David Menchell wrote:

Jeff Rock wrote:

David writes:

Syd's book is a born-POD title, 8.5 x 11, 600 pages, full-color throughout on 70-lb. paper for the hardcover edition and 50-lb. for the paperback. We showed off a test-printing at the ANA World's Fair of Money earlier this year to great interest, and I am glad the book is now finally available for purchase. The ANS was gifted the completed manuscript by Syd's widow. Ute Wartenberg knew he was working on it prior to his passing, and I think he had literally dotted the last and crossed the last only a day or so before he died. Syd wrote the words and had literally hundreds of color images tied to the text. His wife knew where everything was, so it was easy to transfer the files. Jesse Kraft here at the ANS read the volume for content and was able to correct a few things, and then I line edited it to improve the English a bit and to whip it into ANS house style. I also typeset the volume and designed the cover, which features dozens of numismatic artifacts showcased inside the book. The manuscript and art were in such good shape that the book practically designed itself, and I am thankful for Syd's care and attention to detail.

As for POD generally at the ANS, we are intending to use it for the following:

1. Rescuing out-of-print books and journal numbers, ensuring quality and using the same design files or high-definition scans of our very old titles. While not a first printing, the content and size will remain the same as originally published and will also be branded as official ANS publications. This will protect the buyer from either over-spending or purchasing a cloned copy of an ANS work being sold by predatory publishers on Amazon. People can buy directly from us.

2. On some occasions there are unbudgeted-for volumes (like Syd's) that require near-immediate production and publications. We can use POD to get around what might be (in his case) a $15,000 printing bill for a few hundred copies printed on spec.

3. Some books will be born-POD to keep things affordable for readers, especially younger people, graduate students, and hobbyists on a budget.

The ANS will not become 100% POD (at least for as long as I am here). Some books require offset printing and, as in the case of books featuring color reproductions of banknotes, stochastic printing, something POD just can't deliver. POD books should not be considered as second-class citizens. Case-in-point is Faustina the Younger, which is a born-POD book, which the author graciously allowed us to experiment with POD to our (and his) satisfaction. For cases where we publish something that might only sell less than 200 copies, POD seems to be an affordable route to take.

On the chance that a book is under-printed, we can do a second printing using POD instead of re-investing another $10k-$20k in a reprint, which might not sell out the second time around. We did this for White Gold and Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire, making both available in hardcover and paperback this time, while trying to keep prices down somewhat for readers who missed out on the initial run.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEW BOOK: GREAT AMERICANS HALL OF FAME MEDALS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n22a09.html)
ANS ANNOUNCES PRINT-ON-DEMAND PROGRAM(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n48a05.html)
NEW BOOK: COMMEMORATIONS OF WASHINGTON(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n48a06.html)