinting the original edition. So for those of you who have been running searches for "One Way Up," whoever you might be, there may soon be a fresh supply available. [Now reading: A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby] Posted by Wendy

Top 10 US out of print books of 2007

We spend a lot of time looking at demand trends for out-of-print books. Per our research, the following are the top 10 most sought-after out-of-print books in America in 2007:

1. Once a Runner (1978) by John L. Parker, Jr.
   The cult classic distance running novel; the long-awaited sequel, Again to Carthage, was released in November
2. Football Scouting Methods (1962) by Steve Belichick
   Legendary college football scout’s playbook, used by coaches and players to develop winning game plans
3. Sex (1992) by Madonna
   The pop icon’s controversial book of erotic photos
4. Promise Me Tomorrow (1984) by Nora Roberts
   An early novel that the bestselling romance novelist refuses to reprint, describing it as “mediocre”
5. The Lion’s Paw (1946) by Robb White
   A children’s adventure story about two orphans who travel around Florida in a boat
6. The Principles of Knitting (1988) by June Hemmons Hiatt
   An indispensable resource on hand knitting
7. Raven: The Untold Story of the Reverend Jim Jones and His People (1982) by Tim Reiterman
   Chronicles the inner workings which allowed the Peoples Temple to flourish
8. Aran Knitting (1997) by Alice Starmore
   History and how-to about the Irish knitting technique
9. One Way Up (1964) by John F. Straubel
   The story of of helicopters and vertically rising aircraft
10. Dear and Glorious Physician (1959) by Taylor Caldwell
    A novel based on the life of Saint Luke

[Now reading Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors by Lizzie Collingham]

Posted by Anirvan

BookFinder.com Report 5 released

We’ve just released the 2007 edition of the BookFinder.com Report.

The Report tracks the most sought-after out-of-print books in America, breaking down demand for popular OOP titles in ten different genres.

We know publishing is a man’s world, but some of this year’s in-demand titles are even more testosterone-driven than usual:

• Kingsley Amis’ The Book of Bond, or Every Man His Own 007
• The Great Tool Emporium, a coffee-table “pictorial extravaganza of the tools of yesterday and today”
• Hell, I Was There! , the autobiography of big game hunter and firearms innovator Elmer Keith (the creator of the .357 Magnum, among others)
• Beyond Backpacking by controversial extreme ultralight backpacking advocate Ray Jardine, who suggests leaving behind tents, sleeping bags, and water filtration systems

Celebrity musicians also make a good showing:

• Madonna’s Sex, the metal-clad book of nudie pics
• I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding by Jessica Simpson (insert your own snarky comment here)
• Johnny Cash’s original autobiography, Man in Black: His Own Story in His Own Words

As do fave out-of-print knitting titles:

• The Principles of Knitting by June Hiatt
• Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore
• Knitting Lace: A Workshop with Patterns and Projects by Susanna Lewis

View the whole 2007 BookFinder.com Report.

[Now Reading: Spook Country by William Gibson]

Posted by Anirvan

Back in print: "General Printing"

(This is the first in a series of weblog entries about out-of-print books from the BookFinder.com Report that have come back into print.)

Many years ago, when I was a student in the UC Berkeley School of Library and Information Studies (now the mighty School of Information), I took a series of classes about the history of the book. One class focused on the early days of printing and included a “printing lab.” Small groups of class members spent an hour or so each week in the South Hall basement, minding their p’s and q’s (not to mention d’s and b’s), grappling with ink and paper, pieces of type, spacing slugs and the press itself, all under the watchful eye of a professional printer who guided us through the process like a drill sergeant might lead new recruits through basic training.

My printing group decided to print a collection of quotations, to which my contribution was from Moby Dick: “There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody’s expense but his own.” Nothing like setting a phrase in movable type to cement it in one’s memory for twenty years.

Because we had an actual printer to tell us, in no uncertain terms, what to do and how to do it, the textbooks we used were not about how to print, but dealt rather with the history of printing. One I can recall was Steinberg’s Five Hundred Years of Printing.

Had we used a textbook to learn how to print, it would very likely have been Glen Cleeton’s General Printing. This book first came out in 1941 and since then has been one of the most popular printing textbooks. Over the past few years it’s also been one of the consistently most sought-after out-of-print titles on BookFinder.com, but no more: not because the book is no longer sought after, but because it is no longer out of print. Liber Apertus Press in Saratoga, California, has re-issued the 1963 edition of General Printing. It’s available new for around $24, while copies of the 1941 edition are listed on BookFinder.com for over $300.00.

Matt Kelsey at Liber Apertus Press tells us that the original publisher, McKnight & McKnight, went out of business, and the rights to General Printing became available. Having seen our most-sought-after lists, as well as being aware of references to General Printing on printers’ mailing lists and on reading lists for academic graphic design programs and for community arts centers such as the San Francisco Center for the Book, the people at Liber Apertus Press decided to bring General Printing back into print.

The look and feel of letterpress printing has never gone out of fashion, and indeed is currently enjoying a renaissance in popularity. For the past few decades, neophyte printers (at least those lacking our South Hall drill sergeant) have had to search for expensive out-of-print copies of General Printing, but now that Liber Apertus Press has brought the book back into print, it’s readily available at a reasonable price.

[Now reading Follies of the Wise: Dissenting Essays by Frederick Crews]

Posted by Wendy