Posts Tagged ‘Book Collecting’
Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Various issues have kept me remarkably busy the last few days, so it may take a little while to get my blogging back up to speed. In particular, I wanted to do a brief roundup of some of the books I bought at the Reno Worldcon.
This year’s Worldcon had a better dealer’s room than Denver in 2008 (the last Worldcon I went to), and there were many rare and tempting items there (including not one, but two copies of the first edition of William Timlin’s The Ship That Sailed to Mars, as well as a fine signed first edition of Alfred Bester’s Tiger Tiger listed for $2,500, and which sold for a bit less) which, alas, they wanted more for than I was willing to spend.
But here are a few items I was able to add to my collection:
Serviss, Garrett P. Edison’s Conquest of Mars. Carcosa House, 1947. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 copies, a Fine copy in one of only 500 (or fewer) dust jackets distributed with the book, a Near Fine example of dj with just a few traces of edgewear and slight age-darkening to the spine. The dust jacket is rarely found, and even more seldom found in such excellent condition.
The dust jacket art itself is perhaps the finest ever drawn by an eight-year old…
Hubbard, L. Ron. Final Blackout. Hadley Publishing, 1948. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight age darkening to white portions of cover. I’m not a big fan of Hubbard (or his church), but this and Fear are reportedly among his best works, and I am less familiar with his output than almost any other Golden Age author. Plus it puts me closer to having a complete collection of Hadley Publishing, an important early SF specialty press.
Gaiman, Neil. Melinda. Hill House, 2004. First edition graphic novel, one of 1,500 signed copies, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Wanted this when it came out, but not enough to pay the $250 or so Hill House was asking for it, especially considering how slender it is. But the $50 I picked it up for was just right…
Anderson, Poul. Fire Time. Doubleday, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with edgewear. Not a difficult or valuable title, except this copy was inscribed by Anderson to Charles N. Brown, which I thought made it worth a good bit more than the $15 the Locus folks were asking for it.
Diaz, Junot. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Riverhead Books, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Been looking for a copy at various Half Price Books and not finding one, so I was happy to pick this up from Scott and Willie.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Keeper of the Secrets. Severn House, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of haze rubbing to the rear cover. First hardback edition of The Mad Goblin.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Love Song. Brandon House, 1970. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy, with slight cover wear and ownership stamps and stickers for Diana Ann Barbour. My best find at the convention wasn’t even a purchase; Barbour had specified that her library was to be given away, and when I spotted this green spine among the stacks of Philip Jose Farmer paperbacks being set out, I snagged it. (I left behind two of the Essex House paperbacks they were putting out, because it doesn’t pay to be piggish.) The only copy of the PBO online lists for $850. That’s too high, but $200-400 is probably realistic.
Moorcock, Michael. The Sleeping Sorceress. New English Library, 1971. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with color loss along inner flaps edges (possibly a printing flaw). First hardback edition of The Vanishing Tower.
Moorcock, Michael. The Runestaff. White Lion, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with just a tiny bit of wear in a Fine dust jacket. First hardback edition.
Shute, Nevil. On the Beach. Heinemann, 1957. First edition hardback, a near Fine plus copy with dust staining to top page blocks and touches of wear to boards at heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket, with slight edgewear at head and heel and a few very short, closed tears.
Tags:Alfred Bester, Book Collecting, Books, Diana Ann Barbour, Fantasy, First Edition, Garrett P. Serviss, Hadley Publishing, L. Ron Hubbard, Michael Moorcock, Neil Gaiman, Nevil Shute, Philip Jose Farmer, Poul Anderson, Reno, Science Fiction, Worldcon
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | 3 Comments »
Sunday, August 14th, 2011
One of my favorite authors is Gene Wolfe (which you might have noticed before), so naturally I’ve tried to collect all his books. This includes all his chapbooks, some of which can be quite difficult to find.
Among his hardest to find are the ones he did for Cheap Street. Over the years I have picked up four of the five pure chapbooks done by them (as well as the two hardback books, Empires of Flowers and Foliage and Bibliomen), but frequently I would have trouble remembering which of them I have, a difficulty not aided by rather bland exteriors of the chapbooks themselves and the fact that all came in a standard Cheap Street envelope when I bought them, none of which revealed what was inside.
So, for both the sake of Gene Wolfe collectors, and to jog my own memory, I’ve scanned the title pages of each of the ones I have (click to embiggen):
Or, to list them in order of publication:
Wolfe, Gene. At the Point of Capricorn. Cheap Street, 1983.
Wolfe, Gene. The Boy Who Hooked the Sun. Cheap Street, 1985.
Wolfe, Gene. The Arimaspian Legacy. Cheap Street, 1988.
Wolfe, Gene. Slow Children at Play. Cheap Street, 1989.
I think I paid in the $35-$40 range for each of those.
Chalker and Owings says that seven copies of each of the above were done as leather-bound hardbacks. Not only do I not have those, I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of them offered for sale.
As far as I can tell, I’m only missing two Wolfe chapbooks now:
Wolfe, Gene. The Old Woman Whose Rolling Pin Was the Sun. Cheap Street, 1991.
Wolfe, Gene. The Grave Secret. The Pretentious Press, 1991.
I’ll have to add those to the want list.
I think I have a first edition hardback of every other Gene Wolfe book.
More about Cheap Street here.
Tags:Book Collecting, Books, chapbooks, Cheap Street, First Edition, Gene Wolfe
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Science Fiction | 7 Comments »
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
I may have mentioned that I have a large library. I started out collecting first edition hardbacks of “hypermodern” (which in my case meant “post-Neuromancer“) science fiction (with some fantasy and horror works and authors thrown in for good measure), and once I had collected everything I wanted there, I started going after every important post-World War II SF work, toward which I’m making significant progress. Hence this list of books I’m still looking for.
