Author of the Month!
Author James Lee Burke
John Sandford
Mystery, Thriller


 
Ask John 
 
Q;  Why collect books?
A:   Set aside the obvious...(read on)
 
Q:  Should Cussler's The Spy have a number line?
A:  Sometimes Putnam (read on)
 
Q:  What are tipped-in pages?
A:  Authors signing on (read on)
 
Have a question?  Let us know
Or check here!
 

 
What's Happening
 
Shipping
Barr - Burn
Cook - Cure
Crider - Murder in the Air
Crosby - Viognier Vendetta
Frevelett - Running from
Griffin - The Vigilantes
Kava - Damaged
Lippman - I'd Know You
Pearson - In Harm's Way
Robinson - Bad Boy
Unger - Fragile
 
Being Signed
Harrison - Eurostorm
Johansen - Shadow Zone
Brown - Tough Customer
Doetsch - Thieves of
Dryden - Moscow Sting
Francis - Crossfire*
Grace -
Death on the D-List
Hallinan - Queen of Patpong
Hilton - Judgment & Wrath
Kellerman - Hangman
Kenyon - No Mercy
Podrug/Gleason - 2012 Codex
Reichs - Spider Bones
Rosenfelt - Dog Tags
Sanderson - Way of Kings
Todd - An Impartial Witness
 
September
Archer - And Thereby Hangs
Black - Trail of Blood
Bruen - The Devil
Castle - Naked Heat*
Cornwell -
The Fort
Cussler - Lost Empire
Davis - Nemesis
dos Santos - Einstein Enigma
Evanovich - Wicked Appetite
Follett - Fall of Giants
Frey - Heaven's Fury
Hogan/del Toro - The Fall
Kenyon - Night Embrace
Kipps - Crystal Death
Krueger - Vermilion Drift
Martin - Late for School
Naslund - Adam & Eve
Oates - Sourland
Quinn - To Fetch a Thief
Sandford - Bad Blood
Spencer - Man in the Woods
Woods - Santa Fe Edge
 
October
Alten - Grim Reaper
Bell - Warlord
Cannell - Prostitute's Ball
Connelly - The Reversal
Coulter - Valcourt Heiress
Cussler/Scott - The Spy UK
Flynn - American Assassin
Grisham - The Confession
Jacobson - Velocity
Johansen - Chasing the Night
Kjoury - Templar Salvation
Leonard - Djibouti
Mayor - Red Herring
Parker - Painted Ladies*
Penny- 
Bury Your Dead
Wells - Mister Monster
Wilson - Fatal Error
Zuiker - Dark Prophecy
 
November
Cussler - Crescent Dawn
Jordan/Sanderson - Towers Midnight
 
2011
 
Cussler - Lost Empire UK
Finder - Buried Secrets
Rollins -  Devil Colony
Rollins - Jake Ransom

*Unsigned

 
 
Get Book Collector News
Email:
For Email Marketing you can trust
 
You are here: Home > Ask John!

VJ Books Answers Your Questions About Collecting Modern First Editions

John has been collecting modern first editions for over 30 years (you do the math) and offers his advice on how to get the most out of your book collecting experience. Whether you are collecting signed US first editions, (British) UK editions, Advanced Reading copies or simply looking for "readers", John is happy to offer his perspective on your collecting and reading habits!  If you would like to post a question for John please send an email to customerservice@vjbooks.com.  Don't forget to look through the FAQ pages on the site. We've covered our grading standards and other commonly used book collecting terms.
Why collect books? Are first editions printed without number lines?

Why collect books?

What do Clive Cussler's The Spy and John Sandford's Mortal Prey have in common?

How do I protect a dust jacket when it is see-through? How do personal inscriptions impact the value of a book?

Is there any way to cover the jacket, but still show the book board art?

Should I have my books personally inscribed?

More information about tip-in pages What are tipped-in pages?

More comments on tip-in pages

Do books signed on a tipped-in page have the same value as one where the signature is on the title page?

