location of the book title) and you're looking for the edition (ex: first edition).

For older books (200+ years), this is generally referred to as the title page (i.e. Anytime you're buying an expensive/collectable book, always ask for a full picture of the entire copyright page. Even one number difference can mean the value of the book is less than half of what it would be normally. If you can't read the printer's key properly, you could be paying many times more than you normally would. This is the most important page in the book as far as judging its value before looking at all other attributes. You can tell a book is BCE if it says 'Book Club Edition' or 'BCE' somewhere in the book like the dust jacket and the copyright page.Ĭopyright page: the page that has the full book title, copyright year, publisher information, printing history, ISBN or equivalent, and printer's key for any modern books (after 1950s and a standard since 1980s). These are often of lesser value even though they look very similar to the first edition and are often published by the same publisher and even same publication year as the original.

Reattached boards are also going to devalue the book so watch for creases or repairs (ex: new leather or paper that doesn't match the original).īook club edition or BCE: are specific editions published for book clubs. In addition, cloth covering the boards can wear over time so always check the bottom of the boards (where it touches the shelf) for any damage. If the boards are detached, it significantly devalues the book. not bent or bowed) but they could be bumped (ends are damaged) and definitely attached. To keep it true to Dune, it's best to start with a glossary and these are the basics:īoards: the front and back cover of a hardcover book (typically cardboard covered in cloth, paper, or leather).

Here is the table of contents for the posts where I'll be working my way back through history:ġ of 4: Basics of book collecting and overview of God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse DuneĢ of 4: Children of Dune and Dune Messiah As a collector of rare and antique books, I'd like to not only introduce you to the original books and their unique history but also to provide some additional information such as how to spot a real first edition, expected price ranges, and book collecting information in general. This is the first in a four-part series talking about the original Dune books by Frank Herbert. Hi all, considering today is the first Centennial of Frank Herbert's birthday, I thought I'd post something special to celebrate.

5th dune book