Of course, theres always the exception to help prove the rule. Photo by tom woodward youve come to the right place if you are trying to figure out if your book collection is woth anything. A book club copy will always be a book club copy, even though it states first edition. Identifying book club edition books a guide to identify. Many paperback originals pbos exist in hardcover only in a book club edition. According to the 1988 statement, the artists book club did not have special editions from suppliers, but rather bought publishers remainders if the book was a new title, or publishers stock for backlist items. Abebooks guide to how much certain editions are worth may be.
Its harder to sell a book if you have too much competition, and prices for that book tend to start going down. Seuss first editions you need the book first editions of dr. The book famously ended oprahs book clubs most triumphant period when, after winfrey selected it. In general, book club editions are more cheaply printed than the trade editions. Values of zane grey books are difficult to determine. As a matter of fact, the page for each edition states 1952. They will also usually say book club edition on the front, inside flap of the dust jacket. Book clubs frequently neglect to remove edition indicators from the plates before printing their copies. 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. 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. 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.
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. But does say book club edition and that the jacket painting by steven stroud. The top 10 rare and pricey stephen king books litreactor. Mar 26, 2015 are your old harry potter books worth anything. His business revolved around publishing beautifully illustrated classic titles in relatively small quantities with club members paying a subscription. You can find detailed help on identifying book club editions here.
Book one was published on june 26, 1997, and the american edition did not arrive until september 1, 1998, almost a year later. Oct 30, 2019 greg book club editions tend to be smaller than the original editions. 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. Fragile treasures the worlds most valuable paperbacks. In fact, some book club editions will have a blank box where the bar code. Two eager yale students were skunked at the book fair, but had a good time. The old man and the sea was also a book distributed in 1952 through the book of the month club. A guide to collecting books by the limited editions club. Identifying book club editions one girl collecting. Nothing would distinguish the book club editions from the trade editions. The first three harry potter books came out in great britain long before they were published in the united states. In most cases, books released through bookofthemonth club bomc are much nicer than book club editions bce released by the doubleday book clubs. There are some general rules that do apply that can help you to correctly identify bce.
Open the book and look at the inside flap of the dust jacket. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. But what if you really do find a collection of old, possibly valuable books. Eventually his photography was seen as capturing the essence of 20th century america. Any photographic illustrations in the original are either absent or reduced in number. There is no such thing as a first edition book club edition. At 29yearsold, he was an avid reader who wanted to make his living from books. Feb 12, 2008 books are not typically published for book clubs unless the author andor the title have already proven to be very popular. The worlds most valuable childrens books do you have one. Since criteria for indicating a first edition varies from publisher to publisher, theres no easy answer.
Their all book club editions the ones i have the foot book sam and the firefly eastman bears on wheels in a people house maybe you should fly a jet green eggs and ham the cat in the hat great day for up the nose book the berenstain bears on the moon the ear book the bears vacation the hair book theres a wocket in my pocket mr. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable should. Charlottes web first edition points and values modern. Just as in standard bookcollecting, the indicators vary between the different book clubs. Collecting book club editions book collectors librarything. The first edition book is often sold with later printing or facsimile dust jackets. Often these bc editions will look very similar to an actual 1st edition except for the missing price on the dj. Copies of john grishams first book are worth more than. Book club editions generally have less pages while the trade edition had 1037 pages and do not state any printings on page. They launched the first 12 titles, including the poky little puppy, this little piggy, babys book and nursery songs. The following table is an excerpt from our book the childrens picturebook price guide. Warren, whose price guide books have been the authority on collectibles values since 1985.
In order for a first edition to be valuable, it has to be rare. A book club edition is far less valuable than the true first us edition. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable. Book two was published in the uk on july 2, 1998, and in the us on june 2, 1999.
