Lost Art Press

Roubo Pre-publication Offer Extended to Jan. 31

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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This is going to sound like marketing garbage. It really isn’t.

Several readers have requested that we extend the deadline for taking pre-publication orders of the forthcoming deluxe edition of “To Make as Perfectly as Possible: Roubo on Marquetry.”

These readers have requested the extension because they have lots of bills due from the holiday season – and an extra 30 days would help them shore up their finances before placing the $100 deposit on the book.

Because we haven’t placed our order with the printer yet, we can extend the deadline. And so we will.

That means you now have until Jan. 31, 2013, to place a $100 deposit on the luxe edition of “To Make as Perfectly as Possible” and have your name listed in the book as a “Subscriber.”

For more details on this version of the book, read our description in the store here.

This week I’ll post an update on the Roubo project and include an FAQ on all the Roubo-related books in the pipeline.

— Christopher Schwarz

36 thoughts on “Roubo Pre-publication Offer Extended to Jan. 31”

  2. Two quick questions…
    1) Will this push the publishing date (and I suppose the balance due) for the deluxe edition back by a month?
    2) Will more orders reduce the final price at all? Or is the extra volume negligible with respect to production cost?

    Thanks for the update!

  4. My Daddy said: “You always pay for what you get…but you don’t always get what you pay for”.
    Knowing Chris and Don Williams (and having sat with Don for dinner at the Cincinnati WIA), I signed up early on for this book. Possibly Michael is remembering when gasoline was .23 cents a gallon. At 77, I can still remember those days, but accept that the adjusted price is now significantly more. It is referred to as inflation.

    Lee (the saw guy)

  5. Chris has the right to set the price for this book.

    I am sure that all the costs incurred to print the book are huge. It would be unfair to ask Chris to sell it at break even, which is likely in the several hunderd dollar range, instead of $400. So even then it would be too expensive for many. Of course he could farm the work out to an Asian printer, but let’s not go there today.

    Without a doubt, many, many, hours were put into this book, and nobody really knows how many folks will buy this edition or the less expensive edition for the masses. In short, Chris is taking a fair amount of risk here, for what in the end could be less than minimum wage earnings for all the hours spent.

    However, I reserve the right to change my mind if he ditches the Karmann Ghia and his new portable tool chest shows up in the back of an Aston Martin or his wife’s brand new Farrari, both in matching colors and interior wood trim.

    Fred L

    1. Dang Fred,

      I’m afraid I sold the Karmann Ghia to pay for the scanning of the original plates. And it still wasn’t enough money to pay for it.

  6. Robber barons! I bet these lousy authors, translators, designers, editors and publishers will make in the tens of cents per hour for their “labor.” How dare they? Workers of the world, unite!

  8. This is cool. I was planning on selling blood. It depends on whether I’m willing to live on ramen noodles and Duff Light until April.
    Working in printing, I know that short runs are expensive. After the first impression, it’s mostly the cost of paper and ink. Offering a super premium item is a bold move, (especially in the publishing business) and is something I’d like to support.
    Just don’t hold me to drinking cheap beer!

  9. An Update on the other works as well would be nice. I am a big Jim Tolpin fan so By Hand and Eye is next on my list. All in all though I am a happy loyal customer. Thank you Chris and everyone at LAP.

  10. Is it possible to order this special edition for overseas customers as well?
    I know that you normally don’t sell Internationally, but maybe there could be a loophole on this one?
    Brgds
    Jonas

  11. 1: Yes, they are doing a special deal for us ‘furriners’ – you get to pay thru Paypal. You will have to do a search back thru the blog for the exact details, unless Chris reposts the link.

    2: I’m a superannuee (pensioner to the rest of the world) and I just wish I could pay the rest of the base price ($300) NOW, and just worry about postage & any additional costs when it gets out of the print shop. Maybe I could get Chris to make a nice wooden shipping box to ensure the book gets to Australia unmolested by the Post Awful 😉

  12. Oh, and 3: $400 is not too much for a book, I’ve paid over a $1,000 for an illustrated short run specialist book direct from the publisher, and that had a much wider market (Art & History plus re-enactors) than Lost Art Press books seem to have. Then you can think of the possible appreciation in value – another book that I bought for less than 100 pounds now sells for 1,600+ when a copy comes on the market.

    1. Some folks buy reading material for the safe deposit box, and some for the rack next to the toilet.

      Why else would there be pages in books labeled “This page intentionally left blank”?
      *rim shot*

  13. You know, I like Chris’s work, love it since he left Popular Woodworking (I don’t know why, seems like he’s stepped up his game a bit). But I don’t want to date him. I swear, some of you defenders are vying for his hand. Perhaps, to make sure he can get his car out of hock, you girls could buy multiple copies?

