Well, if Paul REALLY wanted to make one hell of a collectible, there are ways around that:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_writing
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I was referencing the discussion starting here:
I didn't say it was a bad discussion, just that it struck me as funny. Part of the reason it struck me funny is because it also made me think of possible substitutions for an authors signature in that specific situation. What if instead of a signature, some personal possession of the deceased was included with each edition, like if each lettered edition contained an epoxy resin bound coin from the pocketful of change the author died with? Would it add value to the book or would it be too morbid? What if it was a hair of the author, like something that contained their DNA?
How cool would it be if the next Suntup publication was Jurassic Park and each lettered edition had an amber bound mosquito filled with Michael Crichton's blood embedded in the front cover of the book? Hmmmm, that might make production costs too high....and maybe be too morbid........maybe.
Looking for:
- Philtrum Press Eyes of the Dragon RED #165
- Fine Viking Eyes of the Dragon proof
firemonkey66 's comment made me think some would like such things, but such things might not be quite legal to sell, so now I'm imagining a black market of small-run editions that could never be listed through conventional sites or dealers, and then I thought such a thing might already exist; after all, how would I know? (I wouldn't).
Didn't someone produce a book with actual human bones in the cover?
It was just before dawn
- one miserable morning in black 'forty four...
That amber bound mosquito sounds pretty awesome haha. I know you didn’t say it’s a bad discussion, I just wasn’t sure if you saw how it started. Even on Facebook yesterday there were some groups talking about it because one person guessed it would be Fall of the House of Usher but others debated that, saying a limited edition should have an author signature. Anyway, don’t mean to beat a dead horse. I get what you’re saying.
Looking for Mister Slaughter S/L #78
If illegal books do exist, I'd imagine a fair number of them are grimoires (seems like the appropriate type of people/product).
It was just before dawn
- one miserable morning in black 'forty four...
Looking for:
- Philtrum Press Eyes of the Dragon RED #165
- Fine Viking Eyes of the Dragon proof
What the hell? Has to be an animal bone, no?
Looking for Mister Slaughter S/L #78
I believe Bob Jackson has a copy too.
Wanted: Human skin edition of The Book of the Dead. Will accept PC copy.
That's THE WOMAN by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee. You should read it. My kind of gal.
I'm sure if there is intelligent life somewhere out there in the universe, they are wise enough to stay away from us.
And the people bowed and prayed, to the cell phone god they made...
Only half right. Curses!
Another option for signed editions from authors no longer with us would be to take existing signatures from other sources - letters, credit card slips, etc - and paste them into the book as a book plate. I seem to recall that being done by somebody.
Personally, I will collect unsigned limited editions if the book itself is particularly impressive. The current Suntup edition being a case in point.
I enjoy my lettered and my signed limited Regulators by the deceased author (cause of death: cancer of the pseudonym) Richard Bachman.
The "signature" discussion (at least, in the way that I mean my point) is referring to a subjective collecting "rule" which guides my collection: "What kind of books do I want in my collection". It's a parameter (i.e., OCD) driving my subjective collecting goals. I don't collect artist / special editions (of living OR dead authors) unless it meets those exceptions I mentioned earlier - production quality AND a very important book to me. It's a way to also help with space requirements and (importantly) not gut my bank account. If I did, it would open a rabbit hole for me and I'd be at the mercy of every quality publisher who released a lovely version of HP Lovecraft. I love too many authors, still have to purchase too many 1st editions, and have too many King signatures to get, that buying artists / special editions are unfortunately not part of the deal (even for dead authors).
So, I've been on the lookout for a nice Hill House first edition for a long time that's within my budget. This is my priority with this title. But, having said all that, I love the significance of Hill House, always enjoyed the book, and the Suntup production reminds me of the incredible quality of Infernal Press, so yeah, it fits my OCD
Yes. Humans are animals too.
It's an actual human being rib bone. There was a lengthy discussion as to the legality, but to get right to the point-Have you ever seen a skeleton in a science class or lab?
If so, you are seeing parts of a human body that was legally donated (for science or retail).
Can't sell human parts on ebay so don't go looking for one there. A few years back, I remember hearing somehow that CD had one for sale but couldn't put it on ebay because of the bone. I don't know if they ever sold it or not.
The current replies got me think about this post (Stephen King Super Sneak). I think Paul is up to the challenge, not that Jerome wasn’t.
“Perhaps I am simply a madman who dreamt of being sane for a little while.”
— Roland Deschain