AbeBooks' Bestselling Signed Books for March 2013

AbeBooks' Bestselling Signed Books - March 2013

1. Wool by Hugh Howey
2. The childhood of Jesus by J.M. Coetzee
3. The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates
4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
5. Sum it Up By Pat Summitt
6. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
7. Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
8. Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia
9. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
10. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Book Sale Extravaganza Weekend

This weekend was the St. Francis Episcopal Church Book Sale, the First Friends Book Sale, AND the re-opening of our Ed McKay used bookstore.  So, I'm a bit blissed out from a very book-intense weekend.

The St. Francis sale is my favorite of the local book sales. (That and the Durham Library sale, which I unfortunately missed this year, are highlighted on my yearly calendar). Like most sales, St. Francis has a slew of titles by the prolifer-azzi (James Patterson, the Kellermans, Danielle Steel...). Thankfully, the very helpful volunteers group those authors together so you can just walk right past them. 

More importantly (for me), they have gently used copies of more collectible authors, sometimes signed.  This year, I opted to wait out the crowds and attend the 2d day of the sale, and while I found a few good titles, most of the books were pretty well picked over. Lesson learned. Next year, I'll wade back in with the other collectors and booksellers jockeying for elbow room on opening day. 

While I may not have had great luck at the St. Francis sale, I did manage a few finds at the Ed McKay (which was closed for a few days to embiggen & rearrange the store).  I was hoping they'd reopen with a bit more organization (similar to the shelves at Half Price Books) but no. Books are still stacked two rows deep and while they do chunk books alphabetically by author, it's a total free-for-all within each categorized letter. Which just means that you work a little harder for your treasures.

Still, I managed to find an early Hilary Mantel (her fifth book, but the first to be published in the U.S. market), A Place of Greater Safety (Atheneum, New York, 1993). I would say the book is probably in Very Good condition with minor shelf wear and a small tear in the dust jacket. Listings on Abebooks and Amazon value the book between $118 - $140 (not bad).

Synopsis: 

Mantel recounts the events between the fall of the ancien regime and the peak of the Terror as seen through the eyes of the three protagonists--Robespierre, Danton and Desmoulins--and a huge cast of supporting characters (including brief appearances by the scrofulous Marat). The three revolutionaries, longtime acquaintances, spend their days scheming and fighting for a corruption-free French Republic, but their definitions of "corrupt" are as different as the men themselves. [Publishers Weekly]

Mantel's novels:

• Every Day is Mother's Day (UK: Chatto & Windus, 1985)
• Vacant Possession (UK: Chatto & Windus/Penguin, 1986)
• Eight Months on Ghazzah Street (UK: Viking, 1988)
• Fludd (UK: Viking, 1989)
• A Place of Greater Safety (UK: Viking, 1992; US: Atheneum, 1993)
• A Change of Climate (UK/US: Viking/Penguin, 1994)
• An Experiment in Love (UK:Viking, 1995; US: Henry Holt, 1996)
• The Giant, O'Brien (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 1998)
• Beyond Black (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 2005)
• Wolf Hall (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 2009) *Winner of the 2009 Man Booker Prize.
• Bring Up the Bodies (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 2012) *Winner of the 2012 Man Booker Prize
• The Mirror and the Light: in progress

I found a signed, 4th printing of an Orson Scott Card title that I don't have. Since he's a local author, I started picking up signed copies of his books at pretty much every book sale or used bookstore I've visited.  Of course, with Card, the brass ring would be to find a first (signed) edition of Ender's Game. (It could  happen. it's doubtful, but you never know).

Synopsis:

Bestselling author Orson Scott Card uses his fertile imagination, and uncanny insight into human nature, to tell the story of a unique woman--one who is beautiful, tough, smart, and resourceful in an era when women had little power, and are scarce in the historical record. Sarah, child of the desert, wife of Abraham, takes on vivid reality as a woman desirable to kings, a devoted wife, and a faithful follower of the God of Abraham, chosen to experience an incomparable miracle. [Book Description]

Another local author I've had luck with is John Hart. This weekend I found a signed first edition of Iron House (valued between $35 - $65). Last year I found a signed first edition of his The Last Child at the St. Francis sale (valued between $60 - $145).

Synopsis:

There was nothing but time at the Iron Mountain Home for Boys, time for two orphans to learn that life is neither painless nor won without a fight. Julian survives only because his older brother, Michael, is both feared and fiercely protective. When an older boy is brutally killed, Michael makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect his brother: He flees the orphanage and takes the blame with him. [Book Description]

Iron House garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly.

