>From: "Chris Bahn" <
chrisbahn@earthlink.net>
>Subject: RARA-AVIS: first editions
>
>On a recent search of one of my local used
bookstores, I ran across what I
>think is a first-edition copy of Tom Clancy's "The
Hunt For Red October."
>This is the first time I've ever made such a
discovery, so I'm not sure how
>to be sure of it. How does a person verify something
like this?
I'll send this to the list in case it's of general
interest.
Identifying first editions can, at worst, be really
difficult.
Assuming that the title page looks all right and doesn't list
a book club as publisher or something like that:
Step 1 Read the copyright page and check the copyright year
and any other information given (for example, "First US
Edition" means that it was previously published elsewhere.)
It is often possible to work out from this page that it is
NOT a first edition.
Step 2 With RECENT publications, it will be easy to tell
whether you have a true first edition. You will see a string
of numbers at the bottom of the page reading from 10 to 1. If
any of them is missing, this is a reprint or re-issue.
Step 2 alt. With older books, it can become quite confusing;
but there is often enough detail there to give you a good
idea of the situation. If you still aren't sure, the quick
answer is to go to "Google" and do a search on the title at
either "ABE" or, more slowly, "addALL/used". If the book is
collectible, people will be offering copies of the 'first
edition', and you may be able to tell from the descriptions
whether they resemble your copy. (You could even email a
dealer and ask whether they can help you identify yours.) If
it isn't considered collectible, then frankly it doesn't
matter much whether it's a first, because what you have found
is a "reading copy". Enjoy reading it.
If after this you think that you have found an
incredibly valuable first edition of something, you could of
course just buy the book for the low price marked in it -
although even if you're right, I'd have to warn you that for
books like Red October to be worth anything, they must be in
near-unread condition with a pristine dust jacket. Wrap it in
paper or cellophane and do not drop it, put coffee cups on
it, throw it for the dog to retrieve, or read it.
Or enjoy reading it.
Marianne
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