why do they value 1st edition books? how can one tell what 1st edition books to save?
2006-11-04 01:10:28 · 4 answers · asked by j 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Start a collection by an author you admire. Find out where book signings are going to be and go along to get one signed, you can guarantee they are first editions. Also, there will only be one date when the book was printed inside. If it isn't a first edition, there will be several dates and edition numbers. And, of course they will all be hardback as apposed to paperback editions.
I collect Isabel Allende first editions and have signed copies. Not only for the financial value in the future, but because I love her writing.
Signed copies and first editions don't cost any more if you get them when they are first released.
2006-11-04 01:28:15 · answer #1 · answered by pampurredpuss 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It may do, especially if the author becomes really popular. A first edition of J K Rowling or Tolkien will go for thousands.
As for what to do - well, you could either buy lots of first editions of new-ish authors and hope that they will go up or, buy an established collectible 1st edition and hope it will continue to rise.
Also, if poss - meet the author and get them to sign it, that would help.
One to watch out for is TEMERAIRE by NAOMI NOVAK. This is going to be turned into a film, directed by none other than Peter Jackson (LOTR, King Kong).
Also avoid Harry Potter books. The 1st editions that have value ate the books 1 - 3. After that, when they became popular, the 1st edition print runs increases dramatically so there are thousands floating round
2006-11-04 05:04:53 · answer #2 · answered by David 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1st editions are more valuable because they are rare. This is because when a book becomes popular, the publisher will keep reprinting it, but when it first comes out they may not print very many. For example, the first edition of the first Harry Potter book is v. valuable because it was J K Rowling's first book and the publishers had no idea how popular it was going to be. However first editions of the later books will not be so valuable because a lot more of them were printed.
2006-11-04 10:26:05 · answer #3 · answered by Jude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can tell a first edition book by the copyright date.
2006-11-04 01:17:49 · answer #4 · answered by Wicked 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