A troff version does exist - as I recall it was Ian J that recovered that.  I’ll go poking later when I have a real computer not my mobile.  The actual nroff version that ‘typeset’ for Printronix 300 printer that John used may or may not be.  It was done pre-make(1) so it was v6 script.  

While you can find a pdf of troffed version in the wild, I recommend getting the bound version from Amazon these days. I believe care was made to ensure it lined up exactly like the original - although T is bound as one volume not two. 

Like Rich, my nth generation copy of the original is quite faded and more difficult to read 

On Wed, Jul 5, 2023 at 12:11 PM segaloco via TUHS <tuhs@tuhs.org> wrote:
I think this is a great community engagement activity.  That said, can't do the printing myself.  I'll throw myself out there as a potential customer though, I have the print version they did many many years later but it'd be cool to have one of the samizdat copies.  To whoever does speak for this and start producing volumes, you've got your first customer!

- Matt G.

P.S. Are the typesetter sources for the commentary preserved anywhere?  The typesetting style is very, very much like a small Bell System Teletype 28 training course document that I want to see about recreating as sources, might be able to take some pointers from the commentary.
------- Original Message -------
On Wednesday, July 5th, 2023 at 7:01 AM, Rich Salz <rich.salz@gmail.com> wrote:

I have a copy of Lions's "A Commentary on the UNIX Operating System" It is an n-th generation photocopy that I've had for some number of decades. It also has the source code, as I guess all of those copies did back in the day. I could just recycle the paper -- it's yellowed with age -- but I'd rather pay it forward and ship it to someone who promises to make copies for others who want it. This is also on bitsavers, so you're only doing this to preserve the sense of history in passing photocopies around.

I'll take bids on how many copies you'll provide. I'll post the winning bid (without their address), so that the community can pressureXXXXXX ensure they meet their commitment. I'll send it out by the end of the week.

I will give preference to US/Canada domestic addresses since that is easier for me. How much preference is left to my discretion. :)

I hope this doesn't make me sound like a jerk; it's intended to be lighthearted community service.

--
Sent from a handheld expect more typos than usual