I also have a very good condition stuart little 1945, numbered 3276, also book club edition on dust cover. And, like many other myths about bookselling, there are exceptions. This short guide gives basic tips for starting your book collection. Undoubtedly, the best known of these is the bookofthemonth club. It was not well received at the time but ruscha continued to take photographs of runofthemill objects and places. Book club editions are sold to members at a good discount compared with the original issue price. A pocket guide to the identification of first editions details the methods over 4,600 different publishers use to identify their first editions. Youll likely recover the cost of this book very quickly, with your.
The reason the uk editions are worth so much more than us printings is due to the number printed. 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. Are hardcover book club editions worth more or less than any. 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. These book of the month club editions can confuse collectors because they were published around the same time as the true first edition. These are almost always worth very little, but can be confused with the first trade editions because they usually have an identical page. I know, i know, in the book world the lec is considered a fine press and not a book club. This september marks the 65th anniversary of little golden books. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition dr. Its easy to use, and small and light enough to fit in your pocket. Collecting harry potter the new antiquarian the blog. Demand too many comparable copies currently for sale may indicate a glut in the market.
Just as in standard book collecting, the indicators vary between the different book clubs. A key publication in 1960s modern art, ruscha selfpublished the book when he 26. Collecting ernest hemingways the old man and the sea. Interesting info rare and valuable books whats my book worth. Apr 08, 2012 i have the following book series are they worth anything. Though this may be largely true, there are so many exceptions to this that youre more than justified in taking a second look at any bce that passes through your hands. Good to look out for at book swaps and garage sales. Easton press, limited editions club, franklin library, book club of california all examples.
This particular book did not have a dust jacket, but was in fine condition. First editions of wellloved books can become the most prized in literature. Are hardcover book club editions worth more or less than. 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. Book club edition does that mean that book has no value. There are book club editions that have the same full number line as the true first us edition. It tells in simple easy to understand language how to identify dr. Without dust jackets, most first editions are worth substantially less. Gone with the wind first edition points and identification. How you can tell whether your harry potter books are worth a fortune.
Photo by tom woodward youve come to the right place if you are trying to figure out if. Youve stumbled upon a rare book bonanza worth tens of thousands of dollars and thats why they call it a fantasy. Nov 22, 2018 also, there is no price listed on the dust jacket. Values relate to first editions in very good condition. Dec, 2017 this particular book did not have a dust jacket, but was in fine condition.
Hardcover first editions of the second book in rowling. As with most things, there are a few exceptions, but it would be quite rare to find a book club edition that was worth anything more than 50 cents. A book club edition bce or book of the month club edition bomc refers to a book printed by a book club with cheaper materials than the original publishing house, and is generally not worth much to the serious collector. Bc editions are not the same a 1st trade editions and are generally not collectable.
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. I have the following book series are they worth anything. The estimated values are for first edition books, with dust jackets. If you have one of these rare books sitting on a shelf, get ready to cash in. As with any collectible, the value is often in the eye of the beholder. These book collecting tips are simple techniques to improve your collection. Seuss firsts are fairly difficult to identify as they do not state first edition so if you are interested in collecting or selling dr. But they lack the embossed diamond pattern on the book boards. If it has the date in roman numerals it is a book club edition.
First editions with dust jackets can command prices up to several hundred dollars. Seuss first editions modern first editions blog issue. Rare and valuable books old and not so old books worth. Nov 26, 2014 harry potter and the sorcerers stone book club editionsvaluable. The first printings of this book in the uk only consisted of 500 books and 300 of them were distributed to libraries. Feb 15, 2010 of course, theres always the exception to help prove the rule. A popular book is sometimes reissued under the imprint of a book club. Many editions of h2g2 are worth are worth a fair sum of money. Can any of you tell me anything about what edition it may be or if that even matters since it is a book club edition. Most if not all of the stories are available elsewhere, but king completists will still want this. That means theyre not really worth the time and expense of shipping these to any buyer, online bookstore or.
Recommended books for collectors of first editions. The limited editions club of new york was started in 1929 by george macy. I have been collecting harry potter books for roughly 10 years. The publisher had no idea that the book would be so. Any book without a price on the dustjacket is a book club bc edition.
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