I guess charging for the standard makes the standard worth something?
And how else does one pay for the costs of compiling, editing & printing? Artwork and photos are not free to either the APA or ABA, but are contracted from professional artists and photographers.
The costs associated with publishing a book that sells tens of thousands or more copies are relatively low per copy. The costs associated with publishing a book that may sell a few hundred or thousand copies are considerably higher per copy.
While purchasing/downloading an older copy will tell you what the standard was at a given point in history, it does not necessarily tell you what the standard is today. Breeds have changed considerably since 1905. Many new breeds have been added, many varieties have been added, requirements for breeds and varieties have changed. Even since 2001 there have been many changes, but it's a lot closer to the current standards.
If you truly want to breed and show to the standard, purchase the latest/greatest edition available, joint the association and keep up to date on changes to the standard.
While purchasing/downloading an older copy will tell you what the standard was at a given point in history, it does not necessarily tell you what the standard is today. Breeds have changed considerably since 1905.
Nevertheless, it is still interesting see the OLD descriptions and pictures.
While some breeds have changed considerably, others have not. Particularly, some of the heritage breeds' descriptions have changed very little. Not all "changes" are for the better.
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Nevertheless, it is still interesting see the OLD descriptions and pictures.
While some breeds have changed considerably, others have not. Particularly, some of the heritage breeds' descriptions have changed very little. Not all "changes" are for the better.
Yes but if you only have access to the 1905 version then how will you know how the new one has changed? I would not suggest to some one starting out to look at the 100+ year old version of the APA SOP.
If you are serious about breeding to a standard then $14 is less than one bird would cost and if it were not for the APA and ABA we would not have all the wonderful breeds and varieties than have survived over the years, whether you consider them for the better or worst.
For the record I have collected Standards for years and have most of them except a few. I love them but they have their place and that is a record of the past.
I do agree it could be interesting, and have no problem with the idea of looking back into the past. But that is what it is.
I do see it as an issue to use such an outdated standard as a source of information for the current standard. And unless you can see and compare that 1905 version with the latest version of the standard, you would not know whether the breeds or varieties in which you are interested have or have not changed.
It doesn'y matter whether you agree or disagree with the changes--if you're trying to evaluate and breed for exhibition, then you need to use the current standard.
If you truly have a problem with a change in the standard, then you need to become active in the orgainization and work to change the standard to what you believe it should be.
Sonoran: If you truly have a problem with a change in the standard, then you need to become active in the orgainization and work to change the standard to what you believe it should be.
I only work with one breed, and my breed has changed very little from 1905 to the present. I never said I had a "problem with a change in the standard."
blackred: I would not suggest to some one starting out to look at the 100+ year old version of the APA SOP
I did not suggest that anyone start out with a 100 year old version. Where did I say that? For the third time: I said it was interesting to look at the OLD descriptions and pictures. By "Old," I am meaning "no longer in general use." Did you think I meant something else by "OLD?" Do you disagree with the statement that it is interesting to look at OLD descriptions and pictures? If you do, why? If you do, then also, why do you collect older standards?
cgmccary-
Happyheart was obviously looking for a standard to see if what birds she has would be close to show worthy, while she did not state that I have read enough questions here to spot a new person in the fancy. While others gave her advice on where to find current standards you gave here a link to a 1905 standard. The only purpose for that would be to use the old standard to look at her birds. She was obviously not looking for "old, neat stuff. You stated that the standard hasn't changed much so we took that to mean that you were fine with someone using the 1905 version.
I never said I had a "problem with a change in the standard." I beg to differ with you here-Not all "changes" are for the better. This is your quote.