Many of you will remember a thread running here around about a year ago , concerning the book "Hartung's Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes" (the 1995, much improved and expanded 2nd edition).
A quick recap - this book is well out of print, hard to get even 2nd hand, and some (unscrupulous) book retailers had it advertised on their websites at well over $200!
Anyway .... I was browsing the very small but pleasant Astronomy section in my local Angus & Robertson Bookworld an hour or so ago and what did I see but a copy of Hartung's sitting on the shelf! I grabbed it instantly in case this mirage vanished into thin air, turning it over carefully to read it fully and make sure it really was what it appeared to be.
The sticker was there on the front cover : RRP $87.95
and a "Sale" price listed too ... which I'll get to in a minute.
Now I visit this store reasonably frequently and this book has NEVER appeared on the shelf previously that I know of. I was chasing a copy of this 12 months ago, my girlfriend even sourced one form a reputable online book dealer in Toronto ands had it sent over for my birthday last year, but alas the book never arrives, lost somewhere in the post.
(The dealer, a very descent company, refunded her money and said if the book ever turned up we could keep it as compensation for all the hassle. Sadly it never appeared.)
So now with karma apparently on my side I made my way to the counter in a slow and steady way (lest I wake up and ruin this dream). I handed both the book and my cash to the woman behind the counter, and asked here did she know how it was possible that they had it here for sale?
She said she believed it was a book that the owner had taken home (I know he does have an interest in Astronomy), it had probably been there some time and he had probably just recently brought back in to the store and offered it for sale.
Do you want to know the really REALLY best part of all of this?
Given the very slight wear on the upper spine edge of the dust jacket (the book itself is immaculate and looks not to have even been read) they were selling it at $24.95.
It pays to keep your eyes open, and never give up hope!
