ad hoc book cover poll

T

toolemera

Well-known member
Folks

On occasion I fall back on my background in social psychology and resort to a quasi-scientific approach to decision-making and social determinism. In other words, I like to poll people as to their preferences on odds and ends of topics.

In this case, it's not an odds n end. I'm at the final stage of prepping two books for publication:

Mechanick Exercises, Joseph Moxon, 1703
Our Workshop, Temple Thorold, 1866

The content is ready and waiting for the printer. I've been working on two varieties of cover designs and would appreciate feedback as to preferences, comments, critiques, etc. I've found over and over that social participation in a development process often results in a better end result.

First are the cover designs in facsimile, or, in au naturale
http://toolemerablog.typepad.com/toolemera/2009/12/moxon-cover-au-naturale.html

Next are the covers in a modern scheme
http://toolemerablog.typepad.com/toolemera/2009/12/cover-trials.html

There'll be both case laminate/hard cover editions of each as well as a trade paperback edition for each.

With bated breath I await your thoughts.
Gary
 
Gary,

Having admitted the folly, I would judge the book by it's cover as follows:

1. I am a graphically oriented person, an engineer designer by trade.

2. In buying a reproduction of an old book, my criteria would be how much I might learn from it that I could apply to my work. If all I wanted was to own the old book, I would buy an original, so in my mind they are not competitors.

3. I find for my use that illustrations convey much needed information about a trade of craft better than text - the picture is worth the hundred words.

4. The modern cover would seduce me because it would lead me to believe the book had lots of illustrations, even though the truth be told both versions have the same illustrations.


Karl

 
Karl

And that is just why I created the modern cover, to seduce the unwary. There is a peculiar original/modern split of 70/30 in the three groups I polled. Those who want content first and formost prefer the modern version with the graphics display. Those who like the idea of a faux version of something they can't afford or find like the original.

In answer to the feedback, as well as to my personal tastes, a composite cover will be the result. Plus, a step away from case laminate to a proper cloth bound book with a jacket. I have always felt that a jacket would be de rigeur for any party. On the rear cover will be explanatory text plus an image. The front cover will be the original but with the Title and Author added just so it looks good when displayed in an online merchants listing.

Or, if someone wants the real thing, I know of a bookbinder or two who would be happy to accept a commission to produce a period accurate binding for a substantial sum of money.

Having worked in medical and engineering research libraries for years, I gravitate towards the modern look that tells a full story. I may even get crazy and offer two versions of the cover, modern and original. Or not.

Take care and Happy New Year
Gary
 
Karl et al,

As to judging a book by the cover, fortunately you don't have to do that. Many older books which may be of interest can be "previewed" as digital files, either online or downloaded as pdf files.

For example, the 1703 edition of Joseph Moxon's _Mechanick Exercises_ is available at google books:

http://tinyurl.com/yagbjhg

And the 1866 edition of _Our Workshop_ is also available at google books:

http://tinyurl.com/yzg8r2z

While we're on the topic of older books which may be of interest and available online, the 1831 edition (and others) of Peter Nicholson's _ The Mechanic's Companion_ is also available at google books:

http://tinyurl.com/yf223cn

Nicholson was trained as a cabinet-maker in the 18th century, before turning his attention to architecture, so I find his information well worth looking at.

And, adding one more author, namely Thomas Sheraton. Volume 1 of his 1793 edition of _The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing-Book_ is also available at google books:

http://tinyurl.com/y98foyx

This volume primarily covers Sheraton's information on drawing, shading and perspective drawing, most of which is not included in the abridged reprint which Dover Publications was offering until recently. It does not include the furniture designs and accompanying text which most people associate with this work. However, all of Sheraton's work under this title is included in the 1802 edition, available at the Internet Archive web-site:

http://www.archive.org/details/cabinetmakerupho00sher

There are some drawbacks to these digital texts, such as the fact that the fold-out drawings in Sheraton's work are not properly scanned. But, even if someone chooses to acquire hard-copies of these works (which I frequently do), they can do so with complete, or nearly complete, knowledge of their contents.

Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR
 
Don

Absolutely. I frequently obtain digital copies of books I am considering purchasing, or to verify pagination of books I own. Thanks to the availability of Google and the Internet Archive, books I might have passed on are now on my shelves.

I'm prepping Nicholson's Mechanic's Companion, the 1832 edition. Interestingly enough, it was published by a different house than the 1831 edition. Apparently the stereotype plates were purchased from Borradaile of New York by James Locken of Philadelphia once the first edition proved to be a success. Aside from minor differences in binding, it's the same book. By 1846 (the other copy on my shelves), the stereotype plates were becoming less precise, though still holding decent detail.

Although I have deep and residing problems with the Google Book Initiative, I can appreciate and benefit from their services. As for the Internet Archive, I support them in total.

Gary
 
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