first editions

[Peter Giordano]

He said:
>Thanks to all who wrote about the first editions.  I didn't buy the 1st of
>"Slow Learner" to sell it, so I'm not concerned about bookseller's
>intrigue in this matter (although getting 10% for huge chunks of my
>pverloaded shelves irks me, but hey, I took the cash and ran-- at least
>until I saw SL and handed back $42.50 for it, which falls right in line
>with that $40-$60 estimate).  What I really wanted to know was how rare
>(how large was the printing) of V, GR, and what are the chances of finding
>a nice (even if not 1st) ed. of one of them.  The $750 figure answered
>that nicely.
I say:
If I had $750 I'd spend it happily on that first - I own a hardcover of GR but
it is a 4th or 5th printing (but it does have the ever valuable dust jacket - I
had a dj for a later printing of CATCHER IN THE RYE which somebody
bought in order to make his 1st complete) - I had a 1st of the original
Viking paperback but it could not stand up to the multiple readings (I was
younger then)

He said:
>Re: the signed Mao II-- I have no idea what the book value (har) is of
>this, but considering DeLillo doesn't do much int he way of signing, I'd
>snap it up.

I say:
Besides, it's a good book

Peter Giordano
Williams College
Williamstown, MA