"The Lamborghini Miura" by Simon Kidston

Because i think we should keep a register


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Ok, feel free to start a register thread.
Just bear in mind this is a Ferrari forum, not a Lamborghini one.

 

A Register for a book each copy of which was numbered only by pencil would be like a Register about a car model where each car's chassis number was only indicated by chalk writing...

In fairness I think it is a screw up, someone forgot to get bespoke numbered labels printed (which would have been glued in each book and hand signed after printing and binding as we did for the deluxe version of my Maserati the Citroen years 2013 book). Just another screw up like the appalling customer service given the prominent Paris car book shop Passion Automobile with whose manager I just spoke this morning about something else. He exploded in double fury at the mention of the Miura book firstly as he had promised copies to clients after initial positive communication with the Geneva office only to then have total radio silence, zero, not even an acknowledgment, causing him embarrassment with prominent clients. Secondly at the stupid idea of a limited edition printed in the same quantity as the subject car was made, he called it idiotic speculative fetishism. I could only agree...

 

Again, one can appreciate your comments. SK c.s. may have made a mistake here and there, but my limited experience with them concerning the book was nothing but positive. And let's not forget that book publishing (as you know better than most) is rarely a 'get rich quick scheme'. Assuming this is a 'niche' subject, how many should have been printed? You do not want to end up remaindering unsold stock. These days Palawan Press is doing far smaller numbers than they used to. The reason is simple, but some of their titles are still in relatively high demand, even on the secondary market. Some Rolex models are quite hard to get, but people will do anything to purchase them. Lamborghini's were never for the masses, and so is this book.
Wishing you, and everybody a happy and healthy 2021.

 

Marc, it's clear you have an axe to grind with Simon Kidston and co and that's fine, but I really don't think that constantly finding ways to criticise and going over again and again your disappoint as to the way you have been treated in regards to the Miura book is really doing anyone any favours.
There are always two sides to a story and since Simon is not here to defend himself its probably a discussion best left off this forum.
I for one ordered my book online like anyone else, payed the asking price and am very happy with my purchase.
The rest, and I say this with all due respect, I couldn't care less about as it's none of my business.

 

When you write a book like the Miura book it should only be to share kwnoledge with people interested in the subject. When your book is sold out within two weeks only selling through your online website and without selling through any specialised bookstore, it's simply that you made far not enough exemples.
It would be great if there were a second printing made to fullfill demand. And if some people complained that it was a limited edition and lost in value, I would be very happy that these people that bought the book for its future value would be upset! The purpose of a book is knowledge first, not investment.

 

Who talks about investment? Any publisher can do as pleases him/her.

 

Perhaps they could release an online Ebook / kindle version to allow those wanting the contained information to obtain it for a much lower cost while still protecting the value of the very limited production physical book.
Seems like a perfect solution.

 

Online edition could be a solution. But why protecting the value of the book, and what is its value? I didn't remember the exact cost of the book, somewhere 400£ I think. Do you think some additionnal physical books will make them cost less than 400£ on secondary market? i don't think so.
I own several books that are costing much more now on secondary market than when I bought them new. Some were also limited editions. I didn't buy them because it was limited editions and I don't care how many were made. I'm just enjoying mine and I wouldn't complain if there were a reprint. I have no intention of selling so value is not my concern. Are you buying books with the intention of selling them? I'm not, I think most buyers are keeping their books for long term and that's the reason why books that are sold out are taking so much value. There are very few on the market. It's not like cars where many people are selling the old model to get the new one.
So limited editions like the Miura book are nonsense to me.

 

Absolutely agreed.
Thanks Thomas.

Marcel Massini

 

I fully agree. Ferrari should produce a few thousand extra 250 GTO's.

 

Disagree.

Marcel Massini

 

Please stop reasoning by absurd like this. No added value to the discussion. I'm only speaking of people that bought a 400£ book new that will still have a value over 400£ in the future if you fulfill the demand now.
They recently made a reprint of book "inside the paddock", where price had grown up a lot in the past. Of course people who bought them 300+$ on second hand market won't be happy , but I don't think anybody that bought it new and still have it will have a concern about the reprint.

