There is no such thing as a first edition book club edition. A hardcover book published in 1958 by viking isnt the same as a reprint published by penguin in 1963. What is the difference between first editions, first trade. Does this make first editions of oprahs book club selections any more valuable. Book club editions are often a little smaller than a regular hardcover book, and may feel lighter. First edition of palahniuks instantly mythic first novel, boldly signed by him in black felt pen on the title page. This statement in a book club book does not add value. Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. Unfortunately, book clubs frequently do not remove edition indicators from the plates before the book goes to print. The selections will be handchosen by a small selective committee, and will include a mix of unknown authors and high potential literary stars. I used to belong to the mystery guild book club and their editions were indeed smaller than the same title purchased from a store. In fact, many book club editions utilize the same page as the trade editionsoften times even duplicating the first edition statements and the full number.
The first edition binding of to kill a mockingbird on the top with its green spine is very different than the book club edition below it with a black spine. Technically, a true first edition should be designa ted first edition, first printing, a phrase that describes a copy from the first print run of a books first edition. Oct 17, 2011 identifying a first edition is no simple matter. The official price guide to records, 8th edition eighth edition cross reference for every charted artist 1950 thru 1985 first edition, 1st printing 1988 jan 1, 1988 paperback. Book of the month club books usually bear a small square, circle, or other geometric shape on the lower righthand corner of the back cover.
It is considered a book club edition rather than a true limited edition or gift edition. Book club editions can usually be identified as such by one of a few telltale signs. But for a collector, a first printing is the only true 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. Picture of the 1998 first edition dust jacket for harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. Comparing the 1st printing 1st edition of the chamber of secrets to the book club harry potter and the chamber of secrets. Yukabaceraan edition of of a record distributed through mail by a record club, not sold in shops. Another note here on the use of the term first edition.
So, you have just entered the world of book collecting, and have probably. Most book collectors steer clear of them with a few exceptions. Many paperback originals pbos exist in hardcover only in a book club edition. A new version of the book is then typeset, which becomes the second edition. Since our founding in 1992, first book has distributed more than 175 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from lowincome families. Based on the date codes i have also seen happy hollisters examples golden witch i believe where the book club has an earlier code than the trade with first edition. If no changes are made to the book, such as a new chapter, a new preface by the author, etc.
Picture of the first edition page for harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. Need help assessing a books value dune first edition. A book club copy will always be a book club copy, even though it states first edition. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. Often it is a new setting and with cheaper paper and binding. The other major book club group is the bookofthemonth club. First editions are distinguished from subsequent printings, as they represent the closest edition in time and intent to the authors original work. But publishers are the only ones who use the term that way. Book club editions are commonly printed on cheaper and thicker paper than retail and may have cheaper bindings often newly printed books, like potter, are identical they are cheaper for the members because the book club orders 10,000 at a time and these can be added to the print run without setup cost. First trade editions are the first edition available to the general public, from what i understand, but i read that they are not always the first edition.
Any photographic illustrations in the original are either absent or reduced in number. Like many things in publishing, what denotes a first edition can be complex and dependent on the whims of individual publishing houses. Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books although, technically speaking, it shouldnt be. Trim size is given because book club editions are often smaller than trade editions.
Editions of fight club by chuck palahniuk goodreads. To my surprise i see what looks like 1st edition hcs of the shining, carrie, pet sematary, salems lot. Ioba identifying book club editions independent online. First edition points to identify to kill a mockingbird by. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number.
As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. Director david finchers awardwinning 1999 film adaptation, starring edward. 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. Though some clubs had stores but you had to be member to buy there. Each company does their first edition identification if they do any at all differently, so unless youve got a handydandy housebyhouse guide, the whole concept can make you go a bit crosseyed. To a publisher, all printings within an edition are the first edition. There are thousands of publishers and they use a large variety of methods, which are often changed, to define first editions. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog. In most any hardcover modern work of fiction, the dust jacket has a price in the front flap. This image from mywingsbooks guide to bce demonstrates the subtle differences in the smaller size of hardcover bce books. Since our founding in 1992, first book has distributed more than 175 million books and educational resources to programs and. Need help assessing a books value dune first edition ars.
Oct 30, 2019 gift edition released by quality book club after first edition was released. Editions of it by stephen king meet your next favorite book. Finding and possessing a rare first edition book is often a goal of both the novice and expert book collector. Mine is red, and is the first book club edition, but that is not the first first edition.
When a book is sold for the first time, that is called the books first edition. The sequel fight club 2 was released in comic book form in may 2015. Feb 15, 2010 based on the date codes i have also seen happy hollisters examples golden witch i believe where the book club has an earlier code than the trade with first edition. 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 if the page says it is. If your copy doesnt have a dust jacket to compare by, there are other ways to potentially tell it its a book club edition, but without the dust jacket, its value is. Chuch palahniuks first novel fight club was hailed as instantly mythic and firmly established his wild, mordant point of view. How to identify first editions book collecting guide. Its clubhouse in chicagos loop iswas the largest private clubhouse in the united states. Collecting book club editions book collectors librarything. Is a first trade edition something valuable that id want to collect or is it something that lessens the value of a book such as it being a book club edition. A signed first edition is a unique addition to any library, and to dealers and collectors, a signed first edition is the most desirableand. If you sign up for the book passage first editions club, we will deliver a signed first edition of a book to your doorstep 12 times a year.
In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. But they lack the embossed diamond pattern on the book boards. The main characteristics of a 1997 first edition first issue are a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of joanne rowling, not jk. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable. Inspired by his doctors exasperated remark that insomnia is not suffering, the protagonist finds relief by impersonating a seriously ill person in several support groups.
However like a second printing, book club editions occasionally become valuable when the value of the true first edition printing becomes astronomical. Heres an article on the subject if youre really interested. If you just want the book to read it, a book club copy is fine. It s true that a first edition may have one or more printings and that a second edition will normally be noted only if there are actual changes, usually major, in the text. However like a second printing, book club editions occasionally become valuable when the value of the true first editionprinting becomes astronomical.
Buy first edition books for sale at auction invaluable. For books, whats the difference between book club edition. Also, book club edition dust jackets dj are occasionally found on first editions to replace lost or damaged jackets. Book geeks and bookniks whats the difference between a. Harry potter book collecting the chamber of secrets 1st. First edition copies state first edition on the page and the number sequence will be 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3. 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. Also starring andy garcia, don johnson and craig t. The publisher may actually state the words first edition or first printing on the page. For books like princess bride, the book club was just about the only hardcover you could find and afford. Technically, a true first edition should be designa ted first edition, first printing, a phrase that describes a copy from the first print run of a book s first edition. Book club editions are sold to members at a good discount compared with the original issue price.
Because they often look like first editions, book club editions cause plenty of confusion, and it is important to know how to identify them so you dont end up. Here is their advice for addressing a common but knotty book club problem. The union league club was formed during the civil war. While we can provide our own answers weve found its often much more useful to turn the question over to our facebook followers to get a broad range of opinions.
Fedpo first edition frequently asked questions what is a. A first edition may actually go through many printings before its text is significantly. The reasons that book club editions are less valuable should. A first edition is the original printing of a book. For many vintage books or books published by a small imprint, only 100 or so copies were run for the first edition, so they are both highly sought after and hard to find. Jan 18, 2011 comparing the 1st printing 1st edition of the chamber of secrets to the book club harry potter and the chamber of secrets. A popular book is sometimes reissued under the imprint of a book club. Although the physical tells denoting a book club edition from the trade edition have changed over the years and differed from club to club, there is often a discrete mention of book club edition somewhere on the jacket, and there may be no isbn or year of publication on the page. A first edition may actually go through many printings before its text is significantly changed, usually to correct one or more errors. 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. Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book. Four friends diane keaton, jane fonda, candice bergen and mary steenburgen lives are turned upside down to hilarious ends when their book club tackles the infamous fifty shades of grey. Fedpo first edition frequently asked questions book club editions.
The films prominence heightened the profile of the novel and that of palahniuk. Quite simply, it is the initial printing of a book after the book proofadvance copy. I try to differentiate between bomc and bce when i discuss book club books. Most collectors prize the first edition, first printing because it was the way the book first appeared. Identifying book club edition books a guide to identify. At bookbrowse we get asked a lot of bookrelated questions. If your copy is a 3rd printing, or a book club edition, it wont have the same value as a first edition. Book clubs frequently neglect to remove edition indicators from the plates before printing their copies. To confuse matters, a first state is a term for the first printed form a book takes each state referring to a minor change or group of changes to the type or paper. Nov 08, 2012 however, to most booksellers and collectors, a true first edition is both the first typeset version of the book and the first printing. Many modern first editions indicate they are later printings by dropping one of the numbers in a number sequence on the page.
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. A book club edition is far less valuable than the true first u. Identifying book club editions one girl collecting. The first edition continues until the book is changed. 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. If the initial print run of this first edition sells out and the publisher decides to produce a subsequent printing with the same typeset the book would be described. Technically the phrase first edition consists of the first printing plus any additional printings of the same first edition. A great example of this is a book club edition of the catcher in the. First book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need.
Book club editions in general are worth very little usually far less than an early printing of the genuine first edition. Identifying and collecting first editions shop for books. How you can tell the difference between a first edition, first printing, and a book club edition of a collectible book and why it matters. 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.
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