How to identify book club editions page 1 of 2 bookthink. Book club editions are basically facsimiles of the true first editions. First book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. Gift edition released by quality book club after first edition was released. It is considered a book club edition rather than a true limited edition or gift edition. We ship one signed first edition every month for each club, with the selections noted in our monthly newsletter for easy reference. A monthly subscription club for readers and collectors of quality signed, first edition books the ultimate way to build a personal library, our signed firsts club will please true collectors and lovers of the written word. However, to most booksellers and collectors, a true first edition is both the first typeset version of the book and the first printing. First printing copies are unique because they are the first published record of a book. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. As with many early viking editions, this book can be hard to authenticate as a true 1st edition.
Often it is a new setting and with cheaper paper and binding. The book club edition on the right features a different photo of the author on the dust jacket. Spend more time reading and less time figuring out what to read. Members of the club receive a thoughtfully selected book delivered to them each month. Specific points of issue for the first edition of pulitzer prize winner roots by. Ioba identifying book club editions independent online. Stephen king novels first edition identification guide. Collecting book club editions book collectors librarything. This website is intended to help guide you and give you insight into what to look for when identifying first. I feel like its a book that can start a great conversation at a first book club meeting. 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. The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition the edition of the book that supersedes all other editions chronologically and sometimes. The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition the edition of the book that supersedes all other editions chronologically and sometimes detective work is required to identify the true first. The vast majority of first editions published before 1900 had the year of publication on the title page this is true for fiction and nonfiction titles.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Members of the club receive a thoughtfully selected book each month. Most often a book club edition weighs less than a true first editon. Book club editions are sold to members at a good discount compared with the original issue price. If the publisher sells out of the first run and goes back for another printing, that second printing is not considered true first editions, even. This was a book club edition, hardbound, inscribed by dick to read i hope you did not become too depressed by ubik. Book club editions look similar to genuine first editions, but they are not first editions, and they have. Trim size is given because book club editions are often smaller than trade editions. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more.
Few of the selections met with great critical acclaim, but a. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Generally speaking, if the 1 is present, the book is a first edition first edition, first printing. Also, book club edition dust jackets dj are occasionally found on first editions to replace lost or damaged jackets. Any photographic illustrations in the original are either absent or reduced in number. Book club edition does that mean that book has no value. First edition copies state first edition on the page and the number sequence will be 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3. We show you what to look for so you can determine if you have a true first edition or a book club edition. For the second printing, the 1 is removed, so the 2 is the lowest number present.
Once again, this is the first book club edition, not the first printing of the first edition. Except for a few exceptions, you can be fairly certain that if you have a book club edition it is not a first edition. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. Sfbc edition of ray bradburys martian chronicles is the true first. A popular book is sometimes reissued under the imprint of a book club. Book of the month club bomc books and other editions released by book clubs are not usually candidates for a first edition. The confusion around first editions is illustrated by 1984 by george orwell. 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 estimated values are for first edition books, with dust jackets. Save over 40% all preorders are available at the membership price or one member credit, and because they are shipped separately, preorders are not eligible for feature selection bundle prices.
Just by picking the book up will give you your first clue. The best site on the net for info on rare stephen king books. Stephen king novels first edition identification guide use the search to the right to search for title, publication date, publisher, etc title and cover. 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. Few of the selections met with great critical acclaim, but a great. A time to kill a novel of retribution by john grisham identifying first edition points of issue. The collector the best site for info on limited edition stephen king available at both and. It is important for collectors to identify book club editions and first trade. But they lack the embossed diamond pattern on the book boards. These links will take you directly to search results for 1st edition and limited edition copies copies for sale on the respective sites. Book clubs editions bces are reproductions of first editions, and even copy over their printing history. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable. A book club edition is quite often of smaller size and printed on.
Since our founding in 1992, first book has distributed more than 175 million books and educational resources to programs and. If a book wins an award or otherwise earns acclaim or popularity and the books first printing was relatively small, copies of the first edition can become very valuable, and signed. This means that book published in the authors own country is considered the true first. Identifying book club edition books a guide to identify. General guidelines for identifying a first edition identifying. Thanks to the fine persons i have met so recently, and with so much pleasure philip k dick. In the case of titles published before 1900, the key to firstedition identification is often the date on the title page. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. The presence of a date on the title page alone may identify books published prior to the mid1800s as first editions. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books the following table is an excerpt from our book the childrens picturebook price guide. First blood by david morrell, is a true classic that set the trend for most of the action hero stories of modern time. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book.
First edition points to identify roots by alex haley. The signed first editions club is the ultimate way to build a personal library and will please true collectors and lovers of the written word. We never charge extra for autographed books and selections are all jacket price except for the british imports for obvious reasons. Picture of the 1998 first edition dust jacket for harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. 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. Picture of the first edition title page for the old man and the sea. I now see a more hopeful world around us than i depicted herein. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will want to know which one is superior. Book of the month read more, research less, save money.
First edition copies state first edition on the page and the number sequence will be. Choose from five monthly reads, vetted by cool people with great taste. Still a good amount but a far cry from the what the true. Identifying and collecting first editions shop for books. There are book club editions that have the same full number line as the true first u. For collectors, the first edition of a book is the most desired edition, especially if it is signed. Does this make first editions of oprahs book club selections any more valuable.
Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. In these cases the first edition of the first publication of the book is described as the true first edition and will always be marked or described as such. Fedpo first edition frequently asked questions book club editions. The book club edition on the right has lighter colored boards than the first edition on the left. The book club edition dust jacket lacks a price and states book of the month club. This book is truly amazing but the true enjoyment is. Free searchable database of modern first edition books. Below is a set of some other glossary terms that booksellers use to describe different editions. Yukabaceraan edition of of a record distributed through mail by a record club, not sold in shops.
Look at the tips below to help identify a 1st edition firestarter. Ive heard some, though certainly not all book club editions can be. Though some clubs had stores but you had to be member to buy there. Here is a quick rundown of how to identify bookclub editions. The term first edition refers to the first printing of the earliest edition of a book. The book club edition on the right is smaller than the true first edition on the left. Of course, but i think the mail distribution method was much more common, at least, all the people who i knew were members of a record club in germany got their records this way. First edition criteria and points for book identification. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable. 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. We can relate to the predicament of john rambo, a haunted young man who only wants to be left alone by society, yet society wont let him be.
You can search for first editions and limited editions of a time to kill on, and. First, some bces are in fact the first appearance sometimes the only appearance of a title in print that is, the actual first edition, first printing, first you nameit. There is no such thing as a first edition book club edition. Only the books that do not have those words are the ones that would have value.
A book club edition is far less valuable than the true first u. Before we get into the details, its important to understand what a book club edition is. In most cases, books released through book ofthemonth club bomc are much nicer than book club editions bce released by the doubleday book clubs. They are often reprints of the 1st editions, but very rarely worth money.