Comics, Pulps, and Paperbacks: Why such a discrepancy in values? 25 25

[Book Guy]

The Wintz and Hyde Bibliography says this is from 1980.

[Book Guy]

As I mentioned earlier PKD was my number 1 Collecting Target way back when (Probably tied with another writer, but what the heck!).

I was most active in the 1970's and 8's. Things were a LOT cheaper then, so bear that it mind. Of course I had almost no money then either!

First here's bunch of my paperbacks. Common enough you say! The kicker-they are all Signed and/or Inscribed by Phil! I had friends that knew him and they got Books signed for me. As well, after he died they sold their collections and I bought a bunch. Just luck to be at the right place and time with the appropriate interest. In the 1980's in my career as a Book Seller, I did 3 PKD lists selling Firsts, unusual items, Signed dupes etc. I still see some of 'my' Books show up on eBay.

 

[Book Guy]

Here's some uncommon stuff.

GRYPHON is a Small Press Poetry Magazine published by Phil's 3rd wife Anne's 1st husband. Anne was married to Phil when he wrote MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE etc.

Anne also had a jewelry business and these are some of her pieces. Phil helped out with the welding etc, but I have no idea if these were handled by him. I bought them years ago on eBay. There's always some of her jewelry listed there. I met her several times and she was always very nice. In the Books Phil wrote during their marriage Anne was often used, thinly disguised, as a character. The shrewish overbearing wife. I found her to be nothing like that. I asked her if she was aware he used her as a model in his Books and she said Yes! and seemed proud. Her Book is worth reading if you're a PKD fan. I think it is Print on demand now, but it was published by 'Bricks and Mortar' Publisher back in the day and she later updated it. I'm thanked in the credits!

The Record belonged to Phil! It has his Berkeley street address at the time on the shipping package. The address is across the street from the esteemed and World Famous Berkeley Comic Con which you read about on this very website. I usually go. The mustard yellow 'gingerbread' house as I recall. This LP set was what NBC sent out to local Radio Stations for them to play during the NBC Show X MINUS ONE. Phil had 2 stories Radio Dramatized. I think this set is for COLONY. This was Phil's 'Author's Copy'.

Edited August 28, 2022 by Book Guy

[Book Guy]

These are some ERTL Toys issued to coincide with the release of BLADE RUNNER. The absolutely failed! Some local store had them as closeouts at a laughably low price. Like 29 cents each or something. I bought a ton of them and later traded most to a collector, but for what I don't recall! I kept some and an example of the shipping/display box. I think I have an example of the 4 cars in a box set too, but I don't know where it is. They sell on eBay for a lot more than 29 cents now!

Not really paperbacks, but what the heck...

[Book Guy]

Lastly, here are my unsigned really NICE copies of the paperback Firsts and most of his Magazine appearances. I don't have them all and need to finish off that part of the collection. They cost a lot more now than they did then...

I have all the hardcover Firsts, once again mostly signed, but I'm too lazy to drag them all out.

The 'hardest' of the American hcs for me to get back in the early '80's was STIGMATA. I think that was just random though. The hardest American trade hardcover to get now is a non-Library First of MAZE OF DEATH. That was the Book Doubleday pulped almost as soon as it was released. Also a large portion of the print run was sold to a Rental Library Company and those copies are what you usually see offered. "Evidence of Bookplate removal', 'Seems to be a Library Copy but with few markings', 'end papers restored (or 'refreshed'). If the description says something like that it's probably a Rental Library Copy. Luckily most of those didn't get a lot of reading wear and they are often nice copies. ANDROIDS in pre BLADE RUNNER days commanded no price premium over the other harder to get Doubleday hardcovers. Now...that's a different story!

The hardest items to acquire are the oddball ones, not the Books. PKD contributed to some fanzines, though he was not really an active Fan. Those can be tough as the print runs are always small sometimes as low as 25-50 copies. I've turned up several examples that weren't in the PKD bibliographies. The Small Press Poetry Magazine  A CHILD'S HAT has some PKD poems. Very tough to find. I bought mine years ago from Bill Blackbeard!

You see a lot of 'Signed' copies on eBay. Many of them are in fact signed by PKD, but I've seen a number of dubious examples. If there isn't a good provenance attached to the Book, be careful!

Hope you enjoyed these!

 

[Surfing Alien]

That is some world class material you have and thanks for sharing it here  BTW, book related toys are welcome Especially minty and with promo stuff!

Edited August 28, 2022 by Surfing Alien
Do as I do

[Surfing Alien]

On 8/27/2022 at 4:46 PM, OtherEric said:

On a totally different note, this is neither vintage, nor a comic or pulp.  In fact, it's a comic that came out this week.

With that said, getting Robert McGinnis to do a comic book cover seems like they're trying to market directly to the regulars in this thread.  I gather there's a couple other covers he's done for Hard Case that I need to track down as well now.

Sweet, I didn't know Hard Case was doing comