What is Found: wasn't looking for it, might be valuable, might just be cool, might remind us of something completely different. It never gets old.
Found
What is Found: wasn't looking for it, might be valuable, might just be cool, might remind us of something completely different. It never gets old.
(Much) older than I usually find in the thrift shops. A reminder that it's a good time to visit your local Goodwill or Etc., and see what was donated at year-end.
What is FOUND?
The sequel to....Spoiler:
Ha!Originally Posted by needfulthings
The sequel to....Spoiler:
Maybe... I was browsing earlier and saw an older thread about having had a collection and putting it back together years later. But more like, for all the time I spend in thrift and used book stores, every once it a while I find something that's a gem, at least to me. Today, looking through the sad mass of romance and old sf&f mass-market paperbacks, there was Sissy Spacek, a cover I hadn't seen in years.
My wife found an original hand painted Disney animation cel from Sleeping Beauty at a goodwill once, but it was in terrible shape. It was all warped and flaking paint and looked like it had been either heat or water damaged or both. It had a 2 dollar price tag on it and we almost didn't buy it because of how messed up it was. Neither of us knew anything about animation cels and it looked like total shit, but in the end we bought it because we figured 'what the hell?' Plus everything Disney is collectible. Turns out you can restore those things and it went for almost 500 dollars at auction on eBay! That was a sweet find.
Found
I only Had this once , still waiting for that s/l in the 1$ book boxbut I bought very nice dust collectors in NY at a flee market once. 4 metal bars with the 4 seasons on them, Chinese artwork.
At this time, They cost me a fortune with 25USD each, but I loved the artwork. 6 years later it Turned out that they are 260gram of 950/1000 silver each , so this was nice
We've found several interesting Disney items; the best were a pair of hand-painted cels from the Disney Vacation Club, $5 each. We still have one, but sold the other for $75. The latest find was a vintage sericel from "Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip." Not a real bargain at $30, but still well-under the current value.
I don't think we've ever had anything with precious metals, but I love Asian artwork and have picked up several original pieces and a number of auction and collection catalogs (I have a thing for catalogs.) Back in the heyday of Easton Press, we had one find of several signed editions, but the only signed/limited that I can recall was a copy of the Underwood/Miller FLOATING DRAGON, but Peter Straub. It was VG only, but for $1....I only Had this once , still waiting for that s/l in the 1$ book box
At this time, They cost me a fortune with 25USD each, but I loved the artwork. 6 years later it Turned out that they are 260gram of 950/1000 silver each , so this was nice
FOUND at a garage sale all four Stephen King scripts for The Stand (1994 T.V. Mini-Series) for under $10.00. (unbound)
Very cool!FOUND at a garage sale all four Stephen King scripts for The Stand (1994 T.V. Mini-Series) for under $10.00. (unbound)
Many years ago while shopping at a 2nd hand book store for books for my movie tie-in collection found 5 books (don't remember what they were now) but was told by the store owner to pick out a FREE book... Having already checked his entire stock & thinking I would find nothing that would interest me. But to my surprise I had overlooked this 1947 non-movie tie-in gem.
Spoiler:
Over the course of the last week, we've picked up first edition/first printing copies of two significant novels: GRRM's A GAME OF THRONES and Patrick Rothfuss' THE NAME OF THE WIND.
Both are well-used copies, and both are lacking the dustjackets, but they are not ex-library copies neither is really hideous. Thinking about looking into having them rebound and having custom slipcases made for them; the question is whether it's really worth it: the pageblocks are not pristine, and the rebinding is expensive. The alternative would be the sell them as they are, and realize a fraction of the values that fine copies would bring.
Thoughts?
I am going through the same thought process with another book. I bought an ex-lib copy of Carrie just for the nice dust jacket which I plan to put on a nice, jacketless copy that I also bought cheaply. I am considering a custom binding job on the text block as the only library stamps are on the top and bottom page edges. I'm looking into seeing if these can be sanded (or something).
