DO YOU HAVE A BOOK QUESTION?

[manor_house_books]

Hi all, pippy_oak here, posting under my brand new user name. Hopefully, Richard will pin this thread, as it seems a nice tidy place to pose specific questions about a book (Is it a 1st edition, what's it worth, where to find it etc. etc.) Don't just come here with a question. If you think you have the answer, then let's hear it.

Or we could just mooch around and learn a few things.

Cheers

Paul

[princesselizabeth65]

I have three PG Wodehouse hardback novels:

Something Fishy, which says "First published by Herbert Jenkins Limited . . . . 1957"

Spring Fever, which just says "First Printing" under a sort of crest thing which looks like a deformed Pegasus, under which is printed "A Herbert Jenkins Book" and no date that I can see, and lastly

Ice in the Bedroom, which says "First published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd . . . . 1961"

Beneath that it says (C) P G Wodehouse 1961

Does anyone know if these are first editions please?

I also have Summer Moonshine which just says Third Printing under Herbert Jenkins' "crest", and Young Men in Spats, Fourth Printing under the crest.

I have been reading up what you have all been saying about third printings of first editions and to be honest I'm a bit confused!!

[sigmapsidelta]

I take it your confusion is over the impression line - 1234567890 etc.

Those do not apply as they are a recent phenomenon.

Your books are what they say, first editions.

Wodehouse is very collectable, but a dust wrapper on an early title can multiply its value rather than just add to it.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[princesselizabeth65]

Thank you - no they have no dust wrappers unfortunately. I was very lucky to get them as I had no idea what they were. My ex mother in law took me to church with her one day and they had a bookstall to raise funds. I just saw P G Wodehouse, who's one of my favourites, and thought "Fabulous!" and bought the lot at 20p each!

I do have another question though: I have two modern books - one called "Remembrance" about WWI and one by Caroline Graham called "A Place of Safety". They are what I think is called "misbound" - they have been bound with certain pages missing and others out of order. It sounds unlikely I know, but are there people out there who want to collect things like this?!

thanks again,

Liz

[sigmapsidelta]

Sorry, Liz. There has been a bit of a fuss made over 'misprinted' Harry Potter books and others.

But mistakes and misprints having any relevance to collectors is the domain of the philatelist. Book collectors tend to want the most perfect copy available, and any error or misprint would be abhorrent. Such copies are interesting but incomplete or damaged.

The only exception I'm aware of is the Orbit first edition of 'Inversions' by Iain M. Banks, a number of copies of which were bound with the boards inverted. Banks signed several of these and it is now known as 'Inversions' the inverted edition and is quite collectable.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[princesselizabeth65]

Thanks - perhaps I'll just take those two to the book recycling bin.

I've been studying that glossary of terms in relation to my first editions - it's very interesting and they've definitely all got foxing to the edges and quite a few of the pages, but I've heard of an expression "banged". Is that what's meant by the corners of the boards being slightly bent over?

[manor_house_books]

I've not heard the expression "banged" in connection with books, but "bumped" means precisely what you said. I hate it when the corners are bumped. It seems to destroy the whole appearance of the book.

[fochriw1]

Hi everybody I am sure someone can help me I look on the book board regularly and Im always impressed with the wealth of information offered! I am starting to sell some hardbacks which I would like to send as protectively as possible I have heard of book boxes where do I get them from? Is there a supplier selling on ebay? Yours with the best of wishes John

[sigmapsidelta]

There may be someone selling them on eBay. Other than that try D&M.

http://www.care4books.com/site/page.asp?type=cat&cid=2

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[manor_house_books]

If you're only selling a few, check out your local main PO. They do a good range of sizes and they're not too pricey.

My preference is for Noviawrap (Google it) for hardbacks.

[fochriw1]

thank you very much sig, can you advise me on the best way to pack hardbacks

[fochriw1]

thank you manor and sig your input is invaluable and valued!

[sigmapsidelta]

I prefer to see them packed in bubblewrap and cardboard. Royal Mail have a few torture devices in their sorting offices that are designed to hack and slash, so the more protection the better.

Some lighter items can be sent in bubblewrap and a sturdy padded envelope, as long as it is large enough to wrap around the book as extra extra padding.

Never mail out a book loose inside overlarge packaging.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[147victoria]

I find that crisp boxes, as in the cardboard box they come in, are useful for wrapping things.
Don't know how they compare weight wise, but they are quite easy to obtain from smaller shops, who usually have to pay to dispose of cardboard.

You can then custom fit the cardboard to the bubble wrapped book

[farawaytreedesigns]

Hi,
I've been asked to review a book for a magazine-'Divided Loyalties by Paticia Scanlan' and it isn't released until July so I've been sent a copy which has 'Book Proof' written on the cover and on the back 'uncorrected book proof'. I was wondering, if I sell it could I get more for it than a normal copy? I know it's been released in other countries already. Sorry if I haven't expained this well but I know nothing about bookselling! Thanks,
Faith

[sigmapsidelta]

Some collectors go for proof copies.

I do with some authors as, nowadays, they are issued as signed, limited editions.

Not sure how collectable Patricia Scanlan is. I checked ABE and no-one seems to have a serious price for any of her titles - ex-library paperbacks at £30+, another paperback at £170+, one that could be anything as the sellers reserves the right not to tell what you're getting for your £116.28, large-print paperbacks at £70 to £80. Strange thing is, all these are also available, on ABE, at $1 each.

The only Scanlan proof I found being offered was 'Two for Joy' priced at £6 and located in France.

Looks like it might be one of those you see listed at 99p and never get a bid. But you'll never know unless you try it.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[lillypill39]

Hi,
I am hoping someone can help me with a query.
I have a set of books called 'Cassell's History of England' special edition. I think there are 16 volumes. They are illustrated with 'coloured plates and orginial drawings'. There is no date on the books but they are navy blue with a gold coloured decoration. They look quite old but i am not sure how old. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Lily

[manor_house_books]

I should wait for someone more knowledgeable to come along.

These Cassell multi-volume sets on all manner of subjects (History, Geography, The British Empire, Encyclopaedias etc.) were mostly issued around 1890-1910. They tend to be listed on Addall etc. at high prices, but nobody seems to buy. Our local auctions frequently have similar sets, and they rarely get a bid.

[manor_house_books]

PS. I usually find that a good way to date a history book is to read the last chapter.;-)

[phildan1969]

Hi all, this is my first post on here! I wonder if someone can help me find out if a book I have is worth anything (or nothing!) it is a book of poetry that has been misprinted/misbound........pages 255 - 302 are printed twice, its called Favourite Verse by Parragon publishers. It was only printed in 1999, but I thought it was an oddity, I read it through and couldn't help thinking I had read some of the poems before - then I realised there were extra pages! any ideas would be appreciated! JoannaM

[manor_house_books]

Unfortunately, book collecting is not philately.

Anything which deviates from perfection has a negative effect on value.