Hart's novels:

• The King of Lies, (St. Martin’s Press, 2006)
• Down River, (St. Martin’s Press, 2007) *Winner of the 2008 Edgar Allen Poe Award.
• The Last Child, (St. Martin’s Press, 2009) *Winner of the 2010 Edgar Allen Poe Award.
• Iron House, (St. Martin’s Press, 2011)

Surprisingly, I also found a reading copy of Wool by Hugh Howey, so now I don't have to feel guilty about sitting in the Barnes & Noble Cafe reading chapters (being careful not to break the spine) while I await my hardback copy. (What? I said I felt guilty.) 

A Trip to Wonder Book in Frederick, MD

This past weekend we visited friends up North, one of whom took us to Wonder Book - a used bookstore in Frederick Maryland. Filled with narrow aisles that are piled to the rafters with books in every possible condition, it's very similar to a bibliophile's flea market.

Books are piled and scattered on the floor - and aisles are narrow enough to let one person pass through, craning their neck to view anything on the top or bottom shelves. It is not a place you go if you get overwhelmed easily. But it's a treasure trove for anyone looking for inexpensive reading copies.

As with most used bookstores, I'm not quite sure how they determine their prices (I suspect Amazon.com plays a role). I found a signed, limited slip-cased edition of Danielle Steel's Daddy (#27/250) priced at $2.99. The only issue I could find with it was a remainder mark on the bottom - and while blemished, it wasn't enough to explain the steep discount. (later I would find this same title being sold on Abebooks for $125 by, none other than, Wonder Book of Maryland). 

I found a number of signed, first editions - most of which were priced at $30 - $40. I can't tell you for sure why I passed up these books. Partly because I'd just paid my taxes and was feeling broke; partly because the manner in which the books were crammed in to the shelves left me a bit leery about their condition; and partly because I hadn't done my homework. Was a signed, first edition of Anne Rice's Violin worth $40? Answer: Yes... and no. If the copy was pristine - it might (MIGHT) be worth $80, but you can find signed firsts for this title for as low as $13.

I did find a very nice first (US) edition of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall (sans the Booker Prize sticker). Something I've been looking for since it was up for (& subsequently won) the Booker in 2009. I paid around $10 for it and it's worth between $65 and $150.

I can tell you this, the next time I go (and I will go again), I will do my homework because there's nothing more exciting than finding a treasure socked away among thousands of books. I imagine it's the same high that extreme couponers feel when they've just saved a ba-jillion dollars on ramen noodles and glade scented candles.

Indiespensable Vol. 39: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

In my in-box this morning was an email from Powell's, announcing their next Indiespensable selection:

Indiespensable is Powell's book club, wherein subscribers receive a signed, slip-cased first edition every six weeks.  Cost is $39.95 per shipment and includes shipping costs.

This Indiespensable package includes:

* A signed first edition of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena in a custom slipcase exclusive to Indiespensable
* A collectible booklet featuring the Powells.com interview with Anthony Marra
* Other special surprises!

This is Marra's debut novel and has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal.

I mentioned this title in my Early Buzz post a few weeks ago.

Full Disclosure: I am a Powell's partner primarily because I believe in the power of independent bookstores but I also like a cup of coffee every once in a while. 

Get This Book: Wool by Hugh Howey

Although the title has been around for a year and a half, Wool by self-published author Hugh Howey, has been getting a lot of press in the past month. Rising popularity and interest in the movie rights by Ridley Scott have propelled Howey into the spotlight.

Wool was first released as a short story in July 2011 but readers quickly began clamoring for more, asking when 'the rest of the story' would be published. As a result, Howey began writing sequels until there were 5 stories in the Wool series, publishing each as an individual e-book and eventually as an omnibus.

Following on the heels of Wool's success, Howey wrote a prequel, Shift (currently available as an eBook) and a Sequel, Dust, which will be available later this year.

In addition to eBooks, print-on-demand paperbacks have been made available through Amazon's Createspace publishing platform.

Simon and Schuster (US) / Century (UK) bought the series and released the hardcover edition of Wool on March 12, 2013 with Shift and Dust, to be released later this year. (Shift will be released in April, and Dust in October).

Signed firsts of Wool are listing for $60 to $150 on Abebooks.com.
A limited signed & slip-cased edition of 500 was published by Century in the UK. These are currently listing for between $150 and $380.