By and large, I don’t buy later printings, copies without dust jackets, copies with price-clipped dust jackets (unless all copies of the true first edition were released that way), copies with facsimile dust jackets, or overly crummy copies. Most of the books I buy are in Fine/Fine condition, but that relaxes a bit the older (and pricier) books become. I have picked up Ex-Library copies in dust jacket when the better copies of the true first can’t be found under a grand. I also only buy first state bindings and dust jackets, unless there’s no priority, or the true first state is insanely rare (such as with Stanley G. Weinbaum’s Dawn of Flame).
With that in mind, I compiled a list of first editions on my want list, so here’s a significant portion of that list (omitting things available relatively cheap, or hideously expensive), listed alphabetically by author. I also put down all the Manly Wade Wellman and Jack Vance books I was looking for, since I have so many I was having a hard time keeping track of what I had and what I was still missing.
Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Arthur Baker)
Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot (Gnome Press)
J. G. Ballard’s Crash (Cape)
J. G. Ballard’s The Drowned World (Gollancz)
Alfred Bester’s Tiger! Tiger! (Sidgwick & Jackson)
James Blish’s A Case of Conscience (Faber & Faber)
Robert Bloch’s The Opener of the Way (Arkham)
Philip K. Dick’s Dr. Bloodmoney (Gregg Press)
Philip K. Dick’s Counter-Clock World (White Lion)
Philip K. Dick’s Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said (Doubleday)
Philip K. Dick’s A Handful of Darkness (Rich & Cowan, 1st state in blue boards stamped in silver, in first state dj (no mention of World of Chance))
Philip K. Dick’s The World Jones Made (Sidgwick & Jackson)
Philip K. Dick’s World of Chance (Rich and Cowan)
Harlan Ellison’s The Fantasies of Harlan Ellison (Gregg Press)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Between Planets (Scribner’s, unclipped $2.50 dj)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Beyond This Horizon (Fantasy Press)
Robert A. Heinlein’s The Door Into Summer (Doubleday)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Farmer in the Sky (Scribner’s)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Glory Road (Putnam)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Methuselah’s Children (Gnome, 1st state binding, 1st state dj)
Robert A. Heinlein’s The Puppet Masters (Doubleday)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Red Planet (Scribner’s)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Rocket Ship Galileo (Scribner’s, unclipped $2.00 dj)
Robert A. Heinlein’s The Star Beast (Scribner’s, unclipped $2.50 dj)
Robert A. Heinlein’s The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag (Gnome)
Robert A. Heinlein’s Waldo & Magic Inc. (Doubleday)
Robert E. Howard’s The Coming of Conan (Gnome Press)
Robert E. Howard’s The Dark Man (Arkham House)
Robert E. Howard’s Skull-Face and Others (Arkham House)
R. A. Lafferty’s Horns on Their Head (Pendragon Press HB)
R. A. Lafferty’s Funnyfingers & Cabrito (Pendragon Press HB)
Joe R. Lansdale (as Ray Slater)’s Texas Night Riders (Chivers)
Fritz Leiber’s Two Sought Adventure (Gnome)
Fritz Leiber’s The Secret Songs (Rupert Hart-Davis)
H. P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider and Others (Arkham House)
Richard Matheson’s Born of Man and Woman (Chamberline Press)
Richard Matheson’s The Shrinking Man (David Bruce and Watson)
Chad Oliver’s Another Kind (Ballantine HB)
Chad Oliver’s Shadows in the Sun (Ballantine HB)
Mervyn Peake’s Titus Groan (Eyre & Spottiswoode)
Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast (Eyre & Spottiswoode)
Mervyn Peake’s Titus Alone (Eyre & Spottiswoode)
Jack Vance’s Araminta Station (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s The Deadly Isles (Bobbs-Merrill)
Jack Vance’s The Dragon Masters (Dennis Dobson)
Jack Vance’s Ecce and Old Earth (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s Four Men Called John (Gollancz)
Jack Vance’s The Houses of Iszm (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s The House on Lily Street (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s The Eyes of the Overworld (Gregg Press)
Jack Vance’s The Last Castle (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph (Dennis Dobson)
Jack Vance’s Monsters in Orbit (Dennis Dobson)
Jack Vance’s Seventeen Virgins/A Bagful of Dreams (Underwood Miller HB)
Jack Vance’s Showboat World (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s Son of the Tree (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s Strange Notions/The Dark Ocean (Underwood Miller)
Jack Vance’s To Live Forever (Ballantine Books HB)
Jack Vance’s Vandals of the Void (Winston)
Jack Vance (as Alan Wade)’s Take My Face (Mystery House)
Jack Vance (as Peter Held)’s Isle of Peril (Mystery House)
Stanley G. Weinbaum’s A Martian Odyssey and Others (Fantasy Press)
Manly Wade Wellman’s Carolina Pirate (Washburn)
Manly Wade Wellman’s Clash on the Catabwa (Washburn)
Manly Wade Wellman’s The Ghost Battalion (Washburn)
Manly Wade Wellman’s Gray Riders (Aladdin)
Manly Wade Wellman’s Haunts of Drowning Creek (Holiday House)
Manly Wade Wellman’s Jamestown Adventure (Washburn)
Manly Wade Wellman’s Mystery at Bear Paw Gap (Washburn)
Manly Wade Wellman’s Napoleon of the West (Washburn)
Manly Wade Wellman’s The South Fork Rangers (Washburn)
Manly Wade Wellman’s The Specter of Bear Paw Gap (Washburn)
Gene Wolfe’s The Grave Secret (Portentous Press chapbook)
Gene Wolfe’s The Old Woman Whose Rolling Pin Was the Sun (Cheap Street chapbook)
Roger Zelazny’s Damnation Alley (Putnam)
If you have nice copies any of the above, and if you’re willing to sell it to me considerably cheaper than can be found on Bookfinder.com, drop me an email at lawrenceperson@gmail.com and I’ll consider it.
Tags:Book Collecting, Books, First Edition, Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, Manly Wade Wellman, Philip K. Dick, R. A. Lafferty, Richard Matheson, Robert A. Heinlein, Robert E. Howard
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
One more Heinlein first edition to add to the others:
Heinlein, Robert A. Podkayne of Mars. Putnam, 1963. First edition hardback (no statement of printing, as per Currey, $3.50 price on dust jacket), a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight wear at extremities, as well as a 3″ long faint, irregular, non-breaking crease on front cover (so faint you can’t even see it on the embiggened scan).
The last of the Heinlein juveniles, and surprisingly hard to find these days, Replaces an ex-library copy.
Tags:Book Collecting, Books, First Edition, Podkayne of Mars, Robert A. Heinlein, Science Fiction
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | 2 Comments »
Sunday, August 7th, 2011
The book-buying continues apace here at Stately Person Manor since the last roundup. Many were bought from a notable SF book dealer having a sale. And some weren’t even bought, as there’s a large number of unclaimed Nova Express proofs and ARCs that were integrated into my own library after I cleaned my office. All of these are Fine hardback first editions in Fine dust jackets, unless otherwise noted. Signed book are noted, except for recent titles where the entire run was signed (like several Subterranean Press books).
Books that I have available for sale through Lame Excuse Books are marked LEB (though some of those titles won’t appear on the stock page until after I send out my next book catalog, which will probably be late this month or early next; email me if you’d like to get on the mailing list to received it).
And if perchance you’re new to my mad bibliomania, the most comprehensive post on my library can be found here.
Now the books:
Aldiss, Brian. Brothers of the Head Pierrot Publishing Ltd., 1977. First edition hardback (simultaneous with the much more common trade paperback edition), oversized and illustrated, a Fine copy in a VG+ dust jacket with light wrinkling, wear to extremities, and some age toning to white flaps of the dust jacket. Signed by both Aldiss and illustrator Ian Pollock. The hardback edition was already uncommon, but became more so after an art house movie based on it came out a few years ago. Bought this from a dealer in France, of all places.
Aldiss, Brian. Cultural Breaks. Tachyon, 2005. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format, with packet of review material.
Aldiss, Brian. This World and Nearer Ones. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1979. Signed by Adliss. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer. Non-fiction.
Aylett, Steve. Lint. Thunder Mouth Press, 2005. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Baker, Kage. The Graveyard Game. Tor, 2005. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Baker, Kage. The Life of the World to Come. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Baker, Kage. The Machine’s Child. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Baker, Kage. The Sons of Heaven. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Barker, Clive. Weaveworld. Poseidon Press, 1987. One of signed, 500 numbered copies, in unprinted Mylar dust jacket, in slipcase, as issued. Bought from a notable SF dealer for less than half original publisher’s price.
Barnes, John. The Armies of Memory. Tor, 2006.
Bear, Greg. The Collected Stories of Greg Bear. September, 2002. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Bear, Greg. Heads. One of 300 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Binder, Eando. Lords of Creation. Prime Press, 1949. One of 112 copies with plate signed by Binder affixed, Near Fine, sans dust jacket, with uncut pages, as issued. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Bisson, Terry. Greetings & Other Stories. Tachyon, 2005. Trade paperback original.
Bisson, Terry. Numbers Don’t Lie. Tachyon, 2005. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
Boyett, Steven R. Mortality Bridge. Subterranean Press, 2011.
Boyle, T.C. The Human Fly and Other Stores. Speak, 2005. Advanced uncorrected proof, trade paperback format, with packet of review material.
Brin, David. Dr. Pak’s Preschool. Cheap Street, 1989. One of 117 signed, numbered copies of the “Collector’s Edition,” in Fine handmade dust jacket and slipcase. Bought from a notable SF book dealer at a considerable discount off the original offered price.
Broderick, Damien. Godplayers. Thunder Mouth Press, 2005. Trade paperback original.
Broderick, Damien. K-Machines. Thunder Mouth Press, 2006. Trade paperback original.
Brotherton, Mike. Star Dragon. Tor, 2003. Advanced uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Buckner, M. M. Wintermind. Tor, 2008.
Burks, Arthur J. Black Medicine. Arkham House, 1966.
Canon, Peter. Forever Azathoth. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 350 signed/numbered copies.
Charnes, Suzy McKee. Stagestruck Vampires and Other Phantasms. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
Clarke, Arthur C. and Stephen Baxter. Firstborn. Del Rey, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Constantine, Storm. The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure. Tor. 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Crowther, Peter & Nick Gevers, editors. Postscripts #24/25: The New and Perfect Man. PS Publishing, 2011. Signed, traycased edition. Contributor copy, with my story “The Dog Parade” inside. For more information, see here.
De Camp, L. Sprague & Catherine Crook. Footprints in Sand: A Literary Sampler. Advent, 1981. One of 500 signed, numbered copies. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
De Camp, L. Sprague. Heroes & Hobgoblins Donald M. Grant, 1981. One of 1,250 copies signed by de Camp, a Fine copy in a price clipped (but otherwise Fine) dust jacket.
De Camp, L. Sprague. The Prisoner of Zhamanak. Phantasia Press, 1982. One of 500 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Di Filippo, Paul. The Emperor of Gondwanaland. Thunder Mouth Press, 2005. Trade paperback original.
Di Filippo, Paul. A Princess of the Linear City. PS Publishing, 2010. Fine in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued. LEB
Doctorow, Cory. A Place So Foreign and 8 More. Four Walls and Eight Windows, 2003. Trade paperback original. Signed by Doctorow.
