Who owns a copy of Viva! Origami by Jun Maekawa?

merman · Post by **merman** » April 4th, 2008, 5:47 pm

HAHA I am willing to sell it for €1,000

qtrollip · Post by **qtrollip** » April 4th, 2008, 6:00 pm

That's a bit more than I thought, but pm me and we can talk.

merman · Post by **merman** » April 4th, 2008, 6:05 pm

well make me an offer...

qtrollip · Post by **qtrollip** » April 4th, 2008, 6:18 pm

I will pm you when I am done at work!

merman · Post by **merman** » April 4th, 2008, 6:23 pm

HankSimon · Post by **HankSimon** » April 9th, 2008, 11:40 pm

Quentin -

This is always a good site for book reviews:
http://www.giladorigami.com/BO_Viva_Origami.html

Also, you might try an Interlibrary Loan....

- Hank Simon

qtrollip · Post by **qtrollip** » April 9th, 2008, 11:54 pm

Thank you Hank!

pharmjod · Post by **pharmjod** » April 11th, 2008, 4:12 am

$1,000 apiece? Or was a lot of books sold? If it was apiece, that at least lets me know how deep my pockets are gonna have to go if I get the chance.

Also, does the auction at the convention also go towards the organization as charity as well?

qtrollip · Post by **qtrollip** » April 11th, 2008, 4:37 am

Pharmjod, to give you an idea, I just paid my whole (coming) tax refund of 2007 for this book!
But I've been wanting it for over 10 years, and thought that this was probably gonna be my one chance!

origamimasterjared · Post by **origamimasterjared** » April 11th, 2008, 7:13 am

Wow. Dedication.

By the way, I would suggest the only reason to purchase Viva! Origami at this stage is purely for collection purposes. Most of the contents have been republished, and I'm sure in better quality (computer), in other sources, especially Jun Maekawa's new book, Genuine Origami.

merman · Post by **merman** » April 11th, 2008, 10:02 am

the pics of Viva! are amazing though and I think the diagrams of the original book are very good and clear...

Joe the white · Post by **Joe the white** » April 11th, 2008, 6:14 pm

I'm not sure if it was $1,000 a piece or for the lot of them, but it was the 3rd and 4th books in the series (being Viva! Origami as 1, Origami for the Connoisseur as 2, Origami: La Era Nueva as 3, and Origami: El Mundo Nuevo as 4). Reviews of all of them are on Gilad's site as well, though there aren't many pictures of the models. I believe the auction items are donated and then the proceeds go to the organization. Anything from handmade paper, merchandise with origami on it (such as umbrellas, shirts, etc.), or even that quilt made of past OUSA convention t-shirts come up at the auction.

Out of print origami books go at some pretty high prices sometimes, take Origami Fantasy before it was reprinted, it was going for around $200 on e-bay.

pharmjod · Post by **pharmjod** » April 12th, 2008, 4:34 am

That sounds a little more reasonable. I could see paying $200 - $300 for an out of print book if it is rare enough, but $1000 for one is too rich for my blood and I have a high tolerance to pain. I wonder if OUSA ever announces auction items and takes proxy bids for people that can't come to the convention... hmmm.

chesslo · Post by **chesslo** » April 12th, 2008, 4:49 am

why is this book so expensive and famous?

origamimasterjared · Post by **origamimasterjared** » April 12th, 2008, 6:08 am

Viva! Origami is a hallmark of complex origami. I believe it was the first complex/technical origami book, from back in 1983. It introduced the work of Jun Maekawa, which was extraordinary. His Devil is one of few complex pieces that can be considered classic. I believe he introduced the five-fingered hand in origami. This is one of the first times crease patterns are really shown. And I believe discussed, though I can't read Japanese.

But yeah, the main thing is that it introduced Jun Maekawa and complex origami as we know it. And it went out of print a very very long time ago.