Once in a while, someone writes to ask if we would autograph his or her copy of Freakonomics. And we say: sure, thanks for asking. But the logistics aren’t very smooth. A person would have to mail the book to one of us, and include a stamped envelope addressed to the other one of us, and another stamped envelope back to the book’s owner. So here’s a better solution: the signed bookplate. A bookplate is a simple but nicely designed sticker that the two of us can sign and then simply mail to you, to be placed inside your book (or on your dashboard or forehead if you want), like one of those old “ex libris” stickers. We’ll even pay the $.37 postage. If you’d like a signed bookplate,
fill out this form. Thanks for asking.
From 1 to 25 of 27 Comments
you guys are too much fun!! thanks for being who you are and for humoring those of us who “hero worship” ya’all!
— AnonymousAbout 20 years ago I asked Milton Friedman to sign a copy of Capitalism and Freedom for me. He did so. Then he asked me if I’d like a signed copy of Free to Choose also. He had several boxes of the book sitting around (we were at his house), was looking to get rid of them, and would sell them to us for $10 each. Within minutes a line formed and at least two dozen of us walked away with signed copies. I bought 2 extras for friends.
He did say that he liked signing books because people tend not to resell autographed books and thus they didn’t end up competing new copies.
— Bob LawsonI would be interested in running an experiment to see how much the tags (without the books) would sell for on Ebay.
— The ProfessorThis is great! Thank you, Rachel, Levitt and Dubner for offering this.
I asked to do the same with one of Fareed Zakaria’s books - The Future of Freedom. I offered to FedEx my hardback to Fareed Zakaria with a corresponding return FedEx, but sadly he did not reply.
Oh well.
— AnonymousGreat idea! Very smart of you! Thanks for offering. Just wrote to Rachel.
Connie
— Conniehttp://www.SugarShockBlog.com
But are they going to really sign it? I’ve heard that a lot of the autographs mailed to fans are fakes.
Or is this a way of getting addresses for a mailing list?
Or am I just too paranoid… Thanks for the offer.
— AnonymousLike they can’t just buy a mailing list for $100 rather than concocting an autograph scheme.
— AnonymousIn case anyone was wondering, “signed edition” books are not signed by authors after they are bound. The author signs hundreds of blank sheets that are ‘tipped’ in during the binding. The now late-great Hunter Thompson actually wrote hundreds of individually obtuse notes on his.
— AnonymousThis sounds like some kind of study
— AnonymousHow shall I stick this thing to the e-book I downloaded?
— AnonymousThanks a bunch! I appreciate the offer for the bookplate and I feel for Rachel! I’m betting her mail box is overflowing!
As for the mailing list, I’m on plenty of them already, so what’s one more– HA!
Broker
— Brokerthebrokerage.blogspot.com
Great idea, and great book! Although a bookplate will ‘personalize’ my copy a bit, have no fear, for it will never lost it’s place in our library! An excellent and timeless read, to be referred to again and again. Our only drawback is in having one copy, and determining whos turn it is to be reading it…
— BAD*CADthanks for this great work.
Great going guys.
A phenomenal read.
Cheers
— MiteshI wonder if this is some experiment, the results of which will show up in the next book by Levitt and Dubner.
— AnonymousAny comment on Bill Bennett’s current predicament?
— AnonymousI am now trying to figure out if I could somehow apply your methodology to my company sales figures and come up with correlations and strategies that could propel actual-to-plan sales into reality more quickly.
Thanks for your insight.
— Mickhttp://www.sobstudygroup.com
I would love to be part of an experiment like this, if it is one, where i get a nice lil autoraphed tag. Is this offer valid for India??
— AnonymousSurya
I have my fingers, toes, eyes and everything crossable crossed. I hope to get two bookplates shipped to Singapore.
Thanks!
— AnonymousSpeaking of incentives…
“Free” is my favourite word! I figured out that I can cut my food expenses in half just by going to free barbeques and international club events on my university campus.
— Theodoros GiovanniI know an author who signs copies of his books found on bookstore shelves!
— Robert CowhamAloha,
— frogmanandyAs far as how books are signed. That may be true for hunter, but I have personally signed bound books from a friend of mine for the public. He gets bored with it. lol
[...] Schedule « Google’s Dell Start Page Published 0 minutes ago –> » The Freakonomics Blog offered to send people a signed bookplate to anyone who requested one. Today it arrived and I can’t be happier! [...]
— Devin Reams | Freakonomics Bookplate Arrived | devinreams.com[...] Drop an email and the authors of Freakonomics will send you a nice signed bookplate which you can place inside your book. Interested? Go here [...]
— Footboard Ticket » Blog Archive » Want a signed copy of Freakonomics ?Wow! This works even in the Philippines! I just got my signed bookplate! You guys are cool! =)
— JervisAny nice woman want to date a lonely 48 year old divorced black man from NY? Hey this is as good a venue as match.com
— Rex