I agree with you re: The Americans. I have that version and I look at it frequently. It was a book that really changed how I thought about and approached photography. If you get a chance you should read the entire DLK Collection post. He (she?) provides an interesting overview of why most photo collectors have so many books and the value they derive from them.

They are not going after the “collectible” books and you could argue that some collectibles fall into the 5% category. I was impressed by the whole package of Towell’s book. From the tactile feel of the cover, to the various papers used and of course the photographs. I felt like the design of the book as a whole, elevated my interaction with his work. It was not just eye candy for the sake of a cool design.

Robert Frank’s “The Americans” is a vase in point. I had a softcover version of the book that I hauled with me from Colorado to Wyoming to Arizona and then to Chicago, where I lost it. I think this book would have been less engaging for me in a high-clas binding and tasteful slipcover.

Frank’s survey of where America is going in its shiny car in the night demands presentation in well-thumbed, dog-eared pages.