  14. For anybody worried about the price and willing to gamble (key word: gamble), buy two and sit on them for a few years, then put one up for sale. Might cover your cost of both plus some. Some out of print books do go up and it might be a good gamble. Look at the price the Moxon books fetched on Ebay when Megan sold them. As long as Chris doesn’t find any copies under his bed the price might go up with collectors. Just my two cents and if Chris was inclined to put in a plate that said 1 (or whatever) of x number printed/ limited edition, he might help the cause,

    I know it sounds goofy, but I’ve been looking for some oil painting books that are out of print and am kicking myself for not buying them when they came out. Some of them I actually had in my hands but never thought they’d be that hard to find in the future.

    1. There are lots of books like this. Take a look at the Moses book on Newport furniture, the last Heckscher title, or the Seymour book. They all reach crazy prices. Mine won’t get sold until after I’m dead, but if you want to buy at a reasonable price, buy while it is still in print.

  15. You know, I like Chris’s work, love it since he left PW. I don’t know, it seems like he’s stepped up his game a bit. So I’m a fan, really. And I feel like I adequately support LAP to support that statement. I’ve even put my down payment down on a book who’s prime subject matter doesn’t interest me. I did it because I also trust Chris’s opinions not only on his serious work, but also on the fact that I genuinely appreciate his sense of humor.

    But honestly, are some of you guys with what appears to be masculine names, girls or what? Are you trying to date Chris online? Do you feel Chris is unable to defend himself? I’ve seen him do so quite adequately in writing. Really, I think he’s up to the task all by his lonesome.

    If some of you are just concerned that he keep his present ride, help him buy it out of hock by buying a few copies quietly, to yourself, without trying to hug him online.

    1. You do realize your post just did what you accuse everyone else of doing. “People who live in glass houses…?

    1. Please accept the following in the good hearted nature in which it is given. i don’t want to start a fued or anything but you just lobbed up the perfect setup for the perect punchline and I just couldn’t resit. I hope you also see the humor and irony. Here goes:

      How do I (Pete) love thee (Chris)? Let me count the ways (online hugs),
      Online Hug #1: “i really like Chris’ work, love it since he left PW.”
      Online hug #2: “..he’s stepped up his game..”
      Online hug #3: “I’m a big fan.”
      Online hug #4: “I’ve even put my down payment down on a book who’s prime subject matter doesn’t interest me.” (This isn’t really a hug, you are actually on your knees for this one. You bought something you didn’t like )
      Online hug #5 and #6: I also trust Chris’s opinions not only on his serious work, but also on the fact that I genuinely appreciate his sense of humor.

      As fo people defending Chris, well you joined right in:
      Online hug #7
      “Do you feel Chris is unable to defend himself? I’ve seen him do so quite adequately in writing. Really, I think he’s up to the task all by his lonesome.”

      If others were trying to “online date”, that qualifies a a proposal of marrige. Very “Bromantic” peice of work. 🙂

  18. Yes, this is hypocritical and I am well aware of it…
    But those that say quit complaining about the costs the costs are justified.. I don’t understand why you don’t just ignore them…
    Those complain about those defending… I don’t understand why you don’t just ignore them…
    And those complaining(points to self) about those complaining… why don’t I just ignore them?

  19. I am indeed a hypocrite, because
    A: I feel the online gushing of Chris’s high value to society is unnecessary. His worth is shown better by purchases than flattery. And I did choose my moment, (why did I think it was hidden?) to flatter.

    But all humor aside, I do not sound like the Bobbsy Twins!!!!! They really take the cake in this matter.

    However, your take on my message, was hilarious, and I suppose very well deserved. And I must have never served a lob ball up quite so well.

    The B: to my A:
    B: Is I really get annoyed when other people get fed up with what others do on Blogs, either mad or romantic and finally rip off a message in annoyance.

    Hope mine is taken good naturedly regardless. This blog I think very well known for its off brand humor than anything, and I don’t want to add to the dislike. I fear I may well have. It was short sided on my part. (But, lets not start the whole process again).

    I do very much like all the participants, and did not mean to throw any insults. It was just a momentary thought on my part, of those that seem ready with guns blazing to come to Chris’s defense.

    Keep up the good work all!

    1. I always take things in humor or jest; at least on the internet. The world is way too serious and laughter just makes the day better.

      I will give my story on pricing though. I bought some Festool and was talking about it at the local woodworking club. Some guy starts ripping on me about how expensive they are and what a waste of money. I just ignore him but do make a mental note to talk about Hammer/Felder whenever I order some. When I leave I notice the same complainer unlocked a new Yukon XL Denali. I know the wanker lives by himself and also drives a full size Silverado. I got into my non-financed 10 year old Accord and dreamt of how much more Festool I was gonna order with cash.

  20. And why did my rough draft, (there goes my claim to a rapid retort to the gushing), get published when it was rejected by a rapid red flashing message. Everyone was denied the punches of my true brain fart.

  24. My wife surprised me with the pre-order as a Christmas present. I just blurted out “holy sheeeet!” when I realized what I was reading on the invoice. Thanks for helping her get that done, Chris. She was thrilled she could surprise me.

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