As none of these books (Carrie, AGOT or The Name of the Wind) are ultra high dollar books (compared to Gone With The Wind, Dracula, To Kill A Mockingbird, etc.) the proposed binding would need to be ultra cool to make the book desirable. I think that just a leather binding with raised hubs, etc., etc. would not make the book unique or attractive enough to recoup the cost. This is just my opinion.
However, an artistic project with a stunningly unique front board might make for a real treasure. One would need to perhaps consult more than one binder, get opinions or proposals, and then decide what to do, if anything. I'm just rambling here but these are the thoughts I am having with my copy of Carrie.
Edit: check out this website and scroll through their "gallery." It gives an idea of what I am talking about. I might call them. I have no idea how much something like this would cost.
http://www.hhbookservices.com/gallery
Thanks for the response (and the link).I am going through the same thought process with another book. I bought an ex-lib copy of Carrie just for the nice dust jacket which I plan to put on a nice, jacketless copy that I also bought cheaply. I am considering a custom binding job on the text block as the only library stamps are on the top and bottom page edges. I'm looking into seeing if these can be sanded (or something).
As none of these books (Carrie, AGOT or The Name of the Wind) are ultra high dollar books (compared to Gone With The Wind, Dracula, To Kill A Mockingbird, etc.) the proposed binding would need to be ultra cool to make the book desirable. I think that just a leather binding with raised hubs, etc., etc. would not make the book unique or attractive enough to recoup the cost. This is just my opinion.
However, an artistic project with a stunningly unique front board might make for a real treasure. One would need to perhaps consult more than one binder, get opinions or proposals, and then decide what to do, if anything. I'm just rambling here but these are the thoughts I am having with my copy of Carrie.
Edit: check out this website and scroll through their "gallery." It gives an idea of what I am talking about. I might call them. I have no idea how much something like this would cost.
http://www.hhbookservices.com/gallery
You have hit on it exactly: I might argue about CARRIE, but as much as I and many have enjoyed the Martin and Rothfuss, they are not in the pantheon, at least not yet.
Also, part of my issue is how poorly constructed these books are to begin with, and the desire to see them properly put together and presented. But I guess we'll need to leave that to the speciality presses.
Wow, that is a cool website with some really sharp looking books. If you ever have anything bound there, please post some pictures!
The star of the weekend:
We always have an eye of for stuff with a vintage vibe. This one is from 1978, the hardcover state of a simultaneous HC/TPB release. Jacket condition is abysmal, but the comps--even for the paperback version--are ridiculous.
A good day (yesterday) at the local Goodwill:
CAREER OF EVIL, Robert Galbraith (US 1st/1st)
THE SON, Jo Nesbo (signed US first)
POLICE, Jo Nesbo (signed US first)
I've enjoyed the Galbraith books, but hadn't bought one yet so a $1 reading copy was a treat. The Nesbos are for resale, decent used copies and always a pleasant surprise to turn up signed copies from major authors at this price point.
Great thread! Here's some recent stuff that I FOUND. Truthfully, most of the stuff in my collection is FOUND. I very rarely order anything. As you said, finding things you weren't looking for never gets old.
Spaceways #1 thru #7. Spaceways was a series of 19 Playboy paperback originals (1982 - 1984) written by John Cleve (pseudonym of Andrew J. Offutt). These are a wonderfully fun mix of Flash Gordon-style Sci-fi and erotica. Offutt wrote a bunch of now hard-to-find paperback erotica in the early 70's, as well as some pretty good fantasy books (including some great additions to the Conan cannon). The first four Spaceways are quite hard to find in good condition and sell for a pretty penny online. FOUND these at a used book store for $3 a piece. Lucky me.
The original 1972 paperback of Cyborg by Martin Caidin. Again, hard to find. Just sitting there on the shelf!
Preview Edition of Slob by Rex Miller. Just thinking about this book makes me shudder.
Great Find.... I love the one handed reading material!
Keep an eye out for any TED MARK BOOKS...THE MAN FROM O.R.G.Y.,DR NYET, ECT.
1st Ballantine Edition 1978
U.K. CYBORG
Sorry, somehow I missed the "How to be Sexy with Bugs in Your Teeth" book. That is hysterical! I would totally buy that book if I saw it on the shelf.
needfulthings - LOL! A buddy of mine has several Ted Mark books. They are REALLY hard to find. I've never seen one on the shelf in all my years of hunting.
