granny
Flight Sergeant
Posts: 27
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Post by granny on Jun 30, 2013 15:20:04 GMT 12
Hello
I have a copy of the original 1983 The Topdressers book in excellent condition that I may part with for a reasonable offer. PM me if your interested.
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Post by fu24lover on Jun 30, 2013 19:19:13 GMT 12
Ha... I prepaid mine way back before they got printed... It was serial number less than a hundred...
My young fella took it to school one day to show his mates,and I never saw it again...
I'll take it off his inheritance.
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 30, 2013 21:38:40 GMT 12
I just saw a mint copy in the Foxton second hand bookstore for $40 less 20% sale reduction. I couldn't pass that up.
Paul
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granny
Flight Sergeant
Posts: 27
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Post by granny on Jul 1, 2013 7:49:34 GMT 12
What a deal!-was it the 1983 version or the 1990
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granny
Flight Sergeant
Posts: 27
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Post by granny on Jul 1, 2013 8:06:02 GMT 12
FU24lover
Hopefully that was back in the days when it was legal to beat your children
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Post by delticman on Jul 1, 2013 8:20:01 GMT 12
I know a second hand bookseller mainly engaged in Railway books. His going price for the last two sales were $NZ400 and they sold quickly.
My advice to anyone is, "Dont even lend it to your brother-in-law". I have heard of so many that have gone missing.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 1, 2013 8:34:21 GMT 12
Why is the book considered so valuable? Did they only print a few dozen or something?
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Post by The Red Baron on Jul 1, 2013 9:25:36 GMT 12
There were 2 Topdresser books,the 1982 edition is the big volumne with all the history of topdressing and the other edition is a slim volumne by comparison with mainly just pictures in it.They were a limited run,sold mainly by mail order.I think I paid about $80 for the 1982 edition from memory,they generally sell for $4-500 on trademe when they come up.The skinny one usually goes for $50-100 when they come up.
My own 1982 has been read so many times the covers have fallen off.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 1, 2013 9:39:11 GMT 12
You'd think a book that desirable and sought after would warrant a reprint, with updates. The author and publisher won't be gaining anything from its current value, the only winners are the the second hand book dealers who've bumped the value up to supposedly meet demand.
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Post by delticman on Jul 1, 2013 10:04:31 GMT 12
The orgional Topdressers had 2000 printed and they went like hotcakes, so another 1000 were printed and I think they were sold out in eighteen months.
It's not the booksellers that pushed the price up, it's what punters are prepared to pay for it. I was really surprised a few years ago on what the bidding was on Trade Me.
The book went on sale before being printed and was stuck with Muldoon's Price Freeze. I think it was $49.50 but once printed it should have sold for $85.
My advice to anyone that really wants the book is to put an advert in a local paper. There are plenty of really good copies around that were bought by farmers and never opened. The families dont know their worth as they are not interested in aviation.
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granny
Flight Sergeant
Posts: 27
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Post by granny on Jul 4, 2013 16:23:59 GMT 12
It is now on Trademe
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Post by Dave.K on Jul 13, 2013 14:04:56 GMT 12
Sold on Trademe for $ 436.00
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 13, 2013 14:13:43 GMT 12
Far canal!
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Post by delticman on Jul 13, 2013 15:39:14 GMT 12
The going price is $400, so if in good condition, $436 is good value. AND if the buyer is a Forum member, DONT lend it to anyone, not even your brother-in-law.
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Post by starr on Jul 13, 2013 15:58:44 GMT 12
I like your comment Dave. As an aside, the Rodney co operative Lime Works in Warkworth have an older Kenworth truck to bring the lime rock up to the crusher. Far Canal is the name painted on the front.
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Post by thomarse on Jul 13, 2013 20:04:23 GMT 12
IIRC we owe that one to The Two Ronnies don't we?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 13, 2013 20:37:28 GMT 12
Yep.  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 14, 2013 8:49:57 GMT 12
Yes indeedy.
Janic has since written and published a similarly excellent book of DH Moths.
The sad part of the tale is that, last time I saw him, he told me that sales of that one have been very poor.
His garage is overflowing with unsold stock and he has had to put the publication of the remaining volumes of DH history on hold until the cash flow improves.
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Post by Dave.K on Jul 14, 2013 10:42:48 GMT 12
Hi Peter, Have never seen it. Any chance of a book review on this site to generate some interest in the book.
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