Egan. Greg. The Clockwork Rocket. Night Shade Press, 2011. LEB
Emshwiller, Carol. I Live With You. Tachyon, 2005. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
Farris, John. Fiends. Dark Harvest, 1990. One of 500 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Finch, Sheila. Reading the Bones. Tachyon, 2003. Trade paperback original.
Gaskell, Jane. Atlan. Hodder and Stoughton, 1965.
Gunn, Eileen. Stable Strategies and others. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
Gunn, James. The End of the Dreams: Three Short Novels. Scribner’s, 1975. Inscribed by Gunn. Review materials laid in. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Gunn, James. The Magicians. Scribner’s, 1976. Inscribed by Gunn. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Haldeman, Joe, Stephen Giron, Edo van Belkom. Chapbook Seven. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2008. First edition hardback chapbook, one of only 20 copies bound in hardback, signed by Haldeman and Giron, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Haldeman’s section is hand-written and -illustrated.
Halpern, Marty and Claude Lalumiere. Witpunk. Four Walls Eight Windows, 2003.
Heinlein, Robert A. Assignment in Eternity. Fantasy Press, 1953. First edition hardback, first state Currey A binding (brick red cloth, with six gilt bands on spine, and with “Heinlein” 3mm high), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Details here.
Heinlein, Robert A. Have Space Suit–Will Travel. Scribner’s, 1958. Details here.
Heinlein, Robert A. A Heinlein Triad. Gollancz, 1966. Details here.
Heinlein, Robert A. The Man Who Sold the Moon. Shasta Publishers, 1950. Details here.
Hughes, Matthew. Black Brillion. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Jablokov, Alexander. Brain Thief Tor, 2010. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Le Guin, Ursula K. The Adventure of Cobbler’s Rune. Cheap Street, 1982. One of 250 signed, numbered hardback copies, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued.
Le Guin, Ursula K. Solomon Leviathan’s Nine Hundred and Thirty-First Trip Around the World. Cheap Street, 1984. One of 250 signed, numbered hardback copies, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued.
Le Guin, Ursula K. The Water is Wide. Pendragon Press, 1976. Chapbook, one of 200 signed copies, a Fine copy.
Leiber, Fritz. The Change War. Gregg Press, 1978. Fine sans dj, as issued.
Link, Kelly and Gavin J. Grant. The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. Del Rey, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Link, Kelly and Gavin J. Grant. The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. Del Rey, 2007. Trade paperback original.
(Lovecraft, H. P.) Leiber, Fritz, etc. H. P. Lovecraft: A Symposium. Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society/Riverside Quarterly, 1964. Chapbook, a Fine copy, with errata sheet laid in. Non-fiction.
MacLeod, Ken. The Night Sessions. Orbit, 2008.
Marusek, David. Mind Over Ship. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Marusek, David. Mind Over Ship. Tor, 2009.
McDevitt, Jack. The Law of Gravity Isn’t Working on Rainbow Bridge. Buffalo fantasy League, 2003. First edition hardback chapbook, #16 of a very small number bound into hardback, signed by McDevitt, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The first of the Eeriecon chapbooks.
McMullin, Sean. Voyage of the Shadowmoon. Tor, 2002. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Melko, Paul. Singularity Ring. Tor, 2008.
Mieville, China. Embassytown. Macmillan (UK), 2011. Signed.
Moorcock, Michael/Joe R. Lansdale. Sojan the Swordsman/Under the Warrior Star. Planet Stories/Paizo, 2010. Trade paperback.
Morrow, James. The Cat’s Pajamas & Other Stories. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
Nagata, Linda. Memory. Tor, 2003.
Nasir, Jamil. The Houses of Time. Tor, 2008. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Niven, Larry. A Gift From Earth. Macdonald, 1969. First hardback edition. Signed. A Near Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket.
Niven, Larry/Derwin Mak. Eeriecon Chapbook Ten: Doubling Rate/Willpower. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2011. First edition hardback chapbook, one of only 15(!) hardback copies, signed by both authors, Fine in a Fine dust jacket. LEB
Niven, Larry/Derwin Mak. Eeriecon Chapbook Ten: Doubling Rate/Willpower. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2011. Wraps edition.
Priest, Cherrie. Fathom. Tor, 2008.
Reed, Robert. Sister Alice. Tor, 2003.
Resnick, Mike. The Science Fiction Professional: Seven Years of “Ask Bwana” Columns. Farthest Star Science Fiction, 2002. Trade paperback original.
Resnick, Mike, et. al. With a Little Help From My Friends. Farthest Star Science Fiction, 2002. Trade paperback original.
Reynolds, Alastair. Troika. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 350 signed, numbered copies with a different cover.
Reynolds, Alastair. Troika. Subterranean Press, 2011. Trade edition. LEB
Robson, Justina. Natural History. Macmillan (UK), 2003. Trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback edition), signed by Robson, with additional signed note on a Post-It square laid in.
Rossi, Matthew. Things That Never Were. MonkeyBrain Books, 2003.
Rucker, Rudy. Frek and The Elixer. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Rucker, Rudy. Mad Professor: The Uncollected Short Stories of Rudy Rucker. Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2007. Trade paperback original.
Rucker, Rudy. Mathematicians in Love. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Rucker, Rudy. Postsingular. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Schroeder, Karl. Sun of Suns. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Schroeder, Karl. The Queen of Candesce. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Schroeder, Karl. Pirate Sun. Tor, 2008. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Schroeder, Karl. The Sunless Countries. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Shiner, Lewis. Dark Tangos. Subterranean Press, 2011.
Shunn, William. An Alternate History of the 21st Century. Spilt Milk Press, 2007. Chapbook.
