Goodreads Ireland discussion

Based on recent chats with Gavin about his collection and Barbaras interesting story of having a true first of the first Harry Potter book I'd be interested to hear what collectables other memebers have, used to have or missed out on in the past.
What books take pride of place on your shelf (a good story can be better than it being valuable)
I try and collect limited editions and signed editions as well as a few antiques.

Great idea!

Well my signed limited edition of Patrick Rothfuss' Slow Regard of Silent Things arrived today and its a beautiful book. Lovely illustrations

Well my signed limited edition of Patrick Rothfuss' Slow Regard of Silent Things arrived today and its a beautiful book. Lovely illustrations

I have a few nice editions that I love. I have a first edition of Gaudy Night by DL Sayers which was a graduation present. It's one of my favourite novels.I also have some 1800s and early 1900s Dickens. My 1867 edition of Great Expectations is gorgeous and in great condition. I also have a special affection for any book I manage to get signed by the author at a signing. I have a few signed by John Boyne, John Connolly, Colin Bateman and Neil Gaiman. Another cool edition is my german first edition of Jane Eyre :-)

I have some near unknown editions as well . Trelawn bought me a beautiful and very rare early copy of A Treasury of Tales from Mary Shelley . I have never seen another copy or even edition available anywhere.
I have signed copies of the trade paper backs of Afrika Reich and Blood Song , technically worthless but I got both as thank yous for early reviews of both and sending the authors congrats on great debuts.

Great we are also talking about books we get signed by authors. I have quite a few, and they are special.
I wonder about books that are sold already signed. I always thought they couldn't be worth much as they seem to come signed from the publisher.

I suppose its like any collectable , demand and rarity will dictate the value. If the publishers send out thousands of signed copies value will initially be low ( John Connolly did 3000 copies if his last book for Waterstones) In other cases the number is smaller or the author is massively popular. I have a book signed by George RR Martin done this way but still easily worth 200-300 euro now because of his popularity

Since we're talking about sifning, John Green signed the first 150,000 copies of The Fault in our Stars. Must have been torture

I've hrard stories similar to that for some authors. Theres some Terry Pratchett first editions where an unsigned edition is massively rarer than a signed one.For Ocean at the End of the Lane Neil Gaiman signed 10,000 books in one day

Kevin wrote: "Since we're talking about sifning, John Green signed the first 150,000 copies of The Fault in our Stars. Must have been torture"

Not just John, Hank and the Yeti did so also as promised.
Heck they do sign a lot Hank and John that is at the DFTBA wearhouse.
Sure Johns signing at Leaky when of for close to 3 hours.

I am bummed i didn't get one of those first editions with a hanklerfish and a Yeti

i have a few books i bought signed, and then all my Darren Shan books were signed in person some are personalised bar the most recent ones as he has not returned to Galway yet.
Also Derek Landy books bar the final one again because i missed him in Galway.

Gavin wrote: "i have a few books i bought signed, and then all my Darren Shan books were signed in person some are personalised bar the most recent ones as he has not returned to Galway yet.
Also Derek Landy bo..."

The mention of personalized books brings up a question I had. I had read that personalized books can be more than books that are simply signed. Anyone know?

Personalised books usually bear the owners name. So instead of just signing a book "john smith" it might read "to mary with best wishes, joe smith" I assume that's what you mean.

Sorry did you mean worth more? My brain is on a go slow. personalised books often don't have the same value for collectors, the prefer them to be just signed. John Connolly wouldn't personalise my uncorrected proof because he said it would affect the value of it. not that i have any intention of selling it

In the short term dedicted signed books are worth less unless its to someone famous. If its lined , as in the author writes an observation or something relating to the book it increases the value. Same goes for if they draw a picture or doodle. Really old signed books generally arent worth less if they are signed to someone

I'm sure you get one of those on ebay or something if you really wanted one, Gavin.

Jees this whole signing business is complex. I'd be telling them to just give me the feckin' book and let me read it :P

Kevin wrote: "I'm sure you get one of those on ebay or something if you really wanted one, Gavin.

Jees this whole signing business is complex. I'd be telling them to just give me the feckin' book and let me re..."

let's just say i may have found a Yeti / John one :P

Yep Kevin its not just a quick pen to paper.
A book can be signed , lined , dated , doodled, dedicated , numbered , lettered, and in all combinations which vary value.

