Feb 12, 2008 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. Many paperback originals pbos exist in hardcover only in a book club edition. Mar 28, 2017 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. Often these bc editions will look very similar to an actual 1st edition except for the missing price on the dj. Rare books, outofprint books online half price books. Need help assessing a books value dune first edition. In most cases, books released through bookofthemonth club bomc are much nicer than book club editions bce released by the doubleday book clubs. Most book club editions, especially older ones, are smaller than publishers versions, and are easy to distinguish. Need help assessing a books value dune first edition ars. To kill a mockingbird first edition points and values. Mine is red, and is the first book club edition, but that is not the first first edition.
Ive heard some, though certainly not all book club editions can be collecting worth a bit of money. 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. To kill a mockingbird book club edition harper lee author photo by truman capote by harper lee and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Rare and valuable books old and not so old books worth.
From 1929 to 1985, the limited editions club published 548 titles. Choose from five monthly reads, vetted by cool people with great taste. Seuss books 2002, by helen younger, marc younger, and dan hirsch. There is no such thing as a first edition book club edition. Seuss books should also own a copy of first editions of dr. A pocket guide to the identification of first editions details the methods over 4,600 different publishers use to identify their first editions. Roman numerals were used in the book club edition of gone with the wind.
Just as in standard bookcollecting, the indicators. There may be a blindstamp impressed into the back cover of a hardcover book. A book club copy will always be a book club copy, even though it states first edition. Additionally, there are millions of book club editions in print. Only the books that do not have those words are the ones that would have value. A book club edition is quite often of smaller size and printed on lower quality paper than the regular trade edition. I used to belong to the mystery guild book club and their editions were indeed smaller than the same title purchased from a store. 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. Depending on the condition of the book it can be worth up to. Book club editions of catcher in the rye are not worth much unless there is a photo of salinger on the back. This statement in a book club book does not add value.
That means that there are literally millions of copies of the book that can technically be referred to as first editions. You can find detailed help on identifying book club editions here. A hardcover book that still has a dust jacket will be valued higher than one without it. Its easy to use, and small and light enough to fit in your pocket. 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. Im in one book club and its definitely worth it for me. The other major book club group is the bookofthemonth club. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a.
I got back into reading about a year ago and this book club is one of the reasons ive read over 30 books last year. You know that first edition printings describe a book that is likely to be worth more than a second printing or later edition, but what of that hardcover on your shelf. How to identify the first edition of the catcher in the rye by j. These books were usually limp covers in a sturdy orange fabric. Book club editions are often a little smaller than a regular hardcover book, and may feel lighter. The paper may not be the same quality as on the trade edition. 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. Book club edition does that mean that book has no value. The limited editions club of new york was started in 1929 by george macy. Ioba identifying book club editions independent online. What is the value of the book 1936 gone with the wind answers.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. And, like many other myths about bookselling, there are exceptions. 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. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. It was lees first and only book until 2015, when go set a watchman was published and was instantly acclaimed, winning the pulitzer prize for fiction for 1960. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable. What is the value of the book 1936 gone with the wind. If a particular author has come back in vogue, their books may be worth more suddenly.
Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition childrens. A comprehensive guide by allen and patricia ahearn, pg. At 29yearsold, he was an avid reader who wanted to make his living from books. If your copy is a 3rd printing, or a book club edition, it wont have the same value as a first edition. Kill mockingbird book club edition by lee harper abebooks. If you have one of these rare books sitting on a shelf, get ready to cash in. Demand too many comparable copies currently for sale may indicate a glut in the market. A hardcover book published in 1958 by viking isnt the same as a reprint published by penguin in 1963. A guide to collecting books by the limited editions club. In order for a first edition to be valuable, it has to be rare. If you just want the book to read it, a book club copy is fine. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition dr.