Silverberg, Robert. Homefaring. Phantasia Press, 1983. One of 450 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Silverberg, Robert. Sunrise on Mercury and Other Science Fiction Stories. Thomas Nelson Inc., 1975. Signed on affixed label by Silverberg. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Spector, Craig. Underground. Tor, 2005.
Stewart, Ian and jack Cohen. Heaven. Warner Books, 2004.
Stross, Charles. The Family Trade. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Stross, Charles. The Clan Corporate. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Stross, Charles. The Merchant’s War. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Stross, Charles. The Revolution Business. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Stross, Charles. Trade of Queens. Tor, 2010. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Stross, Charles. Rule 34. Ace, 2011.
(Sturgeon, Theodore) Diskin, Lahna F. Theodore Sturgeon: a primary and secondary bibliography. G.K. Hall & Co., 1980. Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction.
Swanwick, Michael. Bones of the Earth. Eos, 2001. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Swanwick, Michael. The Dragons of Bable. Tor, 2007. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
Totten, Michael. The Road to Fatima Gate. Encounter Books, 2011. Signed. Non-fiction.
Tregillis, Ian. Bitter Seeds. Tor, 2010.
Vance, Jack. Dangerous Ways. Subterranean Press, 2011. Traycased edition, signed by Vance. See here for more details.
(Vance, Jack) Tiedman, Richard. Jack Vance: Science Fiction Stylist. Mimeographed from typewritten copy on yellow paper stock, self wrappers, stapled, one of only 225 copies, Fine, with additional correspondence laid in.
Vinge, Vernor, and John-Allen Price. Chapbook Eight. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2002. First edition hardback chapbook, one of a very small number hardbound, signed by Vinge and Price, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Watts, Peter. Behemoth: ß-Max. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Wellman, Manly Wade. Devils Planet. World Distributors, 1951. First edition, pulp paperback format, Very Good with slight rubbing and internal tape reinforcement, and spine creasing, otherwise bright.
Westerfield, Scott. Peeps. Razorbill, 2005.
Westerfield, Scott. The Risen Empire. Tor, 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Westerfield, Scott. The Killing of Worlds. Tor, 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Westfahl, Gary, George Slusser and David Leiby, editors. Worlds Enough and Time: Explorations of Time in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Greenwood Press, 2002. Fine first edition hardback, sans dj, as issued, with review slip laid in. Non-fiction.
What, Leslie. Olympic Games. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced review copy, trade paperback format.
Wilhelm, Kate. Listen, Listen. Houghton Mifflin, 1981. Signed by Wilhelm. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Wilhelm, Kate. A Sense of Shadow. Houghton Mifflin, 1981. Inscribed by Wilhelm. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
Wilson, F. Paul. Gateways. Tor, 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Wilson, F. Paul. Ground Zero. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Wolfe. Gary K. Bearings: Reviews 1997-2001. Beccon, 2010. Trade paperback. Non-fiction.
Wolfe. Gary K. Sightings: Reviews 2002-2006. Beccon, 2011. Trade paperback. Non-fiction.
Wolfe, Gene. The Best of Gene Wolfe. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Wolfe, Gene. Innocents Aboard. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Wolfe, Gene. An Evil Guest. Tor, 2008. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
Wright, John C. Orphans of Chaos. Tor, 2005.
Zivkovic, Zoran. The Book. Polaris, 2003.
Zivkovic, Zoran. Hidden Camera. Dalkey Archive Press, 2005.
Zivkovic, Zoran. Steps Through the Mist. Polaris, 2003.
Previous posts on my book collection:
Library Additions: November 15, 2010—January 14, 2011
Library Additions, July 12—November 14, 2010
Library Additions, January 25, 2010—July 11, 2010
Library Additions: December 1, 2009—January 14, 2010.
My Book-Hunting Trip to Archer City and Points East (and New Acquisitions Found There)
Items in Evidence of a Case of Bibliomania (or, How I Spent $1,000 in One Week and All I Got Were These Cool Books)
Lawrence Person’s Library: Reference Books (Part 1)
Lawrence Person’s Library: Reference Books (Part 2: Oversized Books)
Tags:Book Collecting, Books, Brian Aldiss, Charles Stross, F. Paul Wilson, First Edition, Gary K. Wolfe, Gene Wolfe, Greg Bear, James Gunn, Jane Gaskell, Kage Baker, Karl Schroeder, Kate Wilhelm, L. Sprague de Camp, Larry Niven, Mike Resnick, Paul Di Filippo, Robert A. Heinlein, Rudy Rucker, Science Fiction, Scott Westerfield, Subterranean Press, Ursula K. Le Guin, Vernor Vinge
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
I recently obtained three Robert A. Heinlein first editions to add to the library: The Man Who Sold the Moon, Have Space Suit–Will Travel and A Heinlein Triad (hence the recursive nature of the headline).
Heinlein, Robert A. The Man Who Sold the Moon. Shasta Publishers, 1950. First edition hardback, in a first state ($3.00 price, 10 titles on back) dust jacket, a Near Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket, with slight wear at head, slight soiling to rear panel and very slight age darkening to spine panel (much less than usual, and no noticeable fading to red portions). Part of Heinlein’s Future History series. Jack L. Chalker & Mark Owings, The Science Fantasy Publishers: A Critical and Bibliographic History, P. 398.
Heinlein, Robert A. Have Space Suit–Will Travel. Scribner’s, 1958. First edition hardback (code A9-58 on copyright page, as per Currey), a Fine copy in a Near Fine- dust jacket with one abrasion to front cover, a touch of edgewear, and faint touches of dust staining (slightly exaggerated in the scan). David Pringle, Science Fiction: The Hundred Best Books.