"found" sounds very incriminating, Gavin :)

That's nuts Paul but then again I've not been to many signings or literary events to really know.

ah Abebooks to the rescue i have emailed the seller with a picture of the Yeti and Johns signature to find out if that is what is on it.
But harder to find one with a Hanklerfish also well i already have that lol

oh well that was a bust it ended up being a Hanklerfish and not the Yeti one.
Shall keep going till i find the Yeti ;) http://tinyurl.com/Yeti-John

Its what can make it all fun Kevin. Variety makes it interesting when you get something odd. I have a fantasy book set in London where I asked the author to draw me his favourite building (I get a great interpretation of the Shard) and as far as I know its the only signed book he has drawn in.

Enjoy the hunt Gavin. Every captain need their white whale

I have a couple of books by Allen Say Home of the Brave and Drawing from Memory and he always adds a doodle when he signs a book.

Well with recent events I did a review of my Terry Pratchett shelves. I have 4 quite collectable signed forst editions as well as two signed maps and two signed later editions.
I also have a few very rare books unsigned, a first edition of Colour of Magic (most fans and collectors can only get the Josh Kirby artwork edition) and an almost complete set of tre Discworld Diaries , mostbof which go for 100 to 150 euro these days.
There a gew other nice collectables mixe in there but thats the cream of the collection.
Currently mulling over wether or not to order a signed first edition of Brandon Sandersons Words of Radiance

How much is the signed first ed of Words of Radiance? I like the white gollanc cover better than the first editions though.

It's 18 sterling not including postage .

Well that's a completely justifiable price. Whats the link so I can steal it from you? :)

Its Forbidden planet .com
. The delivery to Ireland for it is very high because of weight though so if I order it I'll do it through parcel motel ( difference of about 15 euro overall i think)

Just had a gander there I didn't realise that edition was a first edition copy as it is the one I have as well. If I had known then I might have got it there but unfortunately I couldn't justify duplicating it on my shelf, signed or not :(

Although, The Stormlight Archive would be a good series to start collecting...

Mores the pity. Next Sanderson release I'll keep am eye out and let you know

I 've only one signed Sanderso book , Mitosis so I'll look to add to it. I had a preorder for the special edition of Legion Skin Deep but Amazon screwed my order so I missed out as it was limited and now they sell for about 100 euro so I'm well annoyed.

Check this out, http://store.brandonsanderson.com/sig...
Looks promising.

That is a painful price increase. It's unusual for Amazon to mess things up as well.

Check the delivery costs . Had a look before

There's no words of radiance though and they aren't the white gollanc editions. I'll be keeping a keen eye on Sanderson and all his releases from now on, thanks Paul.

They are nearly all the US first editions. The UK tend to be the White Gollancz and a bit rarer. Forbidden Planet yend to always carry a few when they come out first as well as Anderida and one or two other dealers. Or he always tours the UK if you can make the trip

The shipping works out at about 25 euro of so, which isn't terribly outrageous unless I am miscalculating. I'll mull it over for a day or two and see what happens. That Stormlight Series is going to get extremely popular one of these days.

Its all ready quite the cult following.

Feck it, I bought the signed Gollanc, who needs to eat meat this week anyway? :)

Is that the one from Forbidden Planet

Yup. I tried to buy it anyway, something up with my card and it wouldn't let me confirm the order. Unfortunately they don't accept paypal either. I'll sort it tomorrow.

Delivery is expensive at 18 quid. Do you have a parcel notel nearby . If you do set up an account , send it to parcel motels Antrim address and they'll bring it down. It'll halve the delivery cost , 5.50 sterling plus 3.50euro .

Signed copy of the buried giant arrived today. The cover is straightforward but I like it.

I went for the US edition of the Buried Giant as I thought tfe cover was much nicer.
Where did you order your copy from .

Goldsboro in London. I like both versions really and I like how it comes with a plastic film over the book itself. I doubt I'll take it off it.

Goldsboro are great for that. Its nice to have a book arrive burried in bubble wrap.
I'm waiying for a limited edition from them called Knights Shadow by Sebastian De Castell

Do you only ever use parcel motel for UK deliveries? It is a smart way around the P&P alright.

I've only used for deliveries where theres a bug difference between UK and Ireland drlivery. For some things , including books it can be as much as 20 euro.
I don't use it for all UK orders though. Theres a collection point near home and one near the job so its handy enoygh