If you'd like to read a sampling of Wool, Barnes & Noble offers a peek at the first 30 pages. (Click on the "Get a Free Sample" link next to the "Buy Now" button. You'll need the free Nook reader app if you don't already have it.) It takes a little patience to get into the rhythm of Howey's writing, but once there the story will hook you. This is being touted as "The next Hunger Games," and has garnered praise from Wired, Kathy Reichs, and Justin Cronin.

Where you can find signed hardback copies online:

• Abebooks
• VJ Books (Oregon)
• Goldsboro Books (UK)

A Trip to Half Price Books

A few weeks ago I was visiting family in KC (Missouri), and took a trip down to the Westport Half Price Bookstore - a place where I can ALWAYS do some damage. Of course, there was a time constraint, as we had a dinner reservation. (Probably best, for the pocketbook's sake, but my goodness it was hard to leave).

We always manage to find great books at the Half Price Bookstore. Most are in Very Good condition, although you do have to be careful - check for wear, marks & scrapes, and the dreaded remainder mark (which I tend to miss when I'm excited to find a particular title).

The most exciting find: A first printing of The University of California's Autobiography of Mark Twain, vol. 1.

This was a GET THIS BOOK choice back in November of 2010. 75,000 copies were printed for the first run (although originally, it was believed to be 7,500 copies - but many credit this to a typo). It sold out in the first week. 2d print runs sold out nearly as quickly. I ordered a copy in the first week after it's release and was shipped a 3d printing of the edition.

First printings, in Fine/Near Fine condition, are listing for $200-$500 on Abebooks.

What amazes me is that even second and third printings are listing for up to $175.

This is slated to be a 3 volume set. Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2, The Complete and Authoritative Edition is scheduled for release in October 2013, but can be preordered (at a 20% discount no less) from University of California Press (discounted price: $36).


Also exciting, although not as valuable: 

The Eight by Katherine Neville.  (Ballantine, NY, 1988)
I've been looking for a hardbound copy of this title for a long while now. I didn't find a first printing, but it is a nice, clean, crisp copy of an earlier printing.  It's such a good book that it's just nice to have the title back in my collection.

Signed Firsts in Near Fine condition list up to $150.
Unsigned Firsts list for up to $50.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (Knopf, NY, 2011)
I found a First/First, but the jacket was price clipped. Otherwise it appears to be a Near Fine copy.

Signed Firsts list up to $125.
Unsigned can list up to $50.

side note: I understand the old idea of price clipping book jackets when the books were being given as gifts. Although, honestly, it seems a bit prideful to me to bring attention to the fact that you do not want someone to know how much the book may've cost you. Especially, when most people (these days) ignore the price. Not to mention, the price is also found on the back cover over the ISBN, but you don't see people cutting that out. (okay, that's the end of my rant).

Signed Limited Editions of Life of Pi and Dear Life

Canopy is publishing a limited edition of 300 signed copies of Yann Martel's Life of Pi and a limited edition of 50 signed copies of Alice Munro's Dear Life to bring attention to their straw paper & forest initiative: 

Signed special editions of Life of Pi and Dear Life, printed on paper made from left over straw rather than trees have been launched in support of Canopy’s campaigns to protect the world’s forests.

Life of Pi: $250 / edition of 300
Dear Life: $500 / edition of 50

Canopy doesn't state whether these are hardback or paperback, choosing to instead focus on the eco-friendly facts of straw paper. Nor does it mention anything about the longevity of straw paper.

I did find a marketing document on their Website listing the copyright statement that should appear in books using the "Ancient Forest Friendly" logo (associated with straw paper):

We are committed to protecting the environment and to the responsible use of natural resources. We are acting on this commitment by working with suppliers and printers to phase out our use of paper produced from ancient forests. This book is one step towards that goal. It is printed on 00% ancient-forest-free paper (00% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine and acid-free and it is printed with vegetable-based inks.

Of note: In 2011, Margaret Atwood published a signed limited edition of  In Other Worlds for Canopy, using straw paper. Abebook listings show the publisher as McClelland and Stewart, ON Canada. Descriptions state that this edition is hardback. Prices list from $48-$405. The number printed is not stated.

True firsts for Life of Pi (Knopf, Canada, 2001) list for $600-$1400+ (signed); $400-$500 (unsigned); & $350 for an unsigned, 2d printing. (These were small print runs).

True firsts for Dear Life (McClelland Stewart, Canada, 2012) list for $300 (signed), $50 (unsigned); US firsts (Knopf, NY, 2012) list for $60-$85 (signed).