Amazingly, the Morgan Library owns 3 copies of the Gutenberg Bible, two on paper and one on vellum, and they all are unique in some respect. Beginning tomorrow all 3 will be displayed together for the first time in 10 years.The Gutenberg bible was the first substantial book printed in the Western world using movable type. It is believed that Gutenberg and his successors printed between 120 and 135 copies of the Bible on paper and between 40 and 45 copies on vellum. Only 50 survive and some are pretty beat up.The exhibit runs through September 28th.Morgan Library Press Release...
Author’s and Their Websites
Forget the act of writing, the pressure to create a web presence is becoming almost as intense for many authors. Jeff Barr, of Book Design blog fame, has launched a new website, Books Written By, which features authors and their websites. Each entry provides a screenshot of the author's homepage with a link to their site.The gallery gives us a glimpse into the wild west of website design and authors and seems poised to become a valuable resource for what to and what not to do when developing one's literary website. They make "no attempt to rate the quality of...
DQ : The Ultimate in Online ‘Books’
from Beneath a steel skyWe have ebooks and book social networks. We have book trailers and internet book tv but the folks at DQ Books (nothing to do with Dairy Queen) have come up with what just might be the perfect marriage of technology and the book form.DQ Books brings together artists, illustrators and photographers and places their visuals within the context of the book form using Flash technology. Each thematic issue is accompanied by a soundscape created by French composer Avril.The first 4 issues are:Invasion - 7 days of graphic improvisition by Festo and Telemolindo Seasons - 16 illustrators,...
In Defence of Amazon : Their New POD Strategy as Opportunity.
Much has been written about Amazon's new strategy of offering print on demand titles sold on their website exclusively through their POD company, Book Surge. Cries of monopoly and unfair business practices have permeated the discourse but there are I believe, potential opportunities for publishers and authors within this new paradigm.Just as the arrival of Amazon changed the bookselling landscape forever their new POD strategy is sure to alter the publishing landscape in similar ways and how the publishers respond will ultimately determine their chance of survival. Will we lose as many publishers as we have book stores?I see nothing...
The End of the Travel Guide?
Like the bookselling trade the travel industry has been turned upside down by the internet. With most people now using the web to book their travel the traditional travel agency has all but disappeared. Are printed travel guides the next vicitim?Wayne Curtis's piece in the Atlantic, Weni, Widi, Wiki, gives us a glimpse of what the future might hold.On his trip to Seattle last fall Curtis decided to use only online resources to guide him as he explored the Emerald City. He "would depend on the kindness of strangers," relying "solely on user-generated information" as he mapped out his lodging,...