[PRCo] Re: Interesting item on eBay Canada web site item#1151606114: Street Railways of Pittsburgh, 1859-1967

[Donald Galt]

On 7 Jun 01, at 7:16, johnfbromley at home.com wrote:

> 
> Get your spare copies out and be ready to sell to the losers!!  The
> fools are opening their wallets.
> 
>  Price:	Currently US $38.55
>  The Street Railways of Pittsburgh, 1859-1967. This 32 page booklet by
>  Tom E. Parkinson was published by the Light Rail Transport League and
>  the Pennsylvania Railway Museum. 

This mock glee contrasts mightily with John's own observed 
practice.

I can't share in the rejoicing. The fools are such as us. Maybe they 
were born too late, or had their copies stolen, or whatever. 
Regardless of the reason, there are too many fans chasing too few 
books.

Meanwhile, what does Tom Parkinson gain from this scalping? Or 
LRTA? or PTM? Zilch. Nada.

It is to be hoped that modern technology will enable authors and 
publishers to hold books in print indefinitely - thereby maintaining 
de facto control over their work, not just de jure - and make modest 
profits while keeping prices within the budgets of ordinary folk. And, 
perhaps, to reissue the old stuff as well. We all lose when 
knowledge becomes the private realm of the wealthy.

Don