John Claridge, At the ’59 Club, 1973 (JPEG courtesy spitalfieldslife.com)
You're going to want to jump on this. Remember John Claridge, the photographer of the East End of London we featured the other day? He's got a new little book out—halfway towards a pamphlet, really, and only 28 pages—of some of the best of his East End pictures.
On the good side, it's only £4, and most of us can spare that...I don't smoke, but I think it's less than a pack of cigarettes, in either the U.S. or the U.K.
On the bad side, there are only 100 numbered copies available...actually no more than 99, considering I just ordered mine. So you'll have to act right quick. Lightning fast. Do not wait. These will not last long.
(You should only buy one if you intend to keep it and take good care of it, though. This is the sort of ephemera that will be rare and driving Claridge collectors crazy in future years. You are its custodian.)
Mike
UPDATE 6:58 a.m. Wisconsin time, 12:58 p.m. in London: ...And they're gone.
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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.
Thanks for the heads-up, got mine
Posted by: Chris Donovan | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 06:11 AM
Bought, plus a copy of Blind Dogs, Fallen Men by Aram Tanis. For £4 each, it would be stupid not to. You're right about the price of cigarettes - a pack of 20 here costs about £7. £4 wouldn't even buy you a pint of beer in some fancy bars...
Posted by: Rowan | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 06:18 AM
Less than 99 now, I predict a very quick sell out!
Posted by: Barry Reid | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 06:24 AM
98...
Posted by: David Mantripp | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 06:41 AM
Thank heavens for time differences! Mine's ordered.
Posted by: Jeff Grant | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 06:49 AM
Sold out :(
Posted by: Ben | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 06:53 AM
Already sold out, 12:55pm UK time.....
Posted by: Tom Burke | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 06:55 AM
Sold out!
Posted by: Gabriele Harhoff | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 07:01 AM
Sold out. :-(
Posted by: Pros Van Heddegem | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 07:02 AM
Liked greased lightening I was. Even so, I must have gotten one of the last.
Posted by: D. Hufford, formerly known as David H. | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 10:01 AM
Actually Mike, I'm a bit annoyed at you now. I could buy every single book on that website, and I'm trying to pay for a wedding!
Posted by: Rowan | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 12:40 PM
Well, on the plus side, I can put the $6.35 in my IRA!
Posted by: Steve | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 01:38 PM
Sure, thieve one from your adoring readers. A day after you savage my favorite camera.
Posted by: Tom | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 02:34 PM
Damn. That'll teach me to sleep late on a Saturday. I would have bought one for twice the price!
Posted by: Stephen F Faust | Saturday, 01 September 2012 at 02:36 PM
My paypal receipt says 12:36pm UK time. The postage of £2.40 was an unpleasant surcharge, I've had large books delivered for less than that.
It's small and thin, I may get a frame and have mine on the wall showing two pages at a time.
Posted by: Ed | Sunday, 02 September 2012 at 02:33 AM
The Good Press Gallery, Glasgow are expecting five on Monday or Tuesday. One of those is for me and I believe one more is already sold, but if you're quick you may nab one by emailing them - contact details are at http://goodpressgallery.co.uk/index.php?/other/contact/
Good luck!
Posted by: Parsley | Sunday, 02 September 2012 at 05:06 AM
" It's small and thin, I may get a frame and have mine on the wall showing two pages at a time."
Ed,
When I was in college I had a frame that fit album covers. Cheap decor, and it rotated, too.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Sunday, 02 September 2012 at 05:38 AM
On the plus side, maybe this instant sell out will encourage a larger book of the work?
Posted by: Barry Reid | Sunday, 02 September 2012 at 09:22 AM
Thank you Mike for posting the book on here.
It was a pleasure to publish John's work and I must thank him very much for allowing me too.
An amazing response, thanks to all who bought a copy - never known a book to sell out so fast! Sorry to those who missed it. I believe Good Press have now sold out too.
@Ed, I'm sorry the postage was an unpleasant surprise. Postage is always very difficult for a few reasons. Firstly, I like to keep my books affordable, so post always seems a lot because it approaches the same monetary value as the book. You're right - Amazon, you could have had free delivery. They make millions each day, I make next-to-nothing; I teach to make a living, books don't make me money.
Also, royal mail have recently increased their prices a ridiculous amount. Finally, using Paypal there are few options to offer different shipping rates to different parts of the world. Therefore I have to offer a one-size-fits-all price. I run Café Royal alongside my own research / practise, and teaching and having a family. Ideally I'd have time to weigh each order and give an exact shipping price but sadly not.
I hope you understand.
Posted by: Craig Atkinson | Sunday, 02 September 2012 at 02:56 PM
@Craig, I suppose I just like to know the total cost upfront (+£2.40 p&p would have sufficed), anyway I am abusing Mike's hospitality. I'm glad I don't have to compete with Amazon! Looking forward to getting my book
Posted by: Ed | Monday, 03 September 2012 at 04:03 AM
But the photo - WOW, The 59 Club!
I was a member from '63 to '65. I used to live in London England then.
Haven't thought about it in years. it was started by "the ton-up vicar" in 1959, hence the name, to keep wayward M/Cyclists on the straight and narrow.
Actually my leather jacket cost more than my first bike - kinda says it all about me and bikes really.
Posted by: James | Tuesday, 04 September 2012 at 01:50 PM