What is worth more, ARCs or unsigned first/first editions? Can you tell me if there were multiple colors of
boards printed on Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box?

Are these worth buying and adding to my collection or really are these just reading copies and I would be better with a first/first unsigned copy?

I have a question about my first edition book of Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Why does my book have uneven page edges? US or UK - Which is a true first?

The pages of my book are un-evenly bound and look pretty ragged.  Why?

US? or UK?  Identifying the true first edition of a book
A question regarding collecting first editions What value do remainder marked books have?
A question regarding collecting first editions
What is the value of remainder marked books?
Where do I place the book plate? What do you buy a book collector?
I recently received a book with a bookplate.  What do I do with the bookplate?  Do I paste it on the title page?
Virginia talks about what to buy the book collector (who has everything!)
A Question About Dust Jackets I'm Looking for Subterranean, Excavation and Deep Fathom by James Rollins
A Question About Dust Jackets
I'm Looking for Subterranean, Excavation and Deep Fathom by James Rollins
What is going on with the Wal-mart, Target and Amazon price wars? How to identify first editions and clarification on a Michael Crichton book
John comments on the Wal-mart, Target and Amazon price war
"I just got four signed first editions from you but only one says "First Edition" on the title page.  Please explain.  Also, I have a signed first of Michael Crichton's first book in leather, still in the original shrink wrap.  Any idea what it is worth?"
In what order should I read Jack DuBrul's books? Is there value in unsigned Stephen King books?
"In what order should I read Jack Dubrul's books?"
"Is there value in unsigned Stephen King books?"
Why do both hardcover and trade paper editions
of Robert McCammon's The Queen of Bedlam exist?
How are shipping and handling charges calculated?
"Why do both hardcover and trade paper editions of Robert McCammon's The Queen of Bedlam exist?
"When I order more than one book per order, how is the shipping and handling charges calculated when the books won't lay-down (arrive from the publisher) at the same time?"
What is the best way to care for my first editions? UK vs. US Editions
"What is the best way to care for my first editions and signed firsts?"
"I notice that UK editions generally are valued more than US editions. Is this because they are a shorter run, or just that books usually cost more in the UK?
James Rollins' books What is the value of a book plate?
"About early James Rollins titles..."
"What is the value of a book plate?"
What does an inscription do to the value of a book? Why do publishers create different jackets?
"What does an inscription do to the value of a book?"
"Why do publishers create different jackets for the same book?"  (Wayne, New Jersey)
What are your recommendations for buying and selling on eBay? Why do some publishers use uncut page edges in their binding?
"What are your recommendations for buying and selling on eBay?" (Betty, Australia)
"Why do some publishers use uncut page edges in their binding?" (Johnny, LA)
Do the words "First Edition" have to be on the copyright page? A question about Term Limits by Vince Flynn
"How do I tell if a book is a first edition.....? (Lance, Washington)
"Please help me with a question I have about one Vince Flynn book....(Ted, Alabama)
Booked To Die by John Dunning "Signed by the Author" stickers
"I was hoping that you could help me with a few facts about John Dunning's book - Booked to Die....(Karen, Alaska)
"Some signed first editions come with a sticker on the front of the book saying "signed copy" . . . (Dave, New Jersey)"
Why would a publisher walk away from a proven money maker? I would like to start collecting - What books do you recommend?
"Why would a publisher walk away from a proven money maker? ...(Judy, Texas)
"I would like to start collecting. I have an interest in economics, business and mystery writers. I would like to start with something affordable and am considering... (J. Conway, Vancouver BC)
I've just found a beautiful copy of Chiefs by Stuart Woods
"I just found a beautiful copy of Chiefs by Stuart Woods. I am confused about how to determine if it is a first edition." (E. Peters, London)
VJ Books

 About Us
 Become an Affiliate
 Privacy Policy
 Send Us Feedback
Company Info | Advertising| Product Index | Category Index | Help | Terms of Use
Copyright © 2007 VJ Books. All Rights Reserved.
Sell Online with Volusion.