Chris Perkins

The current owners have confirmed receipt of my deposit for the Rotographic publishing empire So it should be 4 - 6 weeks to get the rest of the finances and stuff sorted out, before everything is under my control *evil cackle*. I've also been getting quotes from local printers for printing the titles too, and that works out reasonable when large numbers of books are printed. I haven't decided what to do about distribution yet. It may be an idea to send most of the books to the UK to be posted out individually from there. That would mean I could lower the postage price charged and make them even more irresistable.

Right, well the domain name works now, so the site is under: http://www.rotographic.co.uk I have made some improvements and additions. You'll notice the swish menu which will allow me to add things without changing lots on the pages. A few of the pages are not complete yet, but something that is complete and was inspired by Custard1966 is the database for collecting info on British coins. Go to 'Your Input', 'British Coin prices 1760-1821'. I'm very pround of that function, and am offering free books for the best contributor (which doesn't apply to people that help me out here, because you'll get free books anyway!) So, when you buy coins from anyone, go to Rotographic.co.uk and enter them in to the database so that other numismatists can benefit.

Yes! In fact, a very knowledgable coin dealer friend has already suggested I expand and print 'Collectors' Hanovarian Coins' etc etc

Just because kuhli could only find evidence of a 1981 edition, doesn't mean that was the last one printed does it! I think the last one may have been printed as little as 3 years ago, but it isn't a big seller. In fact, probably the only book that sells more than 4,000 per year is Collectors' Coins GB, so it's important we disregard the stamps/Roman/Irish/Banknotes and just consider the layout of the Collectors' Coins book (perhaps mixing a bit with the Collectors' George III book). It's great to get all this feedback, and I particularly like the idea of kuhli's to put a feedback form in the book somewhere to try and ascertain what the 10,000+ buyers of that book actually want. I will seriously consider that one, and will indeed implement many of the wonderful suggestions so far. Keep up the good work, but please don't stay, it's pointless talking about other stuff, in here, at this point.

What are we going to do about that one, does anyone on here collect stamps? Don't worry about that one William, it's the least of my worries.

1) Collectors' Coins Great Britain 2) Collectors' Coins Ireland 3) Collectors' George III Coins 4) Collectors' Roman Coins 5) Collectors' Bank Notes (GB) Yes, those are the 5 main finished books that I will be getting. There have been more over the years so I think I'll inherit a couple of unfinished books (One of which is Collectors' Roman Coins part 2 which covers silver Roman coins) and there's even a Stamp book too, but it never really took off.

Oh dear, the usual 'We found these coins in the vault that we didn't realise we had'. Who is this Alan magician that seems to make coins appear from no where? And that's bordering on mis representation too, because it's playing on the 2p New pence rumour. It almost (to the untrained eye) implies that the 2p's with 'New pence' on them are rare: Very misleading for ameteurs, and anyone that buys those coins at that price (or the other price :s) should not be collecting coins. I would hate to think of someone buying those for a gift for someone too. That is outrageous, do Coincraft actually have anything that wasn't either commissioned by them, or that is available in large numbers?

That had crossed my mind too, especially when I looked at the entire page of Victorian decimal patterns, milles and so on! I wondered if any of the 13,000 people that own this edition, actually own any Victorian decimal patterns? So how do we feel about leaving out the mega rare pattern/proof coins? In a way I'd like to put them for completeness but I do understand that they are not the relevant, certainly most of them. Plus the fact that the higher value and the rarer the coin is, the more difficult it is to put a price on. I'm not sure.

Perhaps one of us will get a letter!

Some overdates you cannot spot unless you magfify x10 so although highly unlikely, it cannot be ruled out. More than likely if there is anything there, it'll be where one die blow failed to register with the other and caused an 8 with two bottom circles, or something like that.

Yes, and the main task isn't to capture the coin in full glory. It would be impossible to illustrate every type, so the pictures are just to add effect really, to break the text.

He said he specialises in Samoan Princess Diana commomoratives! (I really don't know, but I would think British)

No no, I meant the Christ, from Christopher! Do pay attention double o seven.

I think colour would be too expensive. I have an American coin book with glossy colour pictures in and it looks wonderful, but the most important thing is that I get the customers because of the low price. The images in Spink are greyscale and fine, I'd hope for something like that.

Don't look up to anyone Master JMD, not even Jesus. You are in your body, and only you can do right by it.

Lucky I was sitting down when I followed that link! If I wasn't so polite I'd say really rude words at this point.

Good point, how spooky is that! And what about the first 6 letters of my name! Maybe I am the second coming and just don't know it yet

You're right Geoff, decimal stuff does have a place. I just wish they'd make less of the bloody stuff to save my pages! I may see if I can cut it down, but I would never cut it out. I will absolutely put the apostrophe in Geoff, and that apostrophe shall be forever dedicated to you.

Yes, i know, but I'm getting strict now, as the outcome of this area may directly affect my yearly income! Let's keep to the layout topic, we've agreed that the cover is crap (textured would be just an extra expense that I would rather not pass on). So what about the inside? Is there anyone that is not familiar with Collectors Coins Great Britain 2004?

Hey chaps, we're doing the usual and getting ahead of ourselves!!! Master JMD, if you want it textured then you can pay for whatever printing techinique that would involve! Emp Oli, your German made sense to me, except I'm not married to the girl, she's just Meine freundin right now. Master JMD, the major point about these titles is the price, and the fact that at £4.50 the books are at least £3.49 cheaper than the nearest competition. A price increase of £2.00 would be out of the question I'm afraid. The books are currently by the same author. Penny Master, the coin on the cover is irrelevant at this stage.

I don't know which is the worst thing about The Phoenix - the OTT prices, the fact that it's jam-packed with things like Samoan Princess Di memorial crowns or its complete disregard for the basics of English grammar and punctuation. I got the latest edition yesterday and it was in the bin before bedtime. (On balance, I think it's its illiterate English which really makes me weep). I don't like the way that the Coincraft literature really seems to sound so American. Fair enough, so American English has crept in everywhere, and I'll admit that some of it isn't really bad, and I don't cringe as much as I used to at most things. I dare say when relaxed I may even slip into a little Ameriglish (do you like that!?) sometimes myself. But I really cannot spend too much time reading a coin craft text without clicking on the right hand cross or casting the thing aside. Did you know, the man himself (ever such a nice chap, of course) Richard Lobel, is in fact an American. I know that, because I've rubbed shoulders with him literally, and heard him speak at London Coin fairs.

Correct, the cover is dated and quite nasty and has had that blue/black/white look for sometime now. The reason it is only produced in 2 ink colours was a technical/time consuming reason. Apparently with the equipment they have it takes a very long time to put different colour inks on the page and the results were not always great. The reason blue/black are the current colours is because the book has always been blue/black, and to aid identifaction. So with the identification thing in mind I think I will modernise the cover design to the maximum given the technology available at the German printers. If it can be full technicolour (and not cost much more) then I'd be inclined to do something full colour with perhaps a blue and black feel. I think tranditionally the cover has always illustrated the new coins for that year, which is sensible I suppose. I don't know what actual coins will be on the next cover at this stage, but I would really like to improve the cover on the book. I do have Adobe Photoshop, but it's in German, so could prove a little difficult!

That's the one! A Bezel, like the Bezel on some watches. Thanks kuhli

I've sorted yours Master JMD

It's something only I can do. Let me know if you would like to change yours, and to what.