Yes, You Can Help
This is a call to any Gnome Press enthusiasts, SF fans, and the wider book collecting community. I am pretty much operating in the dark here, making this all up as I go along. I’m very new to this game (book collecting) so any advice would be greatly appreciated. These specific areas I have in mind:
Grading
This is something I’m a little unsure about at this stage. Hopefully I am documenting these books well photographically so if you see any instance where my grade is inaccurate, I would be very grateful to be put straight and have the reasons explained. Also, if there aspects of a book’s condition that I am not covering adequately, or perhaps there are certain parts or views of the book that would be really helpful to see that I am missing, please let me know.
Bindings
I am aware that even though a book might still be a first edition there are often different bindings. For example, the first-state binding for Simak’s Cosmic Engineers is apparently dark blue. I have seen this same first edition book bound in tan – likely a second-state binding. If anyone can give me some facts from your experience – even if it is for just one book you are familiar with – it would make my day.
Dust Jackets
There is a similar situation with dust jackets. One example: Asimov’s Foundation and Empire’s original dust jacket was bright red, later printings were a blue/grey colour. Same binding state (as I understand it) and same dust jacket design, but differently coloured. Another example: I have the collection Journey to Infinity edited by Greenberg. This is a first edition (stated) published in 1951, yet on the back of the dust jacket are listed books printed subsequent to that year. Obviously the jacket is a later printing, yet the binding state – tan-green boards with a green cloth spine – is the same as editions with an obviously earlier dust jacket. Again, any information in this area is very welcome.
Like Minds
If anyone knows of any societies that it would be handy for me to be part of, let us know. If there is a (God forbid) a Gnome Press Appreciation Society or something similar out there, tell me!! Actually any kind of contact with someone who has similar interests would be cool. Cheers.
Give Them to Me!!
There might be a couple of old Gnome Press books lying around at your place. Unopened for years, sad, neglected, taking up your valuable space. Let me know, I might be interested in taking them off your hands and they will be welcomed back into a growing family!!
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I am hungry for any and all info on this subject, so any kind of support would be valuable and appreciated. It doesn’t matter how small you think your piece of info may be, or if it’s not related to anything I currently have, it will be huge for me!! The other thing (as opposed to concrete info) is advice. General advice on collecting books, SF books and Gnome Press. Please share, and many thanks.
You can contact me here: gilgamesh@paradise.net.nz