Here are a few more books that I found at used book stores and book sales over the years that have become treasured additions to my collection.
The Garrett P.I. series by Glen Cook. Embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of this wonderful series before I found the first book at a book sale. I immediately fell in love with this series about a hardboiled detective in a fantasy world populated by elves, dwarves, orgres, etc. I love how the series is light on the fantasy details and leans more heavily on the mystery/detective aspect. It makes for many, many, laugh-out-loud moments. Also, the covers are done by the great Tim Hildebrandt.
1980's Julie Smith. After reading her first book (Death Turns a Trick), she immediately became one of my favorite mystery writers. A real top-shelf talent. Her later stuff doesn't have the same appeal to me. For me, she is iconic 1980's all the way.
One of my favorite paperback covers of all-time: Ross Thomas' Chinaman's Chance ( 1978 ). And just look at that top stain!
I picked up the Ted Mark books when they were new & sold them off many years ago.$$$ (Not being King or Movie related)
I stopped collecting books (except King 20 years ago) but in all my years of searching for movie tie-in books at 2nd hand bookstores (meaning I had to scan all book spine titles to see if I saw a title that I knew was made into a movie then pull the book out check cover & back to see if it was indeed a tie-in) I NEVER FOUND A MATHESON... SOMEONE IS BLEEDING,FURY ON SUNDAY or RIDE THE NIGHTMARE.
I never knew what I would find...
Funny, I was just in a bookstore last week and I saw a full run -- or at least a LOT of them -- and I toyed with picking them up as they looked like a lot of fun and were cheap. Decided against it, but you've got me rethinking my decision.Great thread! Here's some recent stuff that I FOUND. Truthfully, most of the stuff in my collection is FOUND. I very rarely order anything. As you said, finding things you weren't looking for never gets old.
Spaceways #1 thru #7. Spaceways was a series of 19 Playboy paperback originals (1982 - 1984) written by John Cleve (pseudonym of Andrew J. Offutt). These are a wonderfully fun mix of Flash Gordon-style Sci-fi and erotica. Offutt wrote a bunch of now hard-to-find paperback erotica in the early 70's, as well as some pretty good fantasy books (including some great additions to the Conan cannon). The first four Spaceways are quite hard to find in good condition and sell for a pretty penny online. FOUND these at a used book store for $3 a piece. Lucky me.
needfulthings - Matheson is indeed rare on the shelves (or tables). The only Matheson I ever FOUND was the original 1966 Dell Shock III (in barely Good condition), a 1980 HC reprint of I Am Legend, and a late 60's Bantam paperback reprint of The Shrinking Man. That's it. Nothing more.
RC65 - If they are in good condition, I'd say go for it (especially if they are the early ones -- especially #1 thru #4). They are a really fun read. Offutt is a darn good fantasy/sci-fi writer, IMHO. His Conan/Cormac Mac Art books are quite good, and his War of the Wizards trilogy is fantastic. He's not just some soft porn hack.
Thanks for the feedback, Jim. I have a couple authors I enjoy who write sleaze-noir, so may need to give these sleaze-sci-fi pbs a shot. I went back and looked at the collection, and it's not complete, but has most of the books from 2 to 19. All are priced at $5, and while that seems to be a little high on some (based on what I see on ABE), apparently not so much on others.
My found...went to a thrift store yesterday, and picked up Fine/Fine HC 1st copies of Charles Stross' THE ATROCITY ARCHIVES, THE JENNIFER MORGUE, and THE FULLER MEMORADUM. I've never read Stross before, but the Golden Gryphon HCs immediately caught my eye, and the mix of horror, sci-fi, and a bumbling James Bond-like character sounded like an irresistible recipe. Plus, at a buck or so per buck, it's hard to go wrong.
The Stross titles are a great find, especially these nice GG first editions.
Added a beautiful copy of Maurice Sendak's first poster collection yesterday (53c!), a beautiful thing even though the reproductions are short of stellar.
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