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I ordered a copy of the 2024 Nautical Almanac from the US Government Publishing Office bookstore on July 3rd, and UPS delivererd it at my front door today, July 6th. This is the usual excellent service that I have experienced in all my purchases from the US GPO over the last four decades.

When I lived in the Washington area, it was a pleasure to visit its cavernous bookstore in the second floor of a 1903 brick building on North Capitol Street, a couple of blocks from the US Capitol, where one could find very interesting titles at most reasonable prices. Unfortunately, the bookstore is now permanently closed to the public, yet another victim of the coronavirus pandemic, and one can only order books online.  Another unwelcome change is that while the covers of the almanac are still printed in their distinctive bright orange color, they are no longer reinforced with stiff cardboard. Instead, the almanac is bound with laminated soft covers.

David Iwancio wondered why its price was only $25 US (including shipping) to US addresses ($35 for deliveries outside the US). My assumption is that this is because the US Government Publishing Office is a not-for-profit organization, and charges what I think is a very reasonable price for its publications.  I must admit that I have no idea about the actual cost of compiling, printing, and shipping a publication such as the Nautical Amanac; I am merely comparing this price with that of the trade paperback books I buy regularly at my local bookshop.

Rafael C. Caruso