I'm sure this will be a very useful tome for well-heeled Lachenalia buffs. I believe there is a formula of sorts that says if a book costs so much to photocopy (say, 10c/page) then there is little point in buying the book, especially if it is a technical work. If illustrations can be reasonably well reproduced-- color copying is good these days-- then it may be worth copying it for personal use rather than buying it. This book would cost less than half the asking price by this means, including binding. I write as an ardent book enthusiast who has paid more than the price of this Lachenalia book for some taxonomic works from Springer for example. On the other hand, it makes sense to buy a photocopy of Salter's Oxalis monograph rather than searching out an original. In terms of disseminating knowledge, these retail prices are punitive, regardless of production costs. Dylan Hannon On 28 March 2012 10:43, Nhu Nguyen <xerantheum@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Lachenalia lovers, > > This to be published book sounds very tempting but look at the price! > > http://kewbooks.com/asps/ForthcomingDetails.asp/… > > Nhu > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > -- Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making. — John Milton, *Areopagitica: A speech for the liberty of unlicensed printing to the Parliament of England*, 1644