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We used to let people mail us books to get them signed. But when someone sends a box of rare books and the box never reaches us, THEY don't know but what it DID reach us and we're lying or we sold them on EBay or ... you get the idea.
It just became too worrisome and burdensome to deal with the shipping of other people's irreplaceable copies.
So we had a bunch of cool (or so I think they are!) bookplates created. These are printed on stick-backed paper; the printed designs (either the Hatrack River picture in the upper-lefthand corner of most pagest on this site or the Dragon Army uniform insignia) are at the top, and then I add my signature in the big blank space - and believe me, I sign every single one individually.
We sell these so that people who WOULD have sent us books to sign can get the autograph glued into their book without actually mailing the book. We charge exactly what it costs us to print the bookplates and mail them; my actual signature is, as always, free. And when you compare the cost of the bookplates with the cost (AND RISK) of mailing the actual books, everybody saves money and sleeps easier at night.
Some people have taken advantage of our good nature and continued to send us books. We tolerated this for a while, thinking that perhaps they didn't know we had changed the policy. But it's been a long time now, and we're about at the point of just sending back, unsigned, any books that were sent to us without permission. We think this is way nicer than simply donating uninvited books to a local prison.
Posts: 2005 | Registered: Jul 1999
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No, the word "plate" is just ... a different meaning of the word. It's a peel-off sticky label, like the "autographed book" or "30% off" stickers at B&N or Borders - only the glue is permanent.
And, of course, the surface isn't slick, so I can sign it.
Posts: 2005 | Registered: Jul 1999
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It's kind of like those things they have in the front of library books, to stamp the date on. Only prettier, without the date and with a big scribble on it. Sorta... Ok it's nothing like them.
Anyway, I think they're a great idea. Before Hatrack started selling bookplates, I was thinking about sending my books to Mr. Card but I had no idea how much American postage would cost and sending my precious books also meant risk of loss/damage. It's so much easier this way, and a great way to personalise a gift for a friend.
Btw, does Mr. Card accept packages sent to him through the post? I ask because a friend of mine once sent a parcel, but was worried that it might not have got to him.
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I really prefer not to get parcels. Partly because they get lost; partly because after some of the vile hate mail I got during the political season last year, I always worry that packages that don't have the Amazon logo on them might explode.
Every now and then somebody wants to send me a gift. But ... I don't want more stuff. I want people to post on Hatrack and tell their friends to read my books and other such intangible gifts. Our house is already full of stuff. And Amazon keeps sending us more. Help!
Posts: 2005 | Registered: Jul 1999
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I have a question OSC. I noticed that almost 70% of the books at the Philadelphia center city Borders book store were signed by you. How much time do you spend signing books? I mean If I didn't want a signed copy of SotG I wouldn't be able to buy one.
Posts: 421 | Registered: Jan 2001
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When I do a book signing or a "drive-by" as they call them, I sign the store's stock, or at least the hardcovers. That way people who missed the signing can still buy signed copies. They tell me that autographed books really are more likely to sell.
It doesn't take long to sign through a stack of books, as long as nobody's helping. If they help, it takes way longer.
Posts: 2005 | Registered: Jul 1999
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Jeez, Mr. Card. Why don't you just go to wherever your books are printed, and sign each one as it comes off the book printing machine...thingy. Posts: 1569 | Registered: Dec 2004
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"We used to let people mail us books to get them signed."
Eeek. As a twenty-one year old who doesn't drive yet I was a bit miffed that my dad wouldn't take me to Greensboro for the book signing. I live in Hickory so it's not too far. He suggested I mail my book to OSC to get it signed.
Posts: 169 | Registered: Mar 2005
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