During the last four months I’ve had some odd encounters with customers at shows, classes and the like.
Customer (holding a book): “I understand that you aren’t signing books anymore. But would you mind signing this one book for me?”
Me: “Huh? What? I’ll sign anything. Got a baby?”
I am happy to sign anything and with anyone’s name (I do a passable “Roy Underhill” and a crappy “Norm Abram”) on your books, DVDs, T-shirts and bare flesh when you see me. I’ve signed a man’s chest (and I have bad dreams still), and I’ve signed a dozen books in blood in Australia.
What I cannot do is personally sign every book we sell through the Lost Art Press web site. All of our inventory is two hours away, and it changes so rapidly that I would spend a significant amount of time driving, unpacking books and packing them again.
That is why I now sign books via a letterpress bookplate printed by Steamwhistle Press in Cincinnati, Ohio. These are printed on a treadle machine, one-by-one, on quality adhesive-backed paper. I have signed each one individually with an ink pen (non-treadle-powered).
These are not cheap. In fact, they cut into our profit significantly. But that’s OK because we like them.
So next time you see me, lift up your shirt and hand me a Sharpie.
Or, on second thought…. lift up your girlfriend’s shirt and…. Oh nevermind. I’m in so much trouble as it is.
— Christopher Schwarz
If one wants to make the plate a permanent part of one’s book, is there a traditional place in books it goes and ways to attach it (a certain kind of non-acid glue or some such – reversible rice paste or something)?
Oh, until reading Mr. Bowen’s comment below, I overlooked the “adhesive backed” language in your post. So just wet it with a sponge or brush I guess?
Peel-and-stick. You can put it anywhere. In fact, cut out just the signature part and then stick that on the next traffic ticket you get.
I can do a passable Cscrawl Sscrawl signature…but I will not sign just anything.
(Nice plates.)
So having you sign my cat is out then?
I will sign you cat. Bring it to any show.
So that thing is a sticker. Huh. I’m not licking it. Lord knows where it’s been.
If my girlfriend lifts up her shirt I’m going to sign them. Especially since I’m married!
Yeah, I would want to know if there is a traditional place in the book to put the signature. I emailed just the other day asking about getting a book signed. The website said arrangements would have to be made with a particular author. I wasn’t aware that the card was an actual signature but more of just a stamp. The card stock is nice and all but I wanted an actual Schwarz signature. My intentions were to mail my book to Chris, have him sign it and mail (pre-paid and all that) it back to me. I suppose I’ll just have to wait to meet him in person though I won’t be lifting my shirt up. Waiting on my deluxe Roubo book to show up any day now.
All the plates are signed individually by me. There is not a stamp of my signature.
Got it!
Looks like you are victim of your own good taste, Chris.
I just checked the signature plate in my latest LAP title. The plate is indeed stamped/printed on quality stock, giving that custom touch with occasional ink breaks and bleed, just like a real signature. So, the real sig in the middle kind of blends in.
Now the real question is how do you get a boob book plate? I mean antique brass pull book plate? Just kidding. 😉
Hmmm, well I apologize for asking how you charge for an autograph. 😛
I meant how much.
So is there a Lost Art Press recommended location for the bookplate?
There seem to be two schools of thought, inside the front cover or on the first page.
Nope. Stick it wherever you please.