Heinlein, Robert A. A Heinlein Triad. Gollancz, 1966. First edition, an Ex-library copy with signs of pocket removal on FFE and light stain on half-title page, otherwise Very Good in Near Fine dust jacket.
Tags:Book Collecting, Books, First Edition, Robert A. Heinlein, Science Fiction
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
I haven’t posted much the last week because I’ve been busy doing this and that, and one of the things I’ve been busy with is a long-overdue cleanup of my office, including doing something about those Nova Express review copies cluttering it up. Now that I’ve finally finished moving books around, and gotten a new camera (a Kodak Slice) to replace the one that died, I thought I would put up some long-overdue pictures of the books in my office, starting with the reference shelf right next to my computer, which contains the reference works I tend to reach for most often.
(Click to embiggen.)
Going left to right (left being the side closest to the computer, and thus the books I reach for most often) are:
Currey, L.W. Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction. G. K. Hall, 1978. The bible of the field, and absolutely essential for any serious collector of science fiction first editions. Only goes up to 1978. For dates after 1983, you can use The Locus Online Database. Currey also sells a slightly updated CD-ROM version, which still only goes up to 1978. (Now if only someone would compile a book that covers 1979-1983…)
Chalker, Jack & Owings, Mark. The Science Fantasy Publishers: A Critical and Bibliographic History. Mirage Press, 1991 (“Third Edition Revised and Enlarged”). If you’re a serious SF collector, you need this. The problem is, you can’t trust it. No other reference work offers the wealth and scope of knowledge of SF small press publishers that this one does. There’s a lot of good information in here. The print edition shown above had major errors and omissions, and a very odd organizational structure, not to mention several sneers and the constant sound of ax-grinding for SF figures the authors disagree with; the CD-ROM version is more accurate, but no longer up to date as both Chalker and Owings have died. What this book is best for is the chatty, informative histories of the various publishing houses listed here. (If nothing else, I can unstintingly recommend this book for anyone thinking of starting up their own small press, as it provides numerous examples of what not to do.) It’s also quite useful for uncovering titles and publishers you might not have known existed before. In summary: A valuable tool for those who possess enough experience in the field to know which parts to take with a grain of salt.
Clute, John, & Nichols, Peter. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. St. Martins, 1993 (first U.S. edition, offset from the same plates as the Orbit (UK) first). An absolutely essential general reference work.
Clute, John, & Grant, John. The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. St. Martins, 1997 (first U.S. edition). Slightly more scattershot than the above, but still an essential guide.
Reginald, Robert. Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: Indexes to the Literature, Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature:Contemporary Science Fiction Authors, and Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: 1975 to 1991. Gale Research, 1980, 1981, 1992. Not the first reference work I reach for, but contains a lot of information that has slipped through the cracks of other works.
Levack, Daniel. Amber Dreams: A Roger Zelazny Bibliography. Underwood Miller, 1983. The first of the single-author bibliographies.
Levack, Daniel. PKD: A Philip K. Dick Bibliography. Underwood Miller, 1981. I have a copy of the trade paperback edition for sale over on the Lame Excuse Books page.
Hewett, Jerry. The Work of Jack Vance: An Annotated Bibliography & Guide. Borgo Press/Underwood Miller, 1994. I know Jerry pretty well, and not only has he signed my copy, he crossed out “Borgo” and wrote in “Bozo” on the title page. I think he had some problems dealing with them…
Bleiler, Everett F. The Checklist of Science-Fiction and Supernatural Fiction. Firebell, 1978. Slightly updated edition of Bleiler’s classic Checklist of Fantastic Fiction (which I have on another shelf), and an absolutely essential reference work for older SF/F/H books.
Joshi, S. T. Sixty Years of Arkham House. Arkham House, 1999. Not 100% accurate, but essential none the less.
Bleiler, Everett. The Guide to Supernatural Fiction. Kent State University Press, 1993. Very good, and very solid, as a general reference work, but not really concerned with first edition points.
Locke, George. Spectrum of Fantasy I-III. Ferret Fantasy, 1980-2002. Perhaps the only SF dealer as knowledgeable as Currey. These are Locke’s descriptions of his own personal library of fantastic fiction. Quite enjoyable works, and George is a nice guy.
One guideline I’d offer aspiring SF/F/H book collectors is: Don’t skimp on the reference works. Some of these books can be expensive, but all it takes is one real find (or one expensive dud avoided) for a good reference work to pay for itself.
More pictures of my reference library when I have the time…
Tags:Arkham House, Book Collecting, Books, Daniel Levack, Everett F. Bleiler, Fantasy, Ferret Fantasy, First Edition, George Locke, Horror, Jack Chalker, Jack Vance, John Clute, L. W. Currey, Mark Owings, Philip K. Dick, reference works, Robert Reginald, Roger Zelazny, S. T. Joshi, Science Fiction
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
Time for another roundup on my serious mental illness the latest acquisitions for my professional science fiction library since the last time I listed them. All these are first edition hardbacks in Fine condition, with Fine dust jackets, unless otherwise listed.
Books that I have available for sale through Lame Excuse Books are marked LEB (though a few of those titles won’t appear on the stock page until after I send out my next book catalog).
I’ve included scans of a few of the more uncommon titles.
Bacagalupi, Paolo. The Alchemist. Subterranean Press, 2011. LEB
Banks, Ian M. The Spheres. Novacon, 2010. Chapbook, Fine, with Novacon 40 program book.
Bear, Elizabeth. The White City (with Twilight chapbook). Subterranean Press, 2011, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, with chapbook, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Blaylock, James P. The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 1,500 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. LEB
Brackett, Leigh. Lorelei of the Red Mist: Planetary Romances. Haffner Press, 2007.
Brackett, Leigh. Martian Quest: The Early Brackett. Haffner Press, 2002.
