The reasons that book club editions are less valuable should. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a gold. Good to look out for at book swaps and garage sales. There is no such thing as a first edition book club edition. The third book, harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban, had some early prints of this book mistakenly printed with joanne rowling rather than jk rowling on the page. Need help assessing a books value dune first edition ars. Book club editions are especially nice for people who like nice old, well bound, copies of books, without paying serious collectors prices. The dust jacket, or dustwrapper, that covers a book is a valuable part of a first edition. Imaginary conversations, by walter savage landor, italy, mcmxxxvi 1936 the life of benvenuto cellini, by himself, verona, mcmxxvii 1937 the beggars opera, by john gay, paris, 1937 an almanac for moderns, by donald culross peattie, washington, 1938 les fleurs du mal, by charles baudelaire, paris, 1940 with. Book club editions for the most part see the end of this writeup for the exceptions are not of collectible value and cause a lot of confusion for many book collectors. The reason they arent worth more money is because the true first editions had a limited print run while book club editions have a larger print run thats why there are so many out there. Bad news first whilst this series is beloved by many and collections look adorable on the shelf, most book club editions are typically valued quite poorly by collectors, and jde books are no exception to this mind you, this is of course excellent news for collectors, as you can easily build up a lovely looking collection of nostalgia.
Feb 15, 2010 the limited editions club was a book club. Only the books that do not have those words are the ones that would have value. Any photographic illustrations in the original are either absent or reduced in number. Members received one book a month, including george orwells the road to wigan pier and edgar snows red star over china. In general, book club editions are more cheaply printed than the trade editions. And so were proud to announce the parnassus first editions club. For what its worth, since its inception in 1926, the bookofthemonth club continues to market and distribute books to this day. Ive heard some, though certainly not all book club editions can be. A quick dive into most highstreets bookshops these days and both the casual browser and the more purposeful seekerout of the macabre can hardly fail to miss the crime section.
Harry potter and the sorcerers stone book club editionsvaluable. A book club edition bce or book of the month club edition. About once a month well choose a new first edition for you, have the author sign it, and then well mail it to you. Keep in mind that there are always exceptions, but in general, here are a couple of ways to identify a book club and distinguish them from their more valuable first editions. So it makes sense that any signed copy of rowlings books would be incredibly valuable. I have been collecting harry potter books for roughly 10 years. As book club editions are typically not valuable, does that mean they are never collectible. Seuss first editions modern first editions blog issue.
Easton press, limited editions club, franklin library, book club of california all examples. Please take a moment to note that any us hardback harry potter book which has only blackboards and no diamond imprint boards are composed of the front and back hardcovers and spine is a book club copy and nowhere near as valuable as those books with the appropriate twocolor, diamond pattern boards. Easton press, the first edition society of the franklin library, the limited editions club, the book club of california have all produced some high quality books, signed editions, and first edition, first printing of titles that have become valuable. They will also usually say book club edition on the front, inside flap of the dust jacket. The worlds most valuable childrens books do you have one. Pioneering british publisher victor gollancz founded the original left book club in 1936. Many editions of h2g2 are worth are worth a fair sum of money. Collectors frequently ask whether book club editions are first editions, and whether these volumes have any additional value. Nov 26, 2014 harry potter and the sorcerers stone book club editionsvaluable. You can find detailed help on identifying book club editions here.
Undoubtedly, the best known of these is the book ofthemonth club. Easton press, limited editions club, franklin library, book club of california. Oct 30, 2019 greg book club editions tend to be smaller than the original editions. Nov 03, 2003 finally, some book clubs produce richly upgraded, limited editions which are collectible in their own right, and prices for these sometimes exceed prices for the corresponding first trade editions. Often it is a new setting and with cheaper paper and binding. We show you what to look for so you can determine if you have a true first edition or a book club edition. A first edition, first printing that is signed by the. We spoke to the experts at peter harrington who told us about some of the genres most sought after items. A book club copy will always be a book club copy, even though it states first edition. Each signed first edition club pick is a first edition and first printing, personally signed by the author, delivered to you in pristine condition with its jacket in a transparent protective wrapping to extend the life of the book. The problem is, a lot of book club editions arent easily identified. Identifying book club editions one girl collecting. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable should make.
A first printing of the first book club edition as opposed to, say, later sk library book club editions is a consolation prize. For this list and the lists that follow lists that follow refers to lists in the childrens picturebook price guide of the twenty most valuable picturebooks from each decade, covering the 1930s up the 1990s. As such they are somewhat sought after and can get a. Not sure if these might prove that book club editions might be valuable or not. Book collection of the limited editions club ten books including. In most cases, books released through bookofthemonth club bomc are much nicer than book club editions bce released by the doubleday book clubs. Ioba identifying book club editions independent online. I also agree that book club editions are not priced uniquely.
Sellers also like to refer to the thirteenth pearl as rare when it is found in the matte edition, but i see it for sale all the time. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable should make them more valuable. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a. First editions of wellloved books can become the most prized in literature. Book club editions book of the month clubs often use the same printing plates as the original publisher, right down to the words first edition on the printing history. You can use it to get other editions or related books for free. And, like many other myths about bookselling, there are exceptions. A book club edition is quite often of smaller size and printed on lower quality paper than the regular trade edition. A popular book is sometimes reissued under the imprint of a book club.
