@RC65. You are right with smaller writers to even unknown writers taking a hit. I didn't want to write a novel going into too much detail. The more established writers or iconic historical ones stayed the same with pricing.
All I'm hoping that when the time comes to pass the King books on, they will be worth what I paid for or have appreciated in value. I collect because of who King is, but also as a minor investment down the road. Hopefully two birds with one stone if you will.
Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. Edgar Allan Poe
I still consider myself a beginning collector, and I really only do it because I enjoy doing it, I don't pay a LOT of attention to the daily ups and downs of each edition. Most of what I have has generally held close to the amount that I paid EXCEPT for Revival.....but I did receive excellent customer service. To be fair, at the time I bought it, none of us knew how many of these would be out there, so no ill will. I can only hope that I can continue to find good deals and flesh out my collection while SK is still active, and that his books do find a cross-generation appeal, which does seem to be happening.
My husband may not be aware of Bett's, but he certainly knows of the time I spend here, and that this would be the place to go to start DEALING with the collection if I wasn't around to do so. I'll be going over it a bit more with him (AND getting a more specific insurance rider) before too long since I'll hopefully have the Hodges Trilogy completed and the collection is getting a little more significant than I want to leave to just a general Renter's Insurance policy.
Okay, I'm rambling, as usual.
WANTED
US 1st Printings. I have THESE
#92 IT Portfolio (or the #95 IT to swap for the #92 that I have)
Any #95 SK-related Cemetery Dance Edition
Any #7 PS Publishing Edition
Sleeping Beauties: Signed Tour version.
I don't look at my books as an investment. Perhaps as a savings account.
I don't know what will happen with the King market, but I do know what has happened to other authors book values after they die. Hint: You probably don't want to know.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
I collect pop culture items across different genres, and I've found what keeps me engaged and my wallet happy, is a culling of the herd every 12 - 24 months. It creates cash flow for other needful things, and gives me pause to reflect upon the pieces that are genuine 'keepers'. These dozen or so pieces keep making the cut year after year, and my several signed copies of (fill in the blank), or sketch image of (fill in the blank hot artist) find their way to market. Sometimes I make back more than I spent, but I often leave meat on the bone for a new collector. My real money is tied up in the retirement plans for my wife and me that other members have mentioned. Our lives together living comfortably will always bring a smile to my face, more than pieces of paper, if truth be told. Oh, and never, ever borrow money for a collectible, in my humble opinion - the, "I just gotta have it or I'll die" feelings usually pass after about 48 hours.
Dan
Good health to all!!!
I wanted some opinions on this. Would this be considered mold, mildew and/or foxing? And is this something a book restoration professional could clean up. Or perhaps just return the book. Thanks.
I struggle with the future of "hardcopy" books. I consider myself a pretty savvy and intelligent person but I cannot for the life of me figure out if traditional books lose value or gain value when the new digital "paper" comes out and other technology that makes books semi-obsolete. (Think endless battery power on a projected book page image or plastic screen that is portable/foldable (both created, but not ready for primetime). Things that are even more portable than EReaders/Ipads/etc... like digital viewing contacts (already created) or just built into your retina king of tech.
When children have grown up without really ever using traditional hardcopy books, will traditional hardcopy books be worth more as a whole or less than today?
I think LESS overall, but MORE for specific sought authors. The world is growing and there are 10x more people that have money and have never really read King, but will love him when they discover him. I think limited supply as demand grows due to larger pools of people will naturally increase prices on authors that stand the test of time.
Looking at where pop culture has/is going it would seem logical to me that King has sticking power. Surprisingly, growing up I thought Tolkien would really stand the test of time (he has), but I would argue that Tolkien is/has peaking/peaked. Don't get me wrong, I grew up in the Tolkien world. I am a huge fan. I think that the more traditional fairy tale world loses it's pull to new minds though.
I think beyond the normal viewing items of future generations (kids programming/world is a happy place childhood indoctrination) we will see the Space (Heinlein, Asimov, etc....) and the Horror (King, Barker, etc...) genres last even beyond the medium they relied on for so many years.
There is so much content battling for bandwidth and space in our minds these days that I think if you have to rank the content you will seek out (consciously or not) then traditional fairy tale genres lose steam in the new world vs fictional but maybe plausible somehow storylines like Space/Alt Reality/Horror genres which can all be intertwined even. Tolkien's detail and storytelling will probably keep him around, but I think some of the greats disappear into oblivion as technology pushes them out of new viewers' interest and frame of reference as they grow into being an adult. (This is years out don't forget...not saying in next 10 years necessarily even.)
Long way of wondering just what will happen to the value....
Foxing would affect all exposed edges since it is the oxidized mineral/chemical content of the paper. If this is only on top then it's some kind of shmutz.
Depending on the depth of damage it might be possible to sand it clean. I doubt that would be the wisest course of action though.
If you can return it then you probably should and just wait for a better copy.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
Everything is cyclical. Look at 3-D movies. Popular in the 1950's, the 1980's and the 2010's. Vinyl is popular again now. If books ever went away completely they would be back again someday.
Thanks for the feedback. I was trying to determine if in fact it's mold or mildew or just dirt. If the former, I wouldn't hesitate to return it. If it's just dirt or staining of some sort I would consider getting it cleaned because it's a rare proof (non-King) and signed as well. There are no other copies that I know of. So that's also why I'm even bothering with it and not just returning it. I think I may just end up sending it back though.
Smell the book. If it's mold, you'll know.
Smelling mold isn't advisable -- you can inhale spores.
Author of The Road to the Dark Tower, Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work, Life, and Influences and The Dark Tower Companion. Co-editor with Stephen King of the anthology Flight or Fright.
Is the staining on all edges, or just the top?
Edit. It loooks like foxing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxing
That's a classic example of foxing. I've seen it quite a bit from my Arkham collecting. It often affects one side of the text block more than others.
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????
Wanted:
'Salem's Lot Portfolio #606
Fairy Tale UK S/L
I'm having a shadowbox table built for my budding collection and was wondering what all of you guys and gals have for a display setup. Posting pics may help me with ideas and would be appreciated!
"No two persons ever read the same book." - Edmund Wilson
There is a bookcase thread that might help. http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/...6425-Bookcases
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/...11-Collections
This is a thread containg many members collections with excellent photos. Some of the best collections in the world are shown off here. The only caveat is that you must be prepared to spend a lot of time browsing!!
"Thanks, but no, it isn't a cowboy hat. It's a fedora. And yes, Indianna Jones is still socially relevant."
It probably wouldn't hurt to bag them.
I subscribe to the idea of foxing being the mineral/chemical content of the paper reacting with the environment. Primarily oxidation often aided by humidity. That won't transfer between books.
There are also various oils, soiling and shmutz that can discolor page blocks usually on the top of the page block. I don't call that foxing. That won't transfer either.
There are fungi and molds that can attack books and leave blemishes too. I wouldn't call that foxing but since it looks similar others do. If there is live fungi or mold then it can certainly spread. You can kill it with rubbing alcohol. Blot don't wipe. Don't overwet.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????