Buckell, Tobias S. The Executioness. Subterranean Press, 2011. First edition hardback, one of 300 signed and numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. LEB
Cady, Jack. Rules of ’48. Night Shade Books, 2008. Trade paperback original.
Dick, Philip K. Clans of the Alphane Moon. Gregg Press, 1979. Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Replaced an Ex-Library copy.
Dick, Philip K. The Complete Stories of Philip K. Dick Volume 1: The King of the Elves. Subterranean Press, 2011. LEB
Eshbach, Lloyd Arthur. Over My Shoulder: Reflections on a Science Fiction Era. Oswald Train, 1983. Non-fiction.
Grant, Donald M. Talbot Mundy: Messenger of Destiny. Donald M. Grant, 1983. Non-fiction.
Heinlein, Robert A. Assignment in Eternity. Fantasy Press, 1953. See here for full details.
Howard, Robert E. The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 750 copied signed and numbered by the artist, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in slipcase. LEB
King, Stephen. Little Sisters of Eluria. Donald M. Grant, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 4000 artist’s copies signed by Michael Whelan, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase.
Kuttner, Henry. Terror in the House: The Early Kuttner, Volume One. Haffner Press, 2010. LEB
Kuttner, Henry, and C. L. Moore. Detour to Otherness. Haffner Press, 2010.
Lake, Jay. The Baby Killers PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. LEB
Lansdale, Joe R. Christmas with the Dead PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 300 copies signed and numbered by Lansdale, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. LEB
Lansdale, Joe R. Christmas with the Dead PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Trade edition. Signed by Lansdale. LEB
Lansdale, Joe R. Devil Red. Knopf, 2011. Inscribed, with promotional postcard laid in.
Lansdale, Joe R. Dread Island. IDW, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies with signed square bound in, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Lansdale, Joe R. Hyenas. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 400 signed, numbered copies. LEB
Lansdale, Joe R. Hyenas. Subterranean Press, 2011. Trade edition. Signed by Lansdale.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Magic Wagon. Chivers Press, 1988. First British Edition. Fine in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Signed by Lansdale.
Leicht, Stina. Of Blood and Honey. Night Shade Books, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Inscribed by the author. LEB
Moorcock, Michael. The Vanishing Tower. Archival Press, 1981. A Fine copy, sans dust jacket, in slipcase, as issued.
Moore, Ward. Cloud by Day. Heinemann, 1956. First edition hardback, a near Fine copy with non-authorial gift inscription, in a Near Fine dust jacket with faint spots of foxing to inner flaps and a bit of edgewear and crinkling at head.
Morris, Mark, editor. Cinema Futura. PS Publishing, 2010. Non-fiction.
Powers, Richard. The Gold Bug Variations. William Morrow, 1991.
Robinson, Kim Stanley. The Best of Kim Stanley Robinson. Night Shade Books, 2010. LEB
Rucker, Rudy. Jim and the Flims. Night Shade Books, 2011.
Shea, Michael. The Autopsy and Other Tales. Centipede Press, 2009. One of 500 copies signed by Shea, Fine, sans dj, as issued.
Sheckley, Robert E. Immortality Delivered. Avalon Books, 1958. A Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with moderate spine-fading.
Stephenson, Neal. Zodiac: The Eco Thriller. Subterranean Press, 2011. First hardback edition, one of 500 copies signed by Stephenson, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, in slipcase. LEB
Straub, Peter. Sides. Cemetery Dance, 2007. Signed by Straub. Non-fiction.
Swanwick, Micheal. Dancing With Bears. Night Shade Books, 2011. LEB
Totten, Michael. The Road to Fatima Gate. Encounter Books, 2011. Signed by the author. Non-fiction.
Vance, Jack. Dangerous Ways. Subterranean Press, 2011. Omnibus edition.
Vance, Jack. Trullion: Alastor 2262 with Marune:Alastor 993 with Wyst: Alastor 1716. Underwood/Miller, 1984. First hardback editions, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, in slipcase (though these are the unsigned editions, the slipcase appear to be the one they issued for the signed edition).
Williamson, Jack. The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson Volume 4: Spider island. Haffner Press, 2002.
Williamson, Jack. The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson Volume 7: With Folded Hands and Searching Mind. Haffner Press, 2010.
Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Underwood-Miller, 1986. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed/numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in a Fine slipcase.
Tags:Book Collecting, Donald M. Grant, First Edition, Henry Kuttner, Iain M. Banks, Jack Vance, Jack Williamson, Joe R. Lansdale, Lame Excuse Books, Leigh Brackett, Michael Shea, Philip K. Dick, pics, Robert Sheckley, Stephen King, Ward Moore
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, pics, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
You may have noticed that I bought a lot of books last year. Since I’m getting ready to do another “this is what I bought recently” post, I thought I would do a recap of my most significant acquisitions in 2010. These may be significant for being important, valuable, cool, beautiful, hard to find, or some combination therefore. As usual, all of these are Fine/Fine copies unless otherwise listed. Ala George Locke’s Spectrum of Fantasy volumes, I’m listing where I got them and how much I paid, plus occasional notes on the books (with links if I’ve already described them before).
- Bear, Greg. Sleepside Story. Cheap Street, 1988. One of 52 signed and numbered, traycased “publisher’s edition” copies, a fine copy in tray case, sans dust jacket. For full details see here. Bought for $175 from a notable SF book dealer having a 50% off sale.
- Bradbury, Ray. Dark Carnival. Arkham House, 1946. First edition hardback, good only, with lettering on spine almost completely worn away, spine lean, general wear, and lacking the dust jacket. Bought from someone selling their late father’s collection (mostly, alas, book club editions) for $20.
