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Title
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1968_Sackson_086_March 08.jpg
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Creator
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Sid Sackson
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Date
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1968
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Type
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image
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Format
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.jpg
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Source
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Box 1, Object 6, Sid Sackson collection
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Language
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English
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Coverage
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1968
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Rights
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The Strong, Rochester, New York.
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transcription
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English
3/7
Friday 8 March 1968
Ember Day 68th day - 298 days to come
Called Fabio about my reservations about the book being
brought out as part of the juvenile line.
Fabio did not try to sell me but told me the
following:- Their sales approach when a game is
listed as a juvenile is through the libraries and school
libraries. In general a book in this line does not
have as large a first and second year sale but lasts
much longer. They will try to get me on TV, since
this free advertising, and because of the novelty of the
subject it will probably be easily arranged. They will
not, normally, put ads in the Times book section.
If, when the book is finished he thinks it is
more suitable for adult promotion he will try to have
it published by "Random House." Present plans are
for publication by "Pantheon".
Listing as a juvenile will not stop them from trying
to get it into book stores, but he can't promise that my
neighborhood bookstore will stock it.
He sugg He doesn't want me to "write down" at all
and wants me to go along with the outline I pre-
sented. I brought up the matter of the listing of
"games in print" and what happens when they go out
of print. He said that new editions are brought out every
5 years or so and that in the meantime it wasn't
a serious problem. Current history books are not revised
every year. He definitely likes the idea of a listing of
games on the market.
He wants me to talk to Martin Gardner and write
to Alex before making up my mind.
Had lunch in park with Claude. He has always felt that
libraries were the best markets for books on games.
Called Martin Gardner to ask about the book. He thinks
that publication in the juvenile listing is fine. Many of
his books are done that way. It is important, however, that
the jacket doesn't identify it for boys and girls since that would
keep it out of many outlets. He thinks it is even possible
that the Science Library, a book club, might take it. He
thinks the contract, with the reduction in royalty for the
first 10,000 copies for art work and the advance, is a
fair one. In some cases he had to share 50-50 with
the artist for all copies. When I get the contract I should
call him and he'll discuss the terms with me. An "out-of-
print" clause reverting the book to me is very important.
I told him about the game MATE, also about
BAZAAR going national. He said that when the book is a-
bout 6 months from publication I should contact him and
we'll arrange a part of a column or possibly a full one to
coincide with the publication of the book. I didn't have
(cont. on 3/7)
