I bought a "gift" edition because I cannot justify $400+ for a signed copy. The price of signed copies should increase with time, not start out so high you wonder if it will ever increase in value.
I am also wondering, seriously, why a persons signature on a book is so valuable. It's like fans, who used to like to sendt heir books to the authors, are now being hustled by publishing industry. I think I am totally done with purchased signed items.
Well, the answer there is simply that people will pay for them. These editions of "Doctor Sleep" sold out in 4.5 hours, apparently; Cemetery Dance made a nice chunk of change that day.
Personally, I don't get it. I have precisely one book that was signed by King, and while it's cool to have, I didn't buy it because of that; I bought it because it was the only way to buy the book at that time, and I didn't want to gamble on the story ("Stationary Bike") contained within it never appearing in one of King's collections. I bought the book for the story; the signature was a nice bonus, but that's all.
The only way a signature would have any real meaning for me is if I met the author and had him sign it in person. Even then, it would only be particularly meaningful if we had some sort of interaction that the signature would remind me of in the future. Otherwise, it's just ink on paper, and I am not particularly interested in that.
But some people are, and I don't begrudge them that. You, for example, seem very into having signed editions, and I say have at 'em.
The people I really DO have a problem with, though, are the investors, who buy these editions simply to flip them for a profit months or years down the line. I find those people to be utterly loathsome, because they are responsible for driving the prices up so that the real fans -- collectors like you -- end up having to pay more and more money to get what they want.
For that reason, amongst others, I never purchase signed editions for the signatures themselves. I purchase only when the book is otherwise unobtainable; or, perhaps, for the art. NEVER for the signature.
Is it just me, or is anyone else reminded of Philip k. Dick's Ubik by that spray can cover?
Just all it put me in mind of is all.
I will admit though that author signatures can be hard to understand for the unhyper-devoted.
For what it's worth, though, I came across my prized autograph copy of the one Dave Barry book that shaped my whole personality (aside from one other, and to be fair that one did come chronologically first)by more honest means, entirely by accidentin a Half Price store.
I wonder how many book folk live for something like that.
People get very excited for these limiteds, I usually buy the limited (gift editions, not signed) just for the artwork. The only books I have signed are the 2 secretary of dreams books. I decided to get one because I thought it was very unique. I skipped this one bc I do not like the drawings.
On the other hand I bought a Robert McCammon (I travel by Night) signed limited for the same price of the gift edition of Dr. Sleep just bc Michael Whelan did the covert art. -mike
Very cool!
ReplyDeleteLooks like this is going to be an excellent year to be a Stephen King fan.
INDEED!
ReplyDeleteI bought a "gift" edition because I cannot justify $400+ for a signed copy. The price of signed copies should increase with time, not start out so high you wonder if it will ever increase in value.
I couldn't afford any of them. It'll be a regular trade hardback for me.
DeleteI am also wondering, seriously, why a persons signature on a book is so valuable. It's like fans, who used to like to sendt heir books to the authors, are now being hustled by publishing industry. I think I am totally done with purchased signed items.
ReplyDeleteWell, the answer there is simply that people will pay for them. These editions of "Doctor Sleep" sold out in 4.5 hours, apparently; Cemetery Dance made a nice chunk of change that day.
DeletePersonally, I don't get it. I have precisely one book that was signed by King, and while it's cool to have, I didn't buy it because of that; I bought it because it was the only way to buy the book at that time, and I didn't want to gamble on the story ("Stationary Bike") contained within it never appearing in one of King's collections. I bought the book for the story; the signature was a nice bonus, but that's all.
The only way a signature would have any real meaning for me is if I met the author and had him sign it in person. Even then, it would only be particularly meaningful if we had some sort of interaction that the signature would remind me of in the future. Otherwise, it's just ink on paper, and I am not particularly interested in that.
But some people are, and I don't begrudge them that. You, for example, seem very into having signed editions, and I say have at 'em.
The people I really DO have a problem with, though, are the investors, who buy these editions simply to flip them for a profit months or years down the line. I find those people to be utterly loathsome, because they are responsible for driving the prices up so that the real fans -- collectors like you -- end up having to pay more and more money to get what they want.
For that reason, amongst others, I never purchase signed editions for the signatures themselves. I purchase only when the book is otherwise unobtainable; or, perhaps, for the art. NEVER for the signature.
Is it just me, or is anyone else reminded of Philip k. Dick's Ubik by that spray can cover?
ReplyDeleteJust all it put me in mind of is all.
I will admit though that author signatures can be hard to understand for the unhyper-devoted.
For what it's worth, though, I came across my prized autograph copy of the one Dave Barry book that shaped my whole personality (aside from one other, and to be fair that one did come chronologically first)by more honest means, entirely by accidentin a Half Price store.
I wonder how many book folk live for something like that.
ChrisC
Seems like somewhere, I've got a signed book that I found in a thrift store. Can't remember who by, though.
DeletePeople get very excited for these limiteds, I usually buy the limited (gift editions, not signed) just for the artwork. The only books I have signed are the 2 secretary of dreams books. I decided to get one because I thought it was very unique.
ReplyDeleteI skipped this one bc I do not like the drawings.
On the other hand I bought a Robert McCammon (I travel by Night) signed limited for the same price of the gift edition of Dr. Sleep just bc Michael Whelan did the covert art.
-mike