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Author
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Topic: 'Return To Earth' by Buzz Aldrin
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crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-11-2011 10:48 AM
   
Return To Earth by Buzz Aldrin was published by Random House in 1973. I am on a mission, one of several, to obtain every book by an astronaut or anybody directly associated with space exploration. I try to get hold of first editions and avoid book club editions but this title is proving tricky. I have two copies already and have seen several others in second-hand bookstores and they all are 'Book Club Editions' (BCE). Does anyone have a copy that is not a BCE? The words "Book Club Edition" are printed on the front inside of the dustjacket. The books all have a 'feathered' appearance to the pages which doesn't really make the book look that good but I guess it was a topical feature in the early 70's. |
Sceptic1
Member Posts: 23
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 02-11-2011 05:02 PM
In case you don't already know of it, try AbeBooks. I have no personal connection with them, but find their search engine invaluable in tracking down rare and out-of-print books. Good luck! |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-11-2011 09:50 PM
I have a copy of the first "trade" edition, which is not a book club edition. It's not that hard to find. I've seen many copies over the years, although it is elusive in fine condition. |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-12-2011 10:52 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Sceptic1:
In case you don't already know of it, try AbeBooks.
Thanks for the link. I have looked at AbeBooks before but their postage charges put me off. They seem to be set by the selling bookshop and so vary hugely. I tend to use Alibris who have a standard delivery charge regardless of where it comes from. The problem seems to lie with the book description. Most of the sellers miss out the detail that it's a BCE. I reckon most of them simply miss it as it is only on the dustjacket. I have purchased two copies so far where BCE was not mentioned and lo that's what turned up. quote:
Originally posted by Gilbert:
I have a copy of the first "trade" edition, which is not a book club edition.
Was your 'trade' book published by Random House? I guess it was. The problem as I mentioned above is that the sellers just fail to mention the BCE gem. I really don't want anymore of them. I have now found a few non-BCE copies but the price is set at a premium. Thanks for the info guys. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-12-2011 11:06 AM
I have a copy of the Book Club Edition with the "feathered" pages. (I'm glad to know it's not just my copy!) I also have a copy of the "proper" book, marked "First Edition" and the numbers "98765432" (What exactly is the significance of those numbers?)For a book which is 38 years old, it (and the dust-cover) are in decent condition. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 02-12-2011 12:56 PM
If the description does not mention BCE or BCOM then you can send a note to the seller asking for further information. There is usually a contact button on the info page from ABE or Alibris. I have had no problem in getting more information from sellers, all you have to do is ask. quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
What exactly is the significance of those numbers?
Those are the print run numbers. You can have a first edition but if the number line has a three as the lowest number in it, then it is a first edition third printing. The number line does not have to be sequential 123 etc. if it has a 1 in it it is generally a first printing. Random House does not use the 1 but starts with a 2 as a first printing. Some will use letters but that is rare. |
bookcollector
Member Posts: 27
From: North Carolina, US of A
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 02-12-2011 08:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by fredtrav:
Random House does not use the 1 but starts with a 2 as a first printing. Some will use letters but that is rare.
One slight addition, if I may. Random must also have the "First Edition" slug present to be a first printing. The number line alone designates a second.Hey! I actually contributed to the board! Happy day! |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-13-2011 03:42 AM
quote:
Originally posted by fredtrav:
If the description does not mention BCE or BCOM then you can send a note to the seller asking for further information.
Believe you me I have asked. Curiously I haven't previously had replies. I have another enquiry out at the moment so let's see if they come back to me. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 02-13-2011 11:08 AM
Try Biblio.com. They have seller contact info and you can call the seller and ask directly. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-13-2011 01:59 PM
Thanks to both of you - now I can be sure that my copy is a first edition/first printing. It's probably not quite good enough quality to be valuable, but since it's not for sale that doesn't matter. Purely out of academic interest, what might a first edition/first printing copy be worth in good/very good condition? |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-14-2011 02:45 AM
Thanks for that fredtrav. I hadn't spotted that before, and it may go some way to sorting out some of my .....issues. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 02-19-2011 05:56 PM
I have two copies of the book and, upon seeing your post, made a note to check on them. It turns out there is one of each -- a book club edition and a non-book club copy.Couple of years ago, when going out the door to one of the Apollo 11 40th anniversary events, I grabbed one copy, which Buzz Aldrin signed later at the event. Turns out the signed copy is the non-book club version. Guess I got lucky with a 50/50 chance of selecting the better choice for signing. |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-20-2011 04:19 AM
Glint, definitely a good pick of the two! I sent a question out to a bookstore asking about their copy for sale. No reply after several days and so I called them up... yes, it's a BCE. And of course there was no mention whatsoever in the description. Very frustrating. |
bookcollector
Member Posts: 27
From: North Carolina, US of A
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 02-20-2011 05:45 PM
Crash, I was thinking of you when I ran across a 1st/1st trade edition of Men from Earth at a flea market this afternoon for five bucks. I'm away from home until day after tomorrow. If you'd like to send me an e-mail, I'll be happy to send it on to you for cost and postage, which might not actually be such a good deal with the cost of shipping across the pond.  Dust jacket and book are in better than average condition, probably what most dealers would call "Good". Not an immaculate copy, but better than none at all, and it is a true first. After I get home I can send you some images if you'd like. Let me know if you're interested. |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-21-2011 02:36 AM
That is very generous of you. Of course, the answer is 'Yes please'. I don't see an e-mail address for you so if you don't mind can you look up my profile and send me one?I am in the US regularly so I can give you a domestic address for delivery. That will make life a lot easier. Many many thanks. |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 03-01-2011 09:14 AM
I would like to thank bookcollector for very kindly obtaining, and sending, me a First Edition of Return To Earth. You're description didn't do it justice and I am very happy with it.For any others interested, the regular non-BCE Random House version is virtually identical to the BCE. The differences are restricted to the words 'Book Club Edition' on the inside corner of the front DJ, the print detail page and the horrible page 'feathering'. Everything else is just the same. So quite easy to mistake the two versions. |
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