Post #394449 by bigbrotiki on Wed, Jul 16, 2008 12:02 PM

I am certain it was a little TC humor. It used to be below me to use smileys whenever I was being ironic, but it seems necessary on the web, to clarify and communicate your intentions...unless you wanna keep people guessing. Now I do it all the time (use smileys).

I had not heard about this book until now, thanks Virani for posting about it. I am coming into this discussion late, so my guess that this is a spec cover has been substantiated. What sometimes happens with these smaller subculture publishers that are growing is they need product, and so they think of possible books, and they know someone, and say to him "Hey, you have a sizeable Tiki mug collection, wanna make a book about it?" and the person says "Sure, why not", and then really gets into the idea, and Voila!

As complete as Duke's book is, it probably has very limited distribution in Europe...so they figure they have a good market there, PLUS, they will get more exposure in the US.

Because the US is where the Tiki market is mainly. But I wonder if they, being "insiders", know HOW small the percentage of Tiki aware and interested folks in Europe is. I think the success of the MAHIKI has created somewhat of a second Tiki revival in Britain, but that might distort the reality somewhat.

One thing is for sure: Vintage US mugs are very hard to come by in Europe, so this guide will be more of an eye candy book than a go-out-and-get-some for the European market. But that's OK too.

I don't know Jay that well personally, but, considering that he has been into Tiki longer than many folks here, I am confident that he will come out with a very comprehensive, and what is even more important to me, true-to-the-core of Tiki culture book. I can assure you it won't be something of the "New Wave Mai Tai" Tiki train jumper type. So I am looking forward to another contribution that will keep Tiki on track, congratulations, Jay!