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Absurd? Who are you to bully me? I'm not concerned about any price of any book. And if you lack any sense of humor you will have to bear that.

 

Why should a book only be to share knowledge? Surely anyone can write a book for whatever reason they wish to?

I don't see that it was in any way a sure thing that this book would sell out at the price it was pitched at and I don't see why Simon Kidston and co have any kind of duty to share it with more than the people who chose to purchase it. I ultimately decided not to purchase a copy (having to add something like an extra 10% for the postage and packing was further than I was prepared to go) but I would still consider it very poor form to print a load more copies, having at the outset stated it was a limited edition. Probably as well for me, anyway, because I saved the money I would have spent on it and also saved a bit of shelf space (not that I actually have any shelf space left!) that will (or already has) go on other books instead.

Naturally, part of the reason for publishing a limited number in the first place would have been to stimulate demand.

In fact, in some ways I see it as positive that it sold out quickly because it will potentially encourage others to proceed with other works on relatively niche subjects. If a book exists at least you have some possibility to read it. If it doesn't exist then you have no chance!

I do note, however, that no-one responded to my earlier invitation to review the book, so I can only assume that no-one who has seen this topic has actually read it!

 

Well said buddy !!

 

Absolutely correct. Kidston and co. can go ahead and print just 30 of the Miura books if they so want. If fact let's see how many Jota editions they produce.
I really don't see that any publisher has any responsibility to publish enough books to satisfy the demand for it.

It's easy to talk for a lot of you, but I think if most of your prised books (Ferrari in Camera, the Dino Compendium, Making a Difference) were suddenly reissued tomorrow in the same format adding another 4,000 copies into the marketplace for example, I don't think you would be happy... and neither should you be .

Yes, book collecting is a hobby built around obtaining information but there is nothing wrong with the value of the books themselves increasing. Just as with many other hobbies like collecting model cars, sporting memorabilia or even stamps.

Just ask any second hand book seller such as Ben Horton, and plenty of others, if he thinks motoring books should never increase in value once out of print or due to the scarcity of numbers produced.

 

In fact, don't take my word for it.

Here's an article from Autocar illustrating my point.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/anything-goes/best-motoring-books-appreciating-classics

 

Absolutely correct. I say the same. I am in full agreement as an enthusiast, a collector of many things, a specialty business owner(automotive collectibles), and as Editor of AutoMobilia - The Collectors Resource magazine.

 

Well, you’d expect those comments from someone who makes his living selling mostly out-of-print and collectable books. Naturally he’s going to emphasize the possible...but in no way assured...appreciation in value .

 

Another great article on the subject by you guys too Marshall...

https://www.automobiliaresource.com/motoringbooks/investing-in-motoring-books

 

To offer some perspective, Porter Press recently published 'Ferrari 250 GTE - The family car that funded racing' in a limited edition of 750 copies, which is sold out now. I never noticed anyone complaining. Basically publishers will print and try to sell what they think the market is willing and able to absorb, that's it.

 

No.
The author usually has a big saying how many copies will be printed or not. Not just the publisher.
At least that was the case with my three Ferrari books.

Marcel Massini

 

When the number of copies is limited on purpose to a far smaller number than the expected market demand, it shows the publisher and / or author are targeting speculators rather than enthusiasts.
They have all the right to do so because they are themselves investors (note the difference between investors and speculators) and are in full charge of their business model, including target customers.

 

I respectfully disagree with that statement. There are some very valid reasons as to why a book or any other type of limited edition may be produced in smaller numbers than a guess at the "expected market demand." It is not always so simple as you may think, and I would certainly not brand everyone who produces very limited quantities of what is seen as a desirable/collectible item as "investors and speculators." And I would most definitely not state they "are targeting speculators rather than enthusiasts." That is really not true of many. Myself, and some others I know, have always "targeted" enthusiasts.