Limited Editions: Their Reasons for Being

[fleggett]

Be prepared to completely demolish your bank account when pursuing Phantasia letters. I didn't know PP had even produced lettered editions until a few years ago when I was researching David Brin's Uplift series. They were never solicited to the general public and, to my knowledge, were only given or sold to authors, industry insiders, relatives, and friends. I would kill to get ahold of letters of Startide Rising and The Uplift War, but will have to "settle" for my numbered editions, as the letters are far, far too expensive for my wallet. Good luck with your search, though. Here's one to get you started:

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...=1983&yrl=1983

$1,500 is the cheapest one there. Interestingly, Phantasia is also the publisher that produced the infamous asbestos Firestarter.

[frik51]

Thanks for the link. Those are some of the most expensive lettered editions I've ever seen. If I woudln't have bought the lettered IT, I might have considered buying one. Not now, though.
Ah, yes, the asbestos Firestarter. Although I love limited King editions, that one has never been too high on my list. Can't really explain why not.

sk

[bsaenz24]

Ah, yes, the asbestos Firestarter. Although I love limited King editions, that one has never been too high on my list. Can't really explain why not.

sk

Maybe it's because that whole asbestos/cancer connection is such a turn off!!!!

[HorrorScribe]

Regarding CD's lettered editions, I've never bought a grab bag, but you're right, they do sometimes throw in letters with those. However, you might wind-up with something for which you don't particularly care.

Because I'm not much a risk-taker when it comes to spending my money on unknown items, I tend to shy away from the CD grab bags as tempting as most of them are. Really, really tempting. So tempting that I agonize over purchasing one for several nights whenever they're announced. However, the next time a 50% off coupon code is offered, I'll do some serious lettered edition searching on the CD site and perhaps finally take the plunge. How refreshing and cathartic that will be!

[Tree705]

Because I'm not much a risk-taker when it comes to spending my money on unknown items, I tend to shy away from the CD grab bags as tempting as most of them are. Really, really tempting. So tempting that I agonize over purchasing one for several nights whenever they're announced. However, the next time a 50% off coupon code is offered, I'll do some serious lettered edition searching on the CD site and perhaps finally take the plunge. How refreshing and cathartic that will be!

I think I have two lettered copies of In Laymons Terms coming (maybe one of the boys can verify this) if so I'll let you have first dibs on the extra if you like. Don't know if I would do 50% off but I could let it go for less then retail.

[fleggett]

That's one helluvan offer, HorrorScribe. I'd grab that in a heartbeat, especially if Rich is willing to let it go for less than the MSRP.

[fleggett]

Because I'm not much a risk-taker when it comes to spending my money on unknown items, I tend to shy away from the CD grab bags as tempting as most of them are.

In my case, I've purchased almost everything in which I'm interested. And those that I haven't purchased, but want, I'm pretty certain won't turn up in any grab bag, like a letter of Gideon's Sword, Legacies, or The Dark Tower: The Complete Concordance. And if, by some miracle, they were in a grab bag, they'd probably be PC copies, which I don't collect.

If you don't want a grab bag, but are interested in diving into the wild and wooly world of lettered collecting, I'd wait for one of Mindy's promo codes UNLESS it's a title that's going to sell out fast, like It or Full Dark, No Stars. I'm really surprised there are letters of The Mailman left (with the 25% off code, that would bring the price down to $300).

[HorrorScribe]

I think I have two lettered copies of In Laymons Terms coming (maybe one of the boys can verify this) if so I'll let you have first dibs on the extra if you like. Don't know if I would do 50% off but I could let it go for less then retail.

That is a very generous offer, Rich. However, I don't think I can go for it right now. Got a septic system to repair, two vehicles that need to be replaced before October, etc. I do sincerely appreciate the first dibs on the extra copy, though.

***He weeps a few silent tears as he hits the "Post Quick Reply" button before he can change his mind.***

[Brian James Freeman]

Interestingly, Phantasia is also the publisher that produced the infamous asbestos Firestarter.

Oddly enough, the gentleman who designed and printed and bound that edition now works for my printer of choice for Cemetery Dance, and I was just talking to him last week about some upcoming projects... it's a small world!

Brian

[peteOcha]

Oddly enough, the gentleman who designed and printed and bound that edition now works for my printer of choice for Cemetery Dance, and I was just talking to him last week about some upcoming projects... it's a small world!

Brian

Nice! I sense incoming asbestos Cemetery Dance editions!

[Dan Hocker]

Nice! I sense incoming asbestos Cemetery Dance editions!

Nah asbestos isn't toxic enough. I was thinking like arsenic laced editions.....

[bsaenz24]

Nah asbestos isn't toxic enough. I was thinking like arsenic laced editions.....

Oh Dan!!! You've forgotten the first rule of publishing: Dead customers buy no books!!

[RJK1981]

Oh Dan!!! You've forgotten the first rule of publishing: Dead customers buy no books!!

They could make interesting story characters in the books though

[pixie]

Like a lot of you, I'm a huge fan of the limited edition. I don't necessarily think of myself as a collector (other than of the CD Signature Series) because I read every single limited edition that I purchase. However, neither do I consider myself to be a casual reader of these finely produced books. I fall somewhere between these two categories. Perhaps I'll call myself an Admirer.

With that in mind, I've recently contemplated why limited editions exist. Well, for several reasons as we all know:

1. For true collectors
2. For horror enthusiasts
3. To bring some awesome books back into print
4. To create a special version of certain books that have become significant to horror over the years
5. To generate excitement and something of value for those lucky enough to have purchased a world's first edition of a book by a big name author in the field
6. For aesthetic purposes
7. And, damn it, because the spectacular limited edition publishers are helping to keep these extraordinary physical treasures alive; there's nothing like holding a Ray Garton limited edition novel (for example), opening up the cover to the signature sheet, and then immersing oneself in the rich prose that follows on actual pages that the reader has to flip.

I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons as well. Feel free to share your thoughts and reactions. I'm eager to learn what other people think about this topic.

I want to disagree with the statement of "for true collectors" I don't own any limited editions or lettered edtions, I can't afford them. I do own lots of gift editions. Does not owning any expensive limited editons make me less of a collector than anybody else?

[folgersnyourcup]

I want to disagree with the statement of "for true collectors" I don't own any limited editions or lettered edtions, I can't afford them. I do own lots of gift editions. Does not owning any expensive limited editons make me less of a collector than anybody else?

I would say absolutely not.