I should have my head examined. A week ago Michael Williams of the amazing, A Continuous Lean emailed me a link to an on line auction of Take Ivy in Japan. I expressed interest and gave him my high bid. Michael contacted a friend in Japan who bid for me and I found out this morning he was successful.
So here's what I'm gonna do. I will scan the entire book and post it here. That's right. There's a lot of talk on the forums and blogs about this book. Especially since it realized $1,490 on EBay. I want everyone (being the good Democrat I am) to see this book and I can't think of a better place than here. Besides, I need the traffic.
Speaking of traffic, I'd like to mention that The Trad has been offered some advertising revenue as well as pre-written posts pitching products. Many, many years ago I started a PR firm in Washington DC. It didn't last long but it was a real eye opener. I had no idea so many reporters were lazy and assholes to boot. I won't even mention how they dress but I suspect more than a few are card holders at The Men's Wearhouse. Anyway, it's one thing to pitch a story idea. It's another to write the entire story. So, be careful what you read out there. Hard copy or on line. I think it's hard to be impartial with someone who is sending you a check each month. So, no advertising and no posts I didn't write. Except for Michael-- I owe that guy.
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22 comments:
Can't wait to see the book! I agree w/ you wholeheartedly about not taking advertising dollars as you maintain the integrity of the blog.
So basically, the American auction went for 10x the price. Amazing.
Congratulations all the same though.
I think this may come across negatively, but I wonder about how posting this will affect the perceived value of this book. It's something many people want a copy of, and I have seen people voice their desire to have the thing republished. This would then enable many more people access to it's pages, but wouldn't it also cheapen it's perceived value? To balance out this negative and somewhat narrow view, there are also people who view certain cookbooks with the same worht-its-weight-in-gold attitude, yet those books are still readily available.
I believe the internet is taking care of the "reprint this one!" attitude of Take Ivy all by itself (your blog post and various internet fora are proof of that), but people just won't be satisfied with that; they have to have their own copy sitting in their homes that they can browse through on their own and/or brag about to others. I even wonder what the publisher thinks of this. Do they see the dollar signs behind reprinting, or do they want the book to be more cherished? Perhaps time will tell.
I apologize if my point is not clear or rather lofty. I wrote this spur-of-the-moment.
Ahhh! one person, by the click of his mouse, lowering the value of the whole market!
Allow me to thank you in advance for this invaluable service to Trad-dom.
Tintin, Nice one!
Tintin, Not may guys make it over to my blog anymore, and with good reason, but I've got all sorts of nice things to say for any establishment that will just send me some free clothes.
re:Take Ivy - I don't get it.
Lowering the value of the market is the best revenge!
It really isn't my desire to lower the value of the book. I think my posting scans may actually increase the value. As was pointed out by Anon, there still will be those who want to own the book. For the 1st time many will be able to see it --at no cost -- and I think some folks will have to have it. Oddly enough, I'm going through an attic and what has helped me chuck out a lot is photograhing the labels. Once I have the photo, I don't really have the need to hang onto the article anymore.
Longwing, you're the funniest bloger I know. And you always have an unusual and unique viewpoint. You want some of my pants from the attic? 30Wx31L. Man, those were the days.
Longwing,
"Take Ivy" is a typical example of what happens to the English language when used by non-natives. This was an attempt to combine "Ivy (League)" with Dave Brubeck's then popular "Take Five". The result makes no sense to native speakers of English.
Here's Brubeck's "Take Five", for those of you who weren't around back then (and those who were, as well):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJE92phKzI
For those overseas readers who like myself were unaware of the existence of the Men's Wearhouse until the appearance of this post, please do check out www.menswearhouse.com
and then say a prayer of thanksgiving that you are a member of the Trad/Ivy/WASP coterie.
You can get good things at Men's Wearhouse if you have a good eye and good taste. I'd guarantee if I removed the labels from a number of my items you'd not be able to tell where they were from -- you *would* be able to tell they weren't tailored that well, though.
Too many anonymouses. You guys need to get some personas. Oh, and I get what Take Ivy means, I just don't get the hubbub.
What I don't get is the ludicrous incongruity of Brooks Brothers/
J. Press and Japan.
Notice too how they couldn't even get "photos" right on the cover and wrote "photo" instead.
Longwing- Are you working on that post?
Anon-Years ago I worked with a fella who wrote a book about the American Indian and their love of the US flag. Used in their art, homes, design and daily life, Indian culture looked at the US flag as a powerful image and representive of their defeat.
Is the same true of the Japanese adopting a style of dress of their victor? I don't know. But you gotta wonder.
I'm such a fan and avid reader of your blog - when can we expect to see the photos? I myself have been trying to find the book on the internet but with no success.
Tintin - scan away. I'll make a point point of linking to it right away. The whole thing is getting a little extreme. Yes, it's a great historical and cultural reference, but it's been pumped up like tulip bulbs in 1637; just nuts.
Still, good on you for getting a copy and for offering such a great public service.
I don't know how many pages are in that thing but you're gonna regret the trouble of scanning, etc. and blog posting. No matter the applause and hoo-ray tinny. Put it on a photo CD and sell duplicates @ $12-15 including First Class postage. A slim jewel case inside a standard 8x8 envelope would only weigh an ounce or so. Beer money at that subway dive. I'll expect 10%.
A. Nony Mous
Fantastic - Can't wait to see the scans - I would never be able to afford to buy the book myself and its great that I will be able to see it. Much like the paintings in an art gallery posting the scans is not going to devalue te work.
congratulations on scoring the book. and extra kudos for not taking any advertising and being one of those shills who would bend over (yes, that way) for a penny.
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