wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (07/10/85)
A couple questions relating to the value (in terms of prices to collectors) of hardcover books: 1) I've seen paperback value guides, but about all I've ever seen covering hardbacks were reports of book auctions (stuff our local library's bibliography department had). Since I am particularily interested in the value of some SF hardbacks I have, and these cover everything since printing was invented and seem to neglect modern stuff, especially such looked-down-upon genres as SF, they aren't very useful. I believe some dealers publish catalogs, maybe in tabloid form (I have one old catalog in such a format), which might be useful as a price/value guide -- main problem is that they are not comprehensive -- just has what the dealer happens to have in stock at the moment. Would anyone recommend any particular dealers' catalogs for this purpose? So, can anyone recommend sources of values for SF hardbacks? 2) Are there any SF Book Club editions that are collectible/rare/etc. and therefore higher-valued than run-of-the-mill reading-copy prices? Or are any SFBC editions just worth a couple dollars or so? Thanks for any info! Regards, Will Martin USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA
wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (07/10/85)
A specific question, if anyone out there has some sort of value-guide to hardbacks, or dealers' catalogs which list this one: I recall reading this book when I was very young, getting it from the local library, and being impressed with it. I recently came across a mint-condition (practically) copy of it, and I would think it would be somewhat rare. It is: MEN OF OTHER PLANETS by Kenneth Heuer, published by Pellegrini & Cudahy, New York, 1951. It is a delightful book, full of fascinating woodcut-style illustrations, depicting various forms of intelligent lifeforms designed to live under the conditions then envisiaged (1940's vintage scientific thought) to exist on other planets in the Solar System, plus some rather wild speculation as to forests on the dark side of the moon, creatures living in the Sun, etc. Does anyone else recall reading this book back in the early 50's? It must have had quite an impact, for I remembered it (vaguely) ever since, and I recognized the title and book instantly when I saw it in a pile of books for sale. If anyone can find any reference to this book having some collectible value, I'd appreciate their sending or posting any info they can find. Thanks much! Will Martin USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA