Possible 3rd Edition Counterfeit of Art of Electronics...

[SAGOLSEN]

I bought a 3rd edition Art of Electronics hardcover that seems very low quality.  Does someone have a copy who's willing to compare?  The print position page to page on this one varies as much as 0.1 inch, meaning when page 229 is superimposed over 231 the page numbers don't overlap.  The right margin varies from 3/8" to 5/8".  This is much larger variation than I've ever seen before except maybe mass market ppb.

That doesn't prove it's a counterfeit or factory second.  But, does everyone else's copy show the page numbers jumping around when you flip through the pages?  I'm hoping someone who has a copy can check it out...

I bought the book on Amazon's marketplace, $55 OTD, listed as Used, listed as located in New York.  It was shipped express ($$$) from India and arrived in 5 days, came shrink wrapped, and appears to be new and yet still dirty and scratched up.

I'm not looking for advice on what to do, just looking for others who own this book or who know what to look for as far as identifying unauthorized copies.  I can take it from there.

I haven't seen anyone discussing 3rd edition counterfeits, only 2nd edition.  If this book is a fake it is a pretty good fake.  After the title page: "ISBN 978-0-521-80926-9 Hardback".

-Mike

[EEVblog]

It's been discussed in another thread on the 3rd edition Paul Horowitz has posted on the topic.
Yes there are many fakes on Amazon now, I have one in my Mailbag.

[SAGOLSEN]

Thanks Dave.  I see Paul's post now.

I heard back from Winfield Hill and he also believes it's a fake.   I mean it seemed obvious but I was looking for confirmation.  I can be paranoid sometimes.

[SAGOLSEN]

Just to follow up on this.  Paul Horowitz updated his list of indicators to look for, to determine if a book you got is counterfeit or not.

http://artofelectronics.net/the-book/counterfeit-editions/

Three key indicators are:

A) For U.S. printings, headband colors at the top and bottom of spine, should be checkered gold and black.

B) Print alignment on the page.  Flip through the pages and watch the page numbers.  If the numbers jump around excessively it might be a fake.  A little bit is fine.  Tilted print on the page indicates a fake.

C) Binding issues, looks like wrinkles on the front and rear pages, wrinkles on the inside cover near the binding, wrinkles on the spine.

[rdl]

How would a known counterfeit copy actually cost? There are "like new" used copies available through Amazon for about $50 and a new one actually from Amazon is $88.76. I could probably talk myself into buying one of the used copies.

[amyk]

If this book is a fake it is a pretty good fake.

The technology required to copy a book was perfected many decades ago...

[SAGOLSEN]

Hi Amyk, you are of course referring to Postscript.

Rdl, the US$50 one you're looking at is likely the same seller I bought from.  It's your call but it's very poor quality.  True value of the book I received, in a perfect market?  $0-$15 ??  Consider the trial of re-selling it once we all move to these newfangled computers.  I think it's 10 years in the U.S. but I'm sure they won't do that for a first offense.

At present buying AoE3, it makes sense to buy new (from Amazon.com no one else!).  Or, maybe consider Practical Electronics until the counterfeit market calms down.