- Brunner, John. Stand on Zanzibar. Doubleday, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just the tiniest bit of wear. Replaces an ex-library copy. (I bought this online back in June for $199.99 and forgot to list it last time around.) Brunner’s undisputed masterpiece.
- Dick, Philip K. Eye in the Sky. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition. Fine-, with a tiny bit of crimping at head, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought from a notable SF dealer having 50% off sale. Replaced an Ex-library copy in my collection.
- Dick, Philip K. Vulcan’s Hammer. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition. Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Replaced an Ex-library copy in my collection.
- Hill, Joe. Horns. PS Publishing, 2010. First UK and first limited edition hardback, one of 200 copies signed by both the author and artist Vincent Chong in traycase with three extra chapters not in the trade edition, extra art not in any other edition, etc. a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and traycase. Notably thicker than the slipcased edition. Bought at a pre-publication dealer discount from the publisher.
- Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Chatto & Windus, 1932. VG- only, lacking the dust jacket. Bought for $35 from a notable SF book dealer having a 50% off sale. I don’t usually buy books without dust jackets, but the price was right for this space-filling copy of this famous dystopia.
- Lafferty, R. A. The Devil is Dead. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Found at Recycled Books in Denton for $36. Replaces a more worn copy in my library. For a while this wasn’t too hard to find, but recently copies have become scarce. In fact, it seems like a lot of the rarer Lafferty books have gotten scarce as of late. Looks like years of just about every SF writer talking up Lafferty have finally paid off…
- Lovecraft, H.P. Collected Poems. Arkham House, 1963. VG/VG, with top inch of boards discolored and sun-fading to dj spine. Bought at auction for $75.
- Oliver, Chad. The Wolf is My Brother. Herbert Jenkins, 1968. First UK and first hardback edition, a Near Fine copy in a Good+ only dust jacket, missing an irregular 3/4″ x 1/2″ chip at head, and shallow chipping and edgewear. I didn’t even know there was a hardback until I chanced across this copy (though it is in Currey). No other copy online as of this writing. Bought for $50 during a Half Price Books coupon sale.
- Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Secker & Warburg, 1949. See here for full details. Arguably the most important novel of the 20th century. Bought from a notable SF book dealer for $500.
- Powers, Tim. Deliver Us From Evil. Charnel House, 2010. One of 100 signed, numbered copies in slipcase with accompanying manuscript page. See here for full details. Bought at a pre-publication dealer discount from the publisher.
- (Powers, Tim) Berlyne, John, editor. Powers: Secret Histories: A Bibliography. PS Publishing, 2009. One of 26 signed, lettered Deluxe copies in slipcase with two companion volumes, The Waters Deep, Deep, Deep and bound, photographic reproduction of the original hand-written manuscript for The Anubis Gates, not included with the trade or Slipcased editions. Slipcase and Anubis Gates volume very slightly bumped, otherwise Fine/Fine.
- Temple, William F. 88 Gray’s Inn Road. Sansato Press (AKA Ferret Fantasy), 2000. Roman-a-clef that features a thinly-disguised Arthur C. Clarke (who provides the introduction) as a character, with Clarke’s signature plate affixed to the FFE, reportedly one of only 50 such copies. Found at Recycled Books in Denton, priced the same as the non-signed edition (I paid $32 for it). Replaced a non-signed copy in my collection.
- Vance, Jack. Bird Isle/Take My Face. Underwood/Miller, 1988. One of 500 signed, numbered sets in slipcase. Found at Recycled Books in Denton for $160 for the set.
- Vance, Jack. The Dark Side of the Moon. Underwood/Miller, 1986. One of 200 signed/numbered copies. One of the rarest Underwood/Miller Vance books. (Are they being snapped up by Pink Floyd fans?) Found at Recycled Books in Denton for $160. Replaced a trade copy in my library.
- Wells, H. G. The World of William Clissold. Published by Ernest Benn (UK) 1926 in three volumes, one of 198 copies signed by Wells on the title page. For full details see here. Bought at the main Austin Half Price Books for $175, marked down from $350, during their coupon sale. Scott Cupp told me this copy formerly belonged to him, and that he obtained it at one of UT’s library sales.
H. G. Wells: The World of Williams Cissold, three volume set of the first edition, signed by Wells
The limitation page, with H. G. Wells' signature
- Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Gregg Press, 1979. (Replaces my Ex-Library copy.) Found at Recycled Books in Denton for $40.
- Zelazny, Roger. Hymn to the Sun: An Imitation. NA Publications, 1996. Poetry chapbook, a Near Fine- copy with some rubbing to price code on rear cover, spot on front cover, and black dot at heel. I missed this when it came out, and it’s been devilishly hard to find. Bought it off a dealer on Amazon, of all places, for abut $25. (99 times out of 100, Amazon is going to be higher than buying directly from a dealer on Bookfinder for collectible books.)
- Zelazny, Roger. Nine Princes in Amber. Doubleday, 1970. An Ex-Library copy, but cleaner than the Ex-Library copy previously in my collection. Reportedly Doubleday ordered their warehouse to pulp all Zelazny’s books the same day this came in from the printer, so only review copies, pre-orders, and library copies escaped the pulper, which is why non-Ex-Library copies are exceedingly rare. The first Amber novel, and one of Zelazny’s best. Found at Recycled Books in Denton for $160.
Tags:Aldous Huxley, Arthur C. Clarke, Book Collecting, Books, Dark Carnival, first editions, George Orwell, Greg Bear, Gregg Press, H. G. Wells, Horns, Jack Vance, Joe Hill, John Brunner, Nine Princes in Amber, Philip K. Dick, R. A. Lafferty, Ray Bradbury, Roger Zelazny, signed, Stand on Zanzibar, The Dark Side of the Moon, Tim Powers, William F. Temple
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | 1 Comment »
