Flatsigned and Stephen King? (All threads regarding Flatsigned)

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

This was over at SKFakes:
Today, a bank filed a lawsuit against Flatsigned and Tim Miller (The Bank of Nashville v. Flatsigned.Com, Inc., and Tim Miller) in Nashville. The bank asserts that the defendants defaulted on a loan, owe $494,000, and will not hand over a book collection worth an estimated $650,000. The bank is seeking a "writ of possession" which is -- essentially -- a judgment granting it possessory rights in the book collection.

[wizardsrainbow]

Great title Mr. RT

I am sure plenty of people have no sympathy for that devil!

[gsvec]

The value of that collection will be much less if the books aren't authentically signed, though!

Ka really IS a wheel, ya know!

[CRinVA]

The value of that collection will be much less if the books aren't authentically signed, though!

Ka really IS a wheel, ya know!

Exactly what I was thinking as I read the first post!!!!!

[Earth's Militant Mind]

The value of that collection will be much less if the books aren't authentically signed, though!

Ka really IS a wheel, ya know!

Just out of curiosity....before I found out about his rep I bought a 1 of 26 The Best American Short Stories 2007 from him. Is there any reason to believe this is not legit?

[carlosdetweiller]

Just out of curiosity....before I found out about his rep I bought a 1 of 26 The Best American Short Stories 2007 from him. Is there any reason to believe this is not legit?

He also did another edition (numbered, I think) that had many more copies. I remember thinking how in the heck did he get so many signed copies to do these two specially bound editions? In some of his eBay listings for the numbered copies I thought the signatures were suspect.

[divemaster]

I considered buying one of the "1 of 100" editions. I really do want the book and the King signature is legit. However, the leather binding was an aftermarket job done by Tim Miller. I'm not sure why, but that soured it for me. If it had been originally published that way, then fine. But some guy buying up 126 copies and re-binding himself? I mean, I could do that, right?

And I couldn't tell you the difference b/t the "deluxe" 1 of 100 and the "super deluxe" 1 of 26 other than I guess you pay more for the first. Don't know why--it's the same book, same signature, and same binding...

[Rahfa]

You know, I've never had any question about the authenticity of anything he's sold, and he's bought stuff from me, and been perfectly easy to deal with.

I do have questions about the bidding on his auctions however...

Yes, you could rebind a book in a leather binding...Stu at Betts did the same thing with Jerad's Salem's Lot edition and sold them for $500(!)

[Earth's Militant Mind]

I considered buying one of the "1 of 100" editions. I really do want the book and the King signature is legit. However, the leather binding was an aftermarket job done by Tim Miller. I'm not sure why, but that soured it for me. If it had been originally published that way, then fine. But some guy buying up 126 copies and re-binding himself? I mean, I could do that, right?

And I couldn't tell you the difference b/t the "deluxe" 1 of 100 and the "super deluxe" 1 of 26 other than I guess you pay more for the first. Don't know why--it's the same book, same signature, and same binding...

Actually I got lucky and picked it up for $126 which was what the 1 of 100 go for about. I didn't realize it was 1 of 26 until I got the book because like you said except for the numbers it looks the same. If he did the binding himself he did a preaty good job, it is a nice book. Still, it's good to know that it's not an official limited edition then. I'm suprised that that doesn't cause him legal problems since I don't remember seeing that in the auction.

[Earth's Militant Mind]

http://cgi.ebay.com/FlatSigned-com-R...3A1%7C294%3A50

Speaking of the Devil......lol anybody want to pay this for his $650,000 collection?

[herbertwest]

FlatSigned.com Book Selling and Rare Book Inventory - $2,950,000

A unique opportunity to buy FlatSigned.com Inc., an established signed and rare book company. This is a lucrative internet-based business specializing in the procurement and sale of signed collectible books, manuscripts, historical documents, art, and autographs. Annual sales of $1.2 million with $350,000 profit to the owner. 100% owned by a single individual. Included in this sale is an inventory of approximately $8,000,000 in rare, 1st edition and/or signed books. Customer database of over 12,000 with 90% being private buyers. This business has ONE main competitor and it aims to duplicate its competitors success. Business will be sold debt free.

hmmm..

...

[jhanic]

Well, if he gets his minimum, I'm sure that'll pay his debt load.

John

[carlosdetweiller]

FlatSigned.com Book Selling and Rare Book Inventory - $2,950,000

A unique opportunity to buy FlatSigned.com Inc., an established signed and rare book company. This is a lucrative internet-based business specializing in the procurement and sale of signed collectible books, manuscripts, historical documents, art, and autographs. Annual sales of $1.2 million with $350,000 profit to the owner. 100% owned by a single individual. Included in this sale is an inventory of approximately $8,000,000 in rare, 1st edition and/or signed books. Customer database of over 12,000 with 90% being private buyers. This business has ONE main competitor and it aims to duplicate its competitors success. Business will be sold debt free.

hmmm..

...

I wonder who he considers his "ONE main competitor"?

[jhanic]

Maybe it's that guy that sells the "signed" film scripts?!?

John

[e_taylor]

Just a guess, but maybe veryfinebooks?

[divemaster]

I considered buying one of the "1 of 100" editions. I really do want the book and the King signature is legit. However, the leather binding was an aftermarket job done by Tim Miller. I'm not sure why, but that soured it for me. If it had been originally published that way, then fine. But some guy buying up 126 copies and re-binding himself? I mean, I could do that, right?

And I couldn't tell you the difference b/t the "deluxe" 1 of 100 and the "super deluxe" 1 of 26 other than I guess you pay more for the first. Don't know why--it's the same book, same signature, and same binding...

Actually I got lucky and picked it up for $126 which was what the 1 of 100 go for about. I didn't realize it was 1 of 26 until I got the book because like you said except for the numbers it looks the same. If he did the binding himself he did a preaty good job, it is a nice book. Still, it's good to know that it's not an official limited edition then. I'm suprised that that doesn't cause him legal problems since I don't remember seeing that in the auction.

I think that's a pretty good deal. About what I would be willing to pay. Like I said, I really want the book and I'd rather have a nicely bound one with a King sig than a paperback from Amazon. I'm just not going to pay a "S/L" price for this book. I've put in a couple of lowball bids here and there but didn't end up with one. Yet.

[jhanic]

I was able to pick up one of the signed trade paperbacks (I think from our tippy4) not long after the publication for a good price. I don't consider rebound books collectibles, although I'm sure there are those of you who don't agree.

John

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

http://cgi.ebay.com/FlatSigned-com-R...3A1%7C294%3A50

Speaking of the Devil......lol anybody want to pay this for his $650,000 collection?

The shipping is only $10.95

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

www.flatsigned.com has filed for bankruptcy.

http://www.trollerbk.com/portal/?mod...B14&showcase=1

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

http://cgi.ebay.com/FlatSigned-com-R...3A1%7C294%3A50

Speaking of the Devil......lol anybody want to pay this for his $650,000 collection?

The shipping is only $10.95

That was the first thing I noticed too.

Reminded me of an excert from Eddie Murphy's Raw.
"Here you go baby, I made 70$, put that with the rest.....
Now we have 300 million and 70$"

[Sir_Boomme]

You know, I've never had any question about the authenticity of anything he's sold, and he's bought stuff from me, and been perfectly easy to deal with.

I do have questions about the bidding on his auctions however...

Yes, you could rebind a book in a leather binding...Stu at Betts did the same thing with Jerad's Salem's Lot edition and sold them for $500(!)

as far as i know... stu didn't rebind them... to rebind...means that they would have been bound... the existing binding removed... then rebound.

as i remember it... stu bound unbound pages he purchased from jerad. thus, constituting an original different bound book (which i chose NOT to purchase)

not sure if millers was a rebound job...or similar to what stu did... anyone know?

[Rahfa]

Yes, you're right...Stu took the unbound pages and put them into a new, custom binding of his own.

In the "Best Short Stories" case, I'm not sure how Flatsigned did it...I think they actually rebound the entire book, original soft cover and all...but I have no idea.

Either choice might be prettier on a bookcase because of the leather, but I passed.

[jhanic]

I feel the same way. To me, these "rebound" books are just not collectibles.

John

[e_taylor]

Not that I like to see booksellers fail, but in this particular case, Tim Miller's demise brings a smile to my face. Countless times he would take to the internet after arguments with defrauded customers and go on and on about how he built his company from the ground and how it is now immensely successful, all because of him. Way to run your business Tim!

[Mordred Deschain]

I like this threaD!