The
true hallmark of any collection is its completeness. This is
particularly true of book collections. Yes, one could argue that owning
those self-published tomes that the author sold from the trunk of their
car is an unnecessary expense,
or that those later editions resold in collections are not required by
the serious collector. But, I have to disagree and conclude that my
Cloak and Dagger edition of Vince Flynn's Term Limits and the smartly
produced collections of his first 12 thrillers enhance my collection.
It
is often implied that completeness rings of obsession and that those so
inflicted need to seek professional help in hopes of gaining
perspective or choice. Well, not so! After all, you do have the
ability to make choices . . . you can choose "this or that," or "now or
later, can't you?
In Biblioholism author Tom Raabe offers, "What - another
addiction? Don't we have enough addictions to worry about - drugs,
alcohol, nicotine, gambling, eating, not eating, shopping, shoplifting,
sex, chocolate, work, television watching, fitness, religion, and who
knows what else - without having to worry about books too? Is there a
more enjoyable activity in all of life's experience than the reading and
loving of books?"
No
collection can even be considered marginally complete when your sole
copy of a title isn't the "true first." After all, what value resides
(other than holding the spot on the shelf) in an edition that was
released days or weeks after the title's first appearance?
This
gets confusing when considering US or UK releases. Sometimes it takes a
real expert to determine which laid down first. Some purists have
resolved this issue by collecting both US and UK firsts. This doesn't
resolve in which order to shelve them, but that may be a little
obsessive (I just rotate them from time-to-time). Others just pass on
the UK, after all 'we are no longer the colonies!" I do have to say
though, that I truly love my UK first editions of Michael Connelly's Black Echo, Stephen Hunter's The Master Sniper, and David Morrell's First Blood, just to name a few, but then, I am a serious collector.
So,
to expand your choices, and help free you from being labeled a nut
case, we are giving you choices. You can choose the UK editions you
wish to own now (rather than later), and at a discount (rather than at
full price). But you'd better choose quickly because hesitation or
procrastination are other serious conditions that should be seriously
avoided.
Your sanity (and mine) are intact!
Good reading,
John
New Arrivals