In terms of monetary value, book club editions are usually at the bottom of the. Youll likely recover the cost of this book very quickly, with your. Feb 15, 2010 one example of a book club series that is worth collecting is the victor gollancz 1930s left book club and a prize item in my library is george orwells the road to wigan pier. Browse and buy a vast selection of book club editions worth owning collections. 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. Any book without a price on the dustjacket is a book club bc edition. Mar 28, 2010 the first edition of to kill a mockingbird by harper lee was published in 1960 by j. The following table is an excerpt from our book the childrens picturebook price guide.
Most likely you have a much later book club edition. Open the book and look at the inside flap of the dust jacket. 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. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a gold. The childrens picturebook price guide includes first edition identification points for twentynine of the books in the list click on the books title to see first edition identification points for a. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable should. The mostfamous book club is the book of the month club, which began in 1926, and still exists, although with a much smaller membership than in its heyday, when to be selected by the book of the month club was a guarantor of commercial success. The catcher in the rye first edition points and values j. Collecting book club editions book collectors librarything. Founded in 1929 in new york city by george macy, the club consisted of a select group of book enthusiasts limited in number to 2,000. First edition book values how much is a book worth. Of course, theres the whole idea of generating some good discussions with other members of the group and how sometimes you might miss a point that another reader points.
The estimated values in the table are for first edition books with dust jackets. Mar 26, 2015 if the title is harry potter and the sorcerers stone, it was published by scholastic, its a hardback, and its not the american book club edition. Since it was founded in 1926, the book of the month club has been incredibly popular. Good to look out for at book swaps and garage sales. Most book collectors steer clear of them with a few exceptions. The exception to this, to a certain extent, is the first edition 200200 of seusss milestone book, the cat in the hat, and to a large extent, is the first state stickered of green eggs and ham the first state of green eggs does not surface too often. The first edition of gone with the wind has been reprinted over 100 times since it was first published. Identifying book club edition books a guide to identify. 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. It is important to remember that when a book of the month club edition existed, the numbers in which it was issued were usually much larger than the trade edition. So collectors must track down identifying marks for the first trade edition and compare it to the book club edition. 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 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. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. Book of the month read more, research less, save money. Bc editions are not the same a 1st trade editions and are generally not collectable. Sound good condition in fair worn dust jacket lippincott 1960 first book club edition with photo of harper lee on the the back panel truman capote comment on dust jacke flap the book is good and sound witha few small coffee drips o the edge and back end. The estimated values are for first edition books, with dust jackets. In most cases, books released through book ofthemonth club bomc are much nicer than book club editions bce released by the doubleday book clubs. As for the other books in the list, we have found that most of them come to market.
Book of the month club does not specify edition information, but as of now, only one edition has been published. His business revolved around publishing beautifully illustrated classic titles in relatively small quantities with club members paying a subscription. Unfortunately, book clubs frequently do not remove edition indicators from the plates before the book goes to print. As the above definition makes clear, book club editions are reprints of books. Many editions of h2g2 are worth are worth a fair sum of money. Book club editions are generally more cheaply made than publishers editions. The book is quarter bound in black cloth with black boards. A book that has no water damage or torn pages will be worth more than a book that was improperly stored for years.
What is the value of a book club edition in top condition. I have the following book series are they worth anything. Collectors frequently ask whether book club editions are first editions, and whether these volumes have any additional value. Book geeks and bookniks whats the difference between a.
Book clubs frequently neglect to remove edition indicators from the plates before printing their copies. Spend more time reading and less time figuring out what to read. Includes information on values and later printingsbook club editions. As a collectible probably very little there is not much desire from collectors or dealers for club editions.
Heres an article on the subject if youre really interested. I read about one title where the trade edition was only 20,000 copies, the bomc editions some stated first, some did not exceeded half a million copies. 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. Today, the limited editions club lec is an important part of the rare book business and the books are adored by collectors.
795 1358 616 1263 890 843 1492 88 404 1369 1025 543 840 367 1341 1426 1019 524 160 898 1348 1233 1067 591 1209 1506 1210 1300 387 709 423 673 1055 1324 105 466 120 1002 1161 1050 629 367 884 995 495