The scarce, rare, valuable and disgustingly expensive book thread

[D_Davis]

I don't think I have anything too valuable...

Although a few months ago I did pick up the Nightshade Books editions of The Collected Fiction of William Hope Hodgson; I got the entire set for $100.

My favorite book in my collection is a film book called The Swordsman and his Jiang Hu: Tsui Hark and Hong Kong Film. It's a series of essays written by people who worked with Tsui Hark on a number of his films. Ordered it from the Hong Kong Film Society - each of the essays is written in Chinese and Translated into English.

 

[blacknorth]

I'm currently reading an expensive sf novel by E. C. Large - Sugar in the Air, 1937, never reprinted and never issued in paperback.

The thing I like about it is - you can probably be sure you're one of only maybe 100 people in the world who has read that book.

 

[D_Davis]

I guess one of the rarest books I have is also one of the newest - Joe R. Lansdale's Dread Island. Signed and numbered, only 400 made.

Other signed/numbered Lansdale books I have:

Dead in the West
Mad Dog Summer
Rumble Tumble
Waltz of Shadows
The Boar
God of the Razor
Shadows, Kith and Kin
Hyenas

 

[blacknorth]

I just picked up the original manuscript for Roger Zelazny's Last Defender of Camelot.

A lifelong dream to own any unique item by Roger and I finally do after 30 years of searching.

Congrats. I have that one on my reading list this month. Not the manuscript lol, just my old battered paperback. I suppose there is only one manuscript - I wonder how it found its way out of Zelazny's papers. Auction, maybe?

 

[K. Riehl]

Roger sold about 20 different carbons, long sheet galleys, and photocopies of short stories to a New York dealer. The rest of his papers went to Syracuse University.

I tried to buy a working manuscript titled "Ghost wheel" later renamed Trumps of Doom back in the late 80's. It was a working manuscript which underwent quite a few changes before it became the first in the new Amber books. I examined it at the dealers, went home, sold my car, came back with the money and someone else had bought it. It was at the dealers for one day :-(

 

[blacknorth]

Roger sold about 20 different carbons, long sheet galleys, and photocopies of short stories to a New York dealer. The rest of his papers went to Syracuse University.

I tried to buy a working manuscript titled "Ghost wheel" later renamed Trumps of Doom back in the late 80's. It was a working manuscript which underwent quite a few changes before it became the first in the new Amber books. I examined it at the dealers, went home, sold my car, came back with the money and someone else had bought it. It was at the dealers for one day :-(

Thanks for the info.

I'm not sure I'd like to go down the road of buying manuscripts and proofs. Apart from the expense, it seems like something that would become quite addictive.

I did see a proof copy of John Boyd's The Girl With Jade Green Eyes listed at ebay recently, and was sorely tempted. It wasn't even that expensive as Boyd is so obscure a novelist, but I decided against it because if I bought that one I'd be quite sure I would want more. And more.

 

[Mediokrates]

Hi all,
I started collecting hardcover books a few years ago. I grew up in a house with few books, and therefore spent many hours at the library.
At first my intention was just to put together a decent library of hard covers, but I eventually learned about first printings and book conservation, and switched to collecting first printings (whenever possible!).

Currently, I own the entire Wheel of Time collection, in first printings, with the exception of books 1 and 2. The earlier ones are in good condition, and the later ones are very good to fine.

Additionally, I now have the original Dune series. With the exception of books 1 and 5, the rest are first printings.

Like written earlier, I have 2 first printing Silmarillions in near fine condition. One came with the news paper article written by Christopher Tolkien, and published the day before it went on sale, but I have despaired of selling my copy for any real amount of money. I also have a 3rd printing of the collector's edition of the Hobbit. As I understand, it was the last printing to have the printing error on the cover in runes, so although not worth what a first is, is still worth a little something.

My pride and joy is a first state Brief History of Time, US edition. This version was recalled, and I've read only about 100 copies survived. I've seen copies selling for well over a $1000 in worse condition. Mine is almost untouched.

I do have a question regarding Dune Messiah though. I've seen first printings with tan boards, and I've seen 2nd impressions with black boards. Mine has black boards, and does not state any additional printings. It's not the book club edition (I have one). The dust jacket has the original pricing, unfortunately, it is torn and sunfaded along the spine. Anyone know anything about this?

 

[Diggler]

Even $200 sounds astronomically high for a 1963 hardback with a so-so dust jacket. I have a second hand paperback which cost me forty cents and a new Manor Books paperback I bought new for a buck twenty-five. Even though I can empathize with collectors, being one myself, $7,500 for WAY STATION exceeds the bounds of socially acceptable behavior.

If I could afford it, I would buy at least one first edition Philip K. Dick classic. Though at a minimum of around $200 (which is quite cheap), my chances of obtaining something like this is slim.

 

[blacknorth]

If I could afford it, I would buy at least one first edition Philip K. Dick classic. Though at a minimum of around $200 (which is quite cheap), my chances of obtaining something like this is slim.

I have several PKD 1sts - Maze of Death, Galactic Pot-Healer and A Scanner Darkly. I did have a 1st of The Man Who Japed, but foolishly put it on ebay a few years ago. I didn't get much. Which is why I haven't sold the others.

 

[Moggle]

Hi all,
I started collecting hardcover books a few years ago. I grew up in a house with few books, and therefore spent many hours at the library.
At first my intention was just to put together a decent library of hard covers, but I eventually learned about first printings and book conservation, and switched to collecting first printings (whenever possible!).

Currently, I own the entire Wheel of Time collection, in first printings, with the exception of books 1 and 2. The earlier ones are in good condition, and the later ones are very good to fine.

Additionally, I now have the original Dune series. With the exception of books 1 and 5, the rest are first printings.

Like written earlier, I have 2 first printing Silmarillions in near fine condition. One came with the news paper article written by Christopher Tolkien, and published the day before it went on sale, but I have despaired of selling my copy for any real amount of money. I also have a 3rd printing of the collector's edition of the Hobbit. As I understand, it was the last printing to have the printing error on the cover in runes, so although not worth what a first is, is still worth a little something.

My pride and joy is a first state Brief History of Time, US edition. This version was recalled, and I've read only about 100 copies survived. I've seen copies selling for well over a $1000 in worse condition. Mine is almost untouched.

I do have a question regarding Dune Messiah though. I've seen first printings with tan boards, and I've seen 2nd impressions with black boards. Mine has black boards, and does not state any additional printings. It's not the book club edition (I have one). The dust jacket has the original pricing, unfortunately, it is torn and sunfaded along the spine. Anyone know anything about this?

Ah, it was the same with me, except I only started collecting first printings over 7 months ago. Since then I've picked up 1st and 3rd printings of Eye of the World among many other books.

 

[K. Riehl]

Early last year I picked up Against the Fall of Night by Arthur C. Clarke US first edition- Gnome Press with the great cover art. It is one of the copies owned by Clarke himself and has his library bookplate and is double signed and dated 1953. When Clarke died evidently the British first editions were sent to family and the US editions were given to local charities in Sri Lanka. I took a chance and won the bidding at $205.

If you want really disgusting and ridiculously expensive try to buy the Eye of the World limited, signed, leather bound set. It will only set you back $20,000!

 

[AE35Unit]

Early last year I picked up Against the Fall of Night by Arthur C. Clarke US first edition- Gnome Press with the great cover art. It is one of the copies owned by Clarke himself and has his library bookplate and is double signed and dated 1953....I took a chance and won the bidding at $205!

Oh very nice!!

 

[SilentRoamer]

I really don't know about the value but I have a 1st/1st 1981 God Emperor of Dune in mint condition. Probably my rarest find and as is my usual purchasing habit I bought it from a charity store in the 3 for £1 section so it cost me 33 pence!

 

[AE35Unit]

I've still got a first edition Fritz Lieber book. Trouble is noone wants to buy books these days so I'll probably end up on bookmooch

 

[K. Riehl]

AE35- If it's the Arkham House 1st ed. of Night's Black Agents I would be happy to take it off your hands at a fair amount.

 

[K. Riehl]

Here's the cover for the Clarke. I have the original DJ as well as a new facsimile DJ.

 

[AE35Unit]

AE35- If it's the Arkham House 1st ed. of Night's Black Agents I would be happy to take it off your hands at a fair amount.

No its A Spectre is Haunting Texas, yellow VGSF first. Twice Ive tried to read it. Third time lucky?