Dover Publications

[richard black]

I was in a local music shop looking at a couple of Dover Publications scores today and noticed to my horror that they seem to have changed the style of binding they use. They have always in the past used 'sewn' or 'signature' binding, where a bunch of pages is sewn together and these 'signatures' are then glued into the spine. That makes for a binding that is tough but will still open flat (maybe with a little encouragement at first) and stay that way - exactly what one needs on a piano, of course. The nex Dover scores seem to have gone over to 'perfect' binding in which individual sheets are glued into the spine, an arrangement which never opens flat as nicely as signature binding and usually starts dropping pages before long. 'Perfect' (horribly inappropriate name) is popular with American publishers particularly but is really completely unsuited to music duty. It was originally intended for magazines. You can easily distinguish Sewn from Perfect by looking at the top or bottom of the spine, where it's possible to see what's going on.

I've sent an email to Dover asking them to reconsider and I suggest you do too - they're too good a resource to lose!

[faulty_damper]

I think that they vary the use of binding from sewn to perfect depending on the pieces they published.

And I agree that perfect binding is crap, but Dover is not alone in using it.

[thalberg]

Perhaps you could help us lazy folks and give us an email address?

[trazom]

I've noticed this too.  Almost cried.

I have always loved Dover...  usually pretty good editions at a great price.  And they often have pretty paintings on the front!  I believe they have the best edition of the Beethoven Sonatas available.  Not to mention the large amount of non-score books about composers and pianists and other music topics (For which the binding isn't as crucial, but I always prefer a nicely made book).  All serious pianists will likely use some Dover material at some point.

They used to have this printed on the back of their books:

A DOVER EDITION DESIGNED FOR YEARS OF USE!

We have made every effort to make this the best book possible.  Our paper is opaque, with minimal show-through; it will not discolor or become brittle with age.  Pages are sewn in signatures, in the method traditionally used for the best books, and will not drop out, as often happens with paperbacks held together with glue.  Books open flat for easy reference.  The binding will not crack or split.  This is a permanent book.

The above really held true.  I've had many of their books for years and believe me they've taken a beating.  They are indeed permanent.

Dover Publications was founded in 1941 by a married couple: Hayward and Blanche Cirker.  Perhaps this change has something to do with Hayward's death in 2000, the same year Dover was acquired by Courier Corporation.

At any rate, I think the possibility of Dover switching back to their old methods is slim.  They've most likely restructured their entire system for this new cheaper way.  Still, every pianist should write them.  Their website is http://store.doverpublications.com.

They don't appear to offer an e-mail address, but rather you can contact them through this form: http://store.doverpublications.com/customercarecenter.html

You can also send hard mail to:
Dover Publications
Customer Care Department
31 East 2nd Street
Mineola, NY 11501-3852

I recommend the latter; it usually has a stronger effect.

Ultimately remember, they're just books.  Best to simply memorize them and throw them all away. 

[quantum]

I've noticed this too.  It only applies to some of their scores though.  Like the Rach preludes and etudes.  Maybe it is time I write them.

[thalbergmad]

I doubt if they will switch back as that is more expensive.

My old party trick of tearing up telephone directories has been ruined by all this glueing.

Thal

[richard black]

A brief follow-up: I used the link (given above) to the Customer Care office and got a reply commendably fast, saying that they had indeed switched to glued bindings for cost reasons and had had 'very few complaints'. So evidently they do read comments they're sent - do please send 'em some!

[thalbergmad]

The binding on my 1840's Moscheles book is still in excellent condition, with all pages held fast for over 160 years.

My Dover edition of Gottschalk is losing pages after 1 month.

Perhaps they hope to sell more this way.

Thal

[richard black]

Perhaps they hope to sell more this way.

Given that Dover only _re_publishes stuff that's out of copyright, I think this could be suicide. Why pay money for a book that's going to end up like a lot of loose photocopies anyway? You might as well download from IMSLP or something for free. I'm quite happy to pay Dover's very reasonable prices for a book that will last a few years, but not for something that frustrates me every time I try to use it.

[liszt1022]

I vote Dover should reissue the 2-piano score of Busoni's concerto op. 39. I can't spend $160 just for it, however much I love it (and the scanned version currently on the Internet is atrocious.)

[elsie07]

I don't like the new binding, either.  I have the Dover edition of WTC, and the cover fell off within a week.

[richard black]

I vote Dover should reissue the 2-piano score of Busoni's concerto op. 39.

Wouldn't it be nice? But I think pigs might fly first. How many copies do you really think they'd sell? Couple dozen maybe?

[quantum]

Why has the Medtner sonatas disappeard from the Dover site?

Searching Medtner only brings up the Fairy Tales volume.