After the reviews from Tim Trager and Nancy Fratti and requests for
information from others, I've decided to tell you about it a little
earlier than planned.

The launch isn't until 6 February and I didn't want to disappoint
anyone with an extended delivery period as no books ordered before
then will be sent out until 7 February.  FOPS members who pre-ordered
the book some time ago will already have received copies earlier as
promised.  I had intended to write just before the launch.

The book was planned as a celebration of the FOPS' 40th anniversary in
1998.  It contains 205 photographs, 46 in colour, and over 30,000 words
on the history of organs in the UK, Holland, the USA and Australia, as
well as "who is" information on modern builders, and a glossary of
terms.  Many people were involved in its preparation -- I was just the
go-between as far as content is concerned although I did set the whole
book myself in PageMaker, including scanning the photos, ready for the
printers on CDs, to keep the cost down.

It was intended to be about the "look" of organs.  The sound of them
is a little difficult to get across from the printed word!  I think we
succeeded.

If you want a copy, Nancy Fratti will have some for sale after the
Feb. 6 launch as will Philip Jamison.  You can come to the launch and
get a copy earlier, if you wish, but the air fare might add a little to
the overall cost.  The launch will be at the premises of Mr Teddy Reed,
Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, on Sunday 6 February at 2:00 PM,
although organs will be in play from 11:00 AM that morning.  (We'll
give you a free cup of tea or coffee after the launch!)

You can also order directly from the FOPS, of course.  The cost is
UKP 17.95 plus packing and postage of UKP 3.95 in the UK, or UKP 4.95
to the rest of the world by surface mail.  (This is taking about a
week at the moment to the US.)  Airmail will cost you UKP 6.00 extra.
FOPS members (only) will have been contacted directly about a one-off
special price for their first copy.  E-mails orders may be sent to
<sales@fops.ndirect.co.uk>, please, with credit card details.  (Split
the number over two e-mails to give it a little security.  Don't forget
the expiry date!)

To join the FOPS, contact John Page at <memsec@fops.ndirect.co.uk>
or visit our (very much in need of an update) web site for details
of subscriptions, etc., at  http://www.fops.ndirect.co.uk/

These details may well change in March this year, but I will advise
the changes when they happen and, oh yes, if you're still waiting for
a link to your site, it'll happen soon.  (Okay, own up -- Who would
want to register "fops.com" except the Fair Organ Preservation Society?
Try it and see.)

Look forward to hearing from you.

Phil Benson
Publications Editor
Fair Organ Preservation Society