Publishers Weekly just posted a nice article about what the publishers of National Book Award finalists are doing to enhance sales - including printing more books and affixing National Book Award Finalist stickers. Included in the article are current print runs. (handy).
What I'm noticing is the extremely low print runs here - even Nicole Krauss hasn't surpassed 100,000 impressions. Naturally, the lower run, the more desirable a potentially collectible book is.
The gist, according to PW:
- Parrot & Olivier in America (Knopf), Peter Carey
Printing another 5,000 copies, bringing the total in-print figure to 30,000. Knopf is also adding the NBA nomination sticker to the newest editions. **For such a popular title, this seems like an extremely low print run. Signed copies list for over $200**
- Lord of Misrule (McPherson & Co.), Jaimy Gordon
Lord of Misrule hasn't even hit shelves yet. The book, which is slated for a November 15 release date.... The first printing is 2,000 copies.... McPherson has ordered a second printing of 3,000 copies.... Correction: according to McPherson & Co's comment below - the first printing was bumped to 8,000 copies without a second printing scheduled (as of 11/13/2010) - [Thanks for the update!].
- Great House (Norton), Nicole Krauss
Norton did an initial printing of 70,000 and is going back for another 20,000 copies. **While this appears to be the highest of the fiction print runs, it's still below 100,000, which is considered on the high end of "low." Unsigned copies are listing for up to $45; Signed copies are listing for up to $65, currently.**
- So Much for That (Harper), Lionel Shriver
Harper is... going back to press for an additional 5,000 copies.... A spokesperson at the imprint said there are currently 40,000 copies of the book in print.... **U.S. edition is true first, copies still available at cover price**
- I Hotel (Coffee House Press), Karen Tei Yamashita
The other relative unknown published by a small press... Coffee House... went to press for an initial 7,500 copies.... there are about 1,200 copies left from that initial printing, [with] plans to go back to press for another 7,500 copies. **Softcover; currently listing, on average, for $45**
Similar small print runs can be found with the Nonfiction titles, with the exception of Patti Smith's memoir (no numbers were given).
Labels: Great House, Hypermodern collectible, Jaimy Gordon, Karen Tei Ymashita, Lionel Shriver, National Book Award Finalists, Nicole Krauss, Parrot and Olivier, Peter Carey, print run numbers
