Afraid to ask

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO ASK ABOUT REPRODUCTION BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK recently acquired and read this small book from the early 1990s. The book is a production of the Show-Ads Omega Group , at the time of publication made up of various companies based in Port Melbourne, Moorabbin and Collingwood.

The booklet plays on the idea of asking about animal reproduction and the printing process.

This 80 page spiral bound booklet, 21x16cm, with colour illustrations of animals, fish and sometimes the concept-design-printing process. Published at a time when clients needed a glossary explaining: dpi, floppy disk, as well as gravure and offset lithography. The booklet also explains decision-making about font, condensed and extended type, letter, word & line spacing, and the newish use of recycled paper.

This is an interesting read from a practical and historical perspective.

I have donated this to the State Library of Victoria as they do not seem to have received the Legal Deposit copy. 

Legal deposit, which has its origins in the Copyright Act 1869, has helped us to preserve and maintain a lasting record of Victoria’s publishing history. It has also enabled the Library to collect Victorian publications not held in other libraries, providing valuable material for researchers.

A copy of works published in Victoria must be deposited with State Library Victoria under section 49 of the Libraries Act 1988 (Vic). A copy of printed publications may also be required to be deposited with the National Library of Australia.