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Just as an aside:
Last year, I saw an out-of-print book of my own offered second-hand (but apparently 'unused') on Amazon and eBay for $465 as a collectors piece.
Had it been offered at a price under the cover cost of the original, I would have been quite content, simply because it was out of print and release had been almost ten years earlier. I've seen the same book in several used book stores and have been happy to know it's still available, cheaply, to be read and shared. That was the whole point of the four years' hard work I put into it.
But I was so darned angry at someone cashing in on my work to this ridiculous extent that I immediately arranged release of a second edition that included the first -- unabridged -- with added and up-dated material for about $16 in paperback and $5.95 in all ebook editions.
The second edition -- released in January this year -- has sold well. The private seller immediately reduced the asking price of his 'collectors piece' and it has since disappeared from view .
As I said, folks, a mere aside.
On the question of second-hand books in general, this thread has adjusted my original strong opinion. I still feel, though, that there should be some slight adjustment in policy ... perhaps re-sale should be discouraged until one year after latest copyright date in a published print book to prevent potential impact on initial sales ... and also to discourage the unseemly but legal practice of many publishers who sell off remainders and returns of a title in bulk to second-hand stores at a tiny fraction of cover price after as little as three-months shelf-life and realistic realisation of a new book's full potential.
Best. Neil
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