Does anyone here have a copy of Scheel's 1968 killifish classic Rivulins of the Old World? If so, could you take a photo of page 197 (Epiplatys josianae) and share it with me? Thanks in advance.
Rivulins of the Old World
- Thread starter GaryE
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OP
Thank you for that. It's very much appreciated.
It's now Epiplatys josianae, although some consider that a sub species of fasciolatus. I read of one of the best photos being in the old Scheel book, but I loaned mine to someone a while back and have never seen it again. I figured someone here had to have that book.
It's now Epiplatys josianae, although some consider that a sub species of fasciolatus. I read of one of the best photos being in the old Scheel book, but I loaned mine to someone a while back and have never seen it again. I figured someone here had to have that book.
I consider that a capital offense.
I place Apple location tags in my important books on loan.
OP
OP
I should have pinned one on the butt of the guy I loaned it to. Lost a good Betta book there too. Such is life.
I learned the hard way too.
I just noticed that the same two fish are pictured on p. 218 of the 1990 revision and expansion of Scheel's "Rivulins...". This is the edition that's juiced up to a coffee table-sized volume. I believe they are in fact the same two photos from the '68 volume, the lower one being flipped from its original orientation.
OP
OP
Interesting. Was the coffee table book a TFH edit?
The change in location from Kenema to eastern Sierra Leone is curious. I've been entertaining myself by learning about the fish around that specific region of Sierra Leone, and less precision about a fish that comes from a very limited range wouldn't have drawn my eye. The fasciolatus group of killies tend to be similar, and often only really beautiful in the right lighting. But they interest me.
Using the internet is great, but the older books have an entire other period's exploration in them. If no one has hunted for a fish in the last 30 years, it isn't likely to be online. As well, photographers often hold back their best shots to sell them, as once it's online, it's lost to them.
I see a surprising quiet little resurgence in fish books going on. I do a little editing sometimes, and I'm hearing of things. You would have to be a serious collector to buy a lot of them as they're expensive. Many are also written by people for whom English isn't a first language, and the results can be a little hard to read. The internet ethos of write it and hope they understand has switched to the book trade, as with no editors, things can become plodding or imprecise very quickly.
In our new era of AI, where everything we say can become corporate property, I think some of the fish researchers and passionate hobbyists who have something to say are being a bit more careful about the pickpockets of silicone valley.
The change in location from Kenema to eastern Sierra Leone is curious. I've been entertaining myself by learning about the fish around that specific region of Sierra Leone, and less precision about a fish that comes from a very limited range wouldn't have drawn my eye. The fasciolatus group of killies tend to be similar, and often only really beautiful in the right lighting. But they interest me.
Using the internet is great, but the older books have an entire other period's exploration in them. If no one has hunted for a fish in the last 30 years, it isn't likely to be online. As well, photographers often hold back their best shots to sell them, as once it's online, it's lost to them.
I see a surprising quiet little resurgence in fish books going on. I do a little editing sometimes, and I'm hearing of things. You would have to be a serious collector to buy a lot of them as they're expensive. Many are also written by people for whom English isn't a first language, and the results can be a little hard to read. The internet ethos of write it and hope they understand has switched to the book trade, as with no editors, things can become plodding or imprecise very quickly.
In our new era of AI, where everything we say can become corporate property, I think some of the fish researchers and passionate hobbyists who have something to say are being a bit more careful about the pickpockets of silicone valley.
Yes but also a real revision and update by Scheel, with a revised 'more commercial' title. That said, there are stretches of unchanged content from '68. I still go back to the '68 content which tends to be more detailed, I suspect because there were no editors tightening the copy in favor of graphics and design.
OP
OP
I lusted after that book when I was broke, then never bought it. The old TFH books were great for photos, like Aqualog books, but thin on information for basic hobbyists.
Herbert Axelrod (the TFH owner/publisher for younger aquarists) boasted he became a millionaire by playing on the generosity of European writers who put the work above the money for it. He took their hard work, aimed at advancing knowledge, then sold it for a hefty price, since he aimed at avarice.
Herbert Axelrod (the TFH owner/publisher for younger aquarists) boasted he became a millionaire by playing on the generosity of European writers who put the work above the money for it. He took their hard work, aimed at advancing knowledge, then sold it for a hefty price, since he aimed at avarice.
The '68 edition of Scheel's "Rivulins" was one of a trio of early TFH hardcover books that bowed to science rather than commerce and serious aquarists were the beneficiaries. The other two were Gery's "Characoids of the World" (1977) which was 700 pages crammed with knowledge, and Brittan's "Rasbora" (!972) a smaller (300pp) but no less valuable packed resource. These three were perhaps the last of their kind. After that it was all about photos, simplified texts, graphics...in other words, commerce.
OP
OP
T.F.H. went downhill fast, with their books. They published some weak stuff later, until they left the book trade altogether. It's a shame, because publishers in other countries were able to sell real quality books. However, they paid their writers a lot more - four times or more as much from my experience.
For the reader, the other books cost less, in general.
The magazine remained good. From what I've read here, it's still being published, and they have some quality writers. @Back in the fold has talked about recent issues.
For the reader, the other books cost less, in general.
The magazine remained good. From what I've read here, it's still being published, and they have some quality writers. @Back in the fold has talked about recent issues.
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