Ferrari in Camera , the register

I thought that looked cheap until I saw it’s condition.

 

I don't think the buyer will enjoy it very much ... How can you spend almost 1,000 USD on such a derelict book??? And I bet it smells as bad as it looks due to an obvious water damage.

 

Looked at the photos.

Would describe the books condition as a "reader" example with creased pages and various nicks and scratches.

Don't see specific evidence of water damage, just a bit of rough and careless handling.

Like a book you might find in a public library.

I think US$1,000 is a fair price to an owner (not collector) who just wants an example to read of this rare book.

 

Buddy you started off this thread so please don't apologise, it was me that partly misread the blue edition number right from the start.

Trust you're well, we would love to hear your opinions in our discussions on the latest Ferrari books released over the last few years.

You have a truely amazing library Maarten and great book knowledge.

Cheers

 

Very sorry to hear that Maarten! I wish you all the best, get well soon!

Lars

 

My best wishes for a swift return to full health, Maarten!

Jack

 

Get well soon Maarten, all the best to you

 

I'm the guy who now owns blue #820, and to all of you who criticized my purchase above, you are all ABSOLUTELY WRONG!! I received it earlier today, and after taking nearly 10 minutes to unwrap it from its sturdy shipping carton, I can assure you: it is NOT "derelict", there are no creased pages, no water damage, no smell, only a scratch on the back cover and a small nick on the edge, which I could see on the eBay photos. At least the front cover and spine are completely undamaged amd the book is structurally sound. If I had to rate its condition, I'd give it a "B" - not perfect, but fine for all intents and purposes. I spent about 15 minutes going quickly through the book, and I can see why it is so prized. I was particularly impressed with the thickness of the paper used! The photo quality is superb and I like the large size of the print. It didn't come with the outer sleeve, but to me that is incidental. I think I have lucked into a great bargain!

(I've been watching this this thread for years and said that the only way I would buy a copy is if I could find an acceptable one for $1000 or less, which I thought might never happen. I would not have been interested in the unfortunate #033 at any price, but this book is in much better condition. I looked at eBay on Monday after reading the latest posts on this thread, and after looking at the photos of #820, decided it was worth the risk. As Wednesday was my birthday, this book turned into an unplanned birthday present for myself, and I could not be happier. It also helped that the shipping (by UPS 2-Day Air) was free (another bargain, considering the weight of the book) and that the proceeds from the sale were going to charity. Sometmes in life it pays to take a chance, and the results can be positive. I think I took a good chance buying a Ferrari 328 that had obvious cosmetic flaws for $35K, and nearly 19 years later I don't regret that decision either. Everywhere I take the car, people smile, and that makes me happy! So will it be with #820.)

 

I don't know if anyone ever posted this, but I weighed my newly-received copy on my digital scale, and it registered 10.8 lbs! Mamma mia!

 

These last few years have certainly taken their toll on many both physically and emotionally Maarten with the effects to be felt for many years to come.

I hope your energy levels improve together with your long term health.

If there's one consolation its that you have an amazing library to explore over and over again when you need a bit of rest and relaxation.

Hope to hear from you again soon on the book forums.

Cheers, Mark

 

That's great Jim, I'm glad you love the book.

As stated by myself above I couldn't see any evidence of water damage just a few nicks, scratches and what looked like a few bent pages here and there.

I didn't realise it didn't come with its slipcase so I think at under $1,000 is a fair price for that copy.

More importantly it's a truely amazing book, one that you will enjoy taking out and reading over and over again.

Always rated in the top 5 of all time Ferrari books, just like the 328 it too will appreciate in value in years to come.

 

I spent another hour after dinner with the book, and it's unfortunate that Geoff Goddard couldn't be at every race, because there are some notable gaps in the coverage. But the races he was at are covered extremely well. I was initially taken aback by Doug Nye's repeated use of the term "poll position", but I guess that's just a charm of the book!

Now I just have to figure out where to put this beast. It's even too big for the book stands I already have, so maybe I need to find a larger one. I did notice that Abebooks has a copy for sale for over $2300, so it makes me feel even better about my purchase. Considering that this book only covers about 1/2 of Ferrari's history to date, one wonders if there will eventually be a "Ferrari in Camera 2".

 

Where to store my copy of FIC ??
.... nice problem to have.

 

For now, the only place I have is the dining room table! I move it to my recliner (which is adjacent) when I am eating. Not ideal, but it works. I want to keep the book flat because, no matter how well it is made, those heavy pages will put a great stress on the binding if the book isn't perfectly flat. (After all, we must obey gravity, because it's the law!)

(have another book where I also have a storage problem. It's called Military Aircraft in Flight and it cost me all of $10! It isn't particularly thick, but its pages are a whopping 17" x 24" and thus it weighs about 9 lbs! My only place for it is standing on the living room floor, leaning against the side of a bookcase!)

Incidentally, based on the book's original price and adjusting for inflation, the current price in USD should be about $840, but that obviously doesn't account for supply and demand!

 

Here's #820 residing on my dining room table. That minor dent in the bottom of the cover doesn't bother me one bit; in fact, if it saved me money on the purchase, I welcome it!

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

You think it's not good to store it on a bookshelf as it may damage the binding?

I've never heard that before.

 

In my collection, I keep all books that are big and heavy stored flat for the same reason.

 

I can understand books like Opus or Taschen but even FIC ?

 

I am also a member of the flat storer community I keep all Palawan books and 911 GT2 and others flatly stored to relieve the binding.

 

Congratulations for your good purchase! The book didn't look good at eBay, but it turns out you made a good deal.

 

Absolutely - and all my other Palawans and other expensive big heavy books too.

 

I have some books whose page content has become distorted due to the effects of gravity; some of them I turn inverted at times to try and even the wear. The pages of FiC are very heavy and would be prone to that over time. I found a feasible solution, shown below, on the very first page of this thread.

Incidentally, I discovered that the sellers of #820 were asking $1495 just over six months ago but obviously had no takers, so they cut the price by 1/3, which brought me into play. While I prefer books that, if not new, are "mint" or "pristine", I don't mind an obviously used copy which at least doesn't have obvious water damage or creased pages. As I stated above, that's the same philosophy that dictated my Ferrari purchase in 2004!

 

My copy of FIC has been shelved vertically for more than 20 years. No weakening or distortion of the binding at all. I just checked yesterday. No doubt the slipcase helps keep it in shape as it is fitted so perfectly that you’d think it was tailored to that specific volume. Slipcases, if properly designed and constructed, serve an important purpose, not just cosmetic protection.