Today, the limited editions club lec is an important part of the rare book business and the books are adored by collectors. Rare and valuable books old and not so old books worth. In the 1960s, they began publishing hardcover editions of books that had originally been paperback. In addition to printings of a first edition, there are also other editions that are sometimes mistaken for the first edition. Our signed first editions monthly subscription selects and delivers new and exciting literary work each month, signed by the author. In terms of monetary value, book club editions are usually at the bottom of the. Need help assessing a books value dune first edition. Which are the most rare, collectable and valuable crime books. Harry potter and the sorcerers stone book club editions. As the above definition makes clear, book club editions are reprints of books. The science fiction book club in particular did a lot in its time to popularize and increase the readership of sciencefiction. Imaginary conversations, by walter savage landor, italy, mcmxxxvi 1936 the life of benvenuto cellini, by himself, verona, mcmxxvii 1937 the beggars opera, by john gay, paris, 1937 an almanac for moderns, by donald culross peattie, washington, 1938 les fleurs du mal, by.
Book club edition does that mean that book has no value. Book club editions are sold to members at a good discount compared with the original issue price. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition childrens. In order for a first edition to be valuable, it has to be rare. Book club editions are often a little smaller than a regular hardcover book, and may feel lighter.
From 1929 to 1985, the limited editions club published 548 titles. The 1960s yellow spine book club editions with the blank back covers are also supposedly rare but they are just scarce. Size the first thing youll notice is that the dimensions of the book is noticeably smaller, such as the height and width. I have heard that when a book has the words book club edition on it, no matter how old the book is, that book has no value. Learn about a new club launched in spring 2019, delivering four debut novels each year, here. The limited editions club, much as its title suggests, was a subscriptionbased book club intent on circulating limited edition copies of classic titles to its members. Sayers and fellow members of the detection club ideally signed by all the contributors and the fabulously scarce first edition of trents own case by e. Since most bces with value are fiction, condition is huge. When i first started, i did not know enough to know the difference between a first edition, first print, trade edition, book club edition, or state. While a signed first edition is best according to abe books, one of the fifth book in the series, order. Demand too many comparable copies currently for sale may indicate a glut in the market.
Collecting book club editions book collectors librarything. Just picked up these two first edition bces of the shining and. Of course, if you belong to a book club from which you receive regular shipments of new titles in the mail, such as the book of the month club, then this is a very good indication that you have book club editions. Golden age rarities include six against the yard, written by dorothy l.
Apr 04, 2019 how to determine the value of rare books. A guide to collecting books by the limited editions club. In most instances, the bookofthemonth club editions bomc are generally made with materials similar to their first edition counterparts and have no association with a given publisher. The club is a way to discover new books, authors, and build a valuable library. How to determine the value of rare books chicago tribune. But determining whether or not a modern book published in the 19th or 20th century post the invention of the printing press is in fact a true first edition book, in its most original form, can be a confusing and timeconsuming process.
If you have one of these rare books sitting on a shelf somewhere, get ready to cash in. Many paperback originals pbos exist in hardcover only in a book club edition. Finally, some book clubs produce richly upgraded, limited editions which are collectible in their own right, and prices for these sometimes exceed prices for the corresponding first trade editions. Aug 31, 2010 book club editions are not as valuable as original editions, and may not be valuable at all if the books are as recent as 1980, your copies probably arent worth anything special. And 2 many stephen king collectors simply cannot afford first editions of kings early work. The most notorious are know as book club editions, which mislead many people into believing that they have a valuable first edition book when in fact they have a very common book club edition. Simply enter the bar code number that starts with 978 from the back cover of the paperback you bought for your free membership below. Bentley if in its jacket and signed by the author and fellow attendees at the trent dinner launch party in 1936. Were taking these two ideas and bringing them together the love for the physical book and the appreciation for a good suggestion. I know, i know, in the book world the lec is considered a fine press and not a book club. Identifying book club edition books a guide to identify. I read somewhere that nonfiction bces are often more valuable to.
One of the most important and valuable groupings of collectible books is the limited editions club and its publications. Book clubs frequently neglect to remove edition indicators from the plates before printing their copies. Mar 28, 2017 one of the most important and valuable groupings of collectible books is the limited editions club and its publications. Some serious collectors will stop at nothing to track down the most rare and valuable first editions of classic, renowned works. George passed away in 1956 but his widow, helen, ran the company until the early 1970s when she retired and sold to boise cascade who sold the firm again. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable. Estimates differ, but many hundreds of book clubs have come and gone over the past 70 or 80 years, with a total number perhaps approaching a thousand. In most cases, books released through book ofthemonth club bomc are much nicer than book club editions bce released by the doubleday book clubs. Book club editions are not as valuable as original editions, and may not be valuable at all if the books are as recent as 1980, your copies probably arent worth anything special. Jan 19, 2006 28 harry potter and the philosophers stone by jk rowling bloomsbury, 1997. Most book collectors find little value in these editions. If so, you are entitled to a free trial subscription to our book club. Macmillians pocket american and english classics, which were used by students in the early part of the last centenary, and was an early pocketbook, although hard bound. What is the book passage signed first editions club.
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