For
more than fifteen years now, ever since the beginning of my
Hyakunin Isshu series (the Hundred Poets prints), my printmaking
work has been supported
by subscriptions. I never sell through galleries or dealers,
nor do I sell prints one-by-one. In addition to these 'heresies', my
prints have never carried - and will never carry - edition
numbers.
Why do I do things this way? It is a bit of a long story,
and some time ago I prepared a couple of 'conversations' that
tried to explain my thoughts.
Note: These Albums were made during the five years from 1999~2003.
They are not all sold out, and this page is for 'back issue' subscriptions.
Subscriptions
If you are interested in the idea of owning some of these
beautiful prints, I hope you will consider subscribing to one
of these albums. All subscriptions are for a 'one-album' term -
you will receive ten prints and their accompanying 'essays'
(along with an LP-size case in which to store everything) as
well as four issues of my quarterly newsletter.
Here's how it works:
Subscriptions work just the same way as all my other series:
- You let me know you wish to subscribe. I will of course also need the address to which you wish me to send the prints.
- I will reply with information on making payment, etc. (see below). Once I have the first payment, I will send the first print to you along with the case. Each print is held in a folder that
carries a small essay related to the print (in Japanese and
English) and a protective interleaf sheet. These folders are
punched to fit into the album cover, where they are held in
place by tied cords.
- About a month later, I will send the next print, already
packaged in its folder. You will need to untie the
cords and insert the folder in the album. An invoice
will be included, and you make payment for this
print. (You will have a page on my on-line accounts system,
where you can see outstanding items, and click-through to
pay them, should you wish to pay that way.)
- This continues month-by-month until the album becomes
complete with the arrival of the tenth and final print, at
which point your subscription is 'finished' (Although you
may of course wish to continue with
another album ... :-) )
Notes:
- Subscriptions can start anytime; my software keeps track of
which collector is due to get which print each month. You start
whenever you wish, and go month-by-month until your set is complete.
- Subscriptions may be for multiple albums simultaneously. A number of
collectors are doing 'two at a time' or 'three at a time' in order to
'catch up' with me ...
- These albums are also available for outright purchase, at a price
of 60,000 yen each (postpaid anywhere).
Prices
I like making prints, and am not afraid of the physical work
of printing them. Unlike many artists, who prefer to keep their
edition sizes small (to save work, or to keep things 'exclusive')
and who must thus charge
high prices for their prints, I prefer to make more of
them and keep the cost to each collector as low as possible.
All the prints in each album are the same price - whether
they have three impressions or twenty ... whether the pigment
is simple sumi ink or gold leaf. I have averaged my expenses
against the yearly income to arrive at a median price.
The price for my surimono prints is 6,000 yen each
(currently around US $63). I am very proud to be able to make
prints of this quality available at this kind of price. I can
only do this because I don't have to hire carvers and printers!
I must add a charge for overseas shipping though (by Air
Express), so the actual subscription price varies depending on
where you live. Collectors resident in Japan must also pay Consumption Tax
(overseas collectors are exempt). These are the prices with tax and shipping added:
Domestic (Japan): 6,000 yen + 300 (tax) + 390 (shipping) = 6,690 per print
Asia: 6,000 yen + 540 (shipping) = 6,540 per print
North America, Oceania: 6,000 yen + 690 (shipping) = 6,690 per print
Europe: 6,000 yen + 690 (shipping) = 6,690 per print
South America, Africa: 6,000 yen + 890 (shipping) = 6,890 per print
At recent exchange rates, that means that each print (with
shipping) will be around $70 for a US collector, and about
€50 for a European collector. (Note that if your subscription
is for more than one print at a time, just a single postage charge
will apply.)
Payment
Subscribers here in Japan (where I live) usually find it
most convenient to make payment through the postal system, and
for them I include a postal remittance slip with each print,
with which they make payment after receiving each shipment.
Overseas subscribers may make remittance in whichever currency
is most convenient; if paying in yen the amount will remain the same
every month, if paying in dollars or euros, your cost will fluctuate
slightly as the rates change each month ... One of the
following methods will hopefully be convenient for you:
- Credit card
- I have a US$ account in a North American bank, into which
deposits may be made by:
- mailing your personal cheque
(I can enclose an empty pre-addressed
envelope for this, if you wish)
- using internet banking if you have such
ability.
- If you are a Paypal user, you can send payment
that way. This is particularly convenient, because
Paypal now allows you to make payments in either
dollars or yen, as you choose.
- Remittance may be made by International
Postal Money order sent by snailmail:
David Bull
Seseragi Studio
Nagabuchi 8-4-5
Ome City Tokyo
198-0052 JAPAN
More Information / Place Order
If you would like more information, or wish to start a subscription, please use the appropriate section of my Order Form.
Alternatively, if you are a Skype user, you can give me a call with your questions, or to place an order. Check my webcam first to see if I am perhaps busy with printing - if the camera is off and the coast seems clear, give me a 'ring' on woodblock100, my Skype ID. (Do I need to remind you that I am in Tokyo? ... so check your time zones first!)