i am looking to purchase a first edition of A River Runs Through It. It started out as an anniversary present idea and ballooned from there. I wanted to get my SO something nice, and i have a quirk about only buying hardcover books (new, that is; used, i don’t care because i usually pass those on to other people or donate them). I was looking around and I thought that i could really go the extra mile and get a first edition. eBay has a few listed, but I’m afriad I need an education.
what’s the difference between 1st edition/1st printing and say, 1st edition/2nd printing? uhm, besides the fact that it is a second printing? is the value based on the number of books run during each printing? or?
is there a special trick to verifying the authenticity? or is that info page sufficient?
again, this is just going to be a gift for my SO and the value isn’t that important as i’m sure he won’t be re-selling it (he better not!), but i just wanted to get my facts straight before i start bidding.
The first printing of the first edition is always the most valuable. Each publisher notates that differently.
I was working in a bookstore when ARRTI came out, and if I remember it was published by the University of Chicago. Unusual; University presses rarely have best sellers. So, all the more valuable for that. Also, all the more valuable because, being a U. press, the first run was probably a small one.
This means that, theoretically, the first printing will be even MORE valuable, which of course raises the price of all subsequent printings. So while a second printing of a Stephen King book is worth approximately spit, the second printing of ARRTI might be worth a great deal. It depends upon what the market will bear.
The history of the book is also extremely relevant. I paid almost $100 for a 14th edition of Ulysses 20 years ago, but the publishing history of Ulysses is so unique–many early printings were almost entirely destroyed by customs, stuff like that–that conventional rules don’t apply.
Since ARRTI is somewhat unique as well, be prepared to pay more than for many modern first eds.
Just be sure to take your time: watch some eBay auctions, see what the edition you want tends to go for, then look around, IRL as well as online. Search for rare book/1st Ed. sellers in your city.
yeah i’m turning up a range of $200 - $2,000. which is what made me question the differences in 1st and 2nd printings and verifying authenticity.
i’m searching for local rare book dealers. i’m guessing if i go in and talk to them, they can try and find it for me. i’m assumming a finder’s fee will be charged so i’m still going to keep looking and do the leg work myself.
