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Which Books do I collect?


13 replies to this topic

#1 Boldman

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Posted 22 July 2001 - 11:15 PM

I was thinking about starting a proper collection of the Bond novels, but I have no idea which editions to get.

I can't spend too much per book, but I'd like them in hardback, in fairly good condition. Anyone got any advice?

#2 Boldman

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Posted 23 July 2001 - 12:52 PM

Great.

#3 zencat

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Posted 24 July 2001 - 05:05 PM

Boldman (24 Jul, 2001 04:46 p.m.):
Great, thanks for that Zencat. Do you have any more info on that first-edition library thing? There was an address on that page, but I'd prefer to e-mail them.If I buy Benson's latest will it still be a first edition?

I don't have an email address for The First Edition Library. Wish I did.

If you buy a NDOD it should still be a first. The UK hardcovers rarely go into second printings as the paperback comes out so quickly (NDOD paperback is coming in Novemeber).

#4 Boldman

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Posted 24 July 2001 - 03:46 PM

Great, thanks for that Zencat.

Do you have any more info on that first-edition library thing? There was an address on that page, but I'd prefer to
e-mail them.

If I buy Benson's latest will it still be a first edition?

#5 Blue Eyes

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Posted 23 July 2001 - 11:30 AM

There's a forum user Zencat who's on holiday right now. He knows everything about the books (I say he does anyway, he may disgaree). He'll be able to give you heaps of help!

#6 Blue Eyes

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Posted 24 July 2001 - 02:17 AM

You should try sending him a personal message for when he gets back or something.

#7 zencat

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Posted 24 July 2001 - 03:23 PM

Boldman (23 Jul, 2001 12:17 a.m.):
I was thinking about starting a proper collection of the Bond novels, but I have no idea which editions to get.I can't spend too much per book, but I'd like them in hardback, in fairly good condition.  Anyone got any advice?


Hello Boldman,

Blue Eyes gave you excellent advice. A "proper" collection of Bond books would mean getting the UK or U.S. first edition hardcovers. But know what you're getting into. The first four or five Ian Fleming novels in UK first edition can cost over $10,000.00 U.S. I've seen Casino Royale and Live & Let Die sell for as high as $20,000.00. The American editions are less expensive (but harder to find, in my experience), but can still cost thousands of dollars for the early books.

But I have a great tip for you. You decided to do this at exactly the right time. A company called The First Edition Library is putting out BEAUTIFUL reprints of the Fleming UK first editions for about $30 U.S. apiece. GET THESE! No, you'll never turn one around for 20 grand, but they WILL go up and value and look GREAT on the shelf. Check out their website at http://www.geocities...rstedition.html

While you put these together (I think they release one a month) I would say you should do exactly what you yourself suggested. Start searching for the UK first hardcover editions of the Gardner and Benson books. You can find most of them for resonable prices. But you are going to get in trouble w/ a few titles; COLD and GoldenEye can both sell for $500 and up and TND is becoming very tough to find. But if you watch eBay maybe you'll get lucky (I got my GoldenEye for $150). And besides, that's the fun of collecting.

And if you haven

#8 zencat

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Posted 25 July 2001 - 01:43 AM

The weekend was GREAT! I just sent you my report. Picked up a little info. on the next Benson book as well.

#9 Blue Eyes

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Posted 25 July 2001 - 11:08 PM

Yes some great info as well Zencat :) And an excellent report of course!

#10 Blue Eyes

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Posted 24 July 2001 - 11:52 PM

There ya go Boldman! Zencat, the man who know's best.

Welcome back Zencat! Hope you enjoyed the collectors weekend :)

#11 Blue Eyes

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Posted 22 July 2001 - 11:36 PM

If you're looking for hardback I believe your only option is first edition, I don't think they're reprinted as hardback otherwise. Or you can get some from the bookclubs, you'll save money this way but you'll never be able to sell them for much because they're not first editions.

For some of them expect to pay minimum US$20 I believe. Others could inform you better however.

#12 Boldman

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Posted 23 July 2001 - 11:26 AM

Thanks for the advice. I took a look around, and it seems that half way through Gardners era, they changed publishers. Is this correct?

I think the best thing to do would be to get all the less Gardner/Bensons first to build it up a bit, then go for the more expensive Flemings.

#13 The Admiral

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Posted 30 September 2001 - 06:43 PM

In the UK, "The Eaton Press" are making replicas of the first editions.

#14 Barebumundermakilt

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Posted 30 September 2001 - 01:50 PM

Try Charity shops, I have a friend who regularly visits these places for Biggles books and he comes up trumps about 70% of the time. I have been in a few myself and picked up a 1st edition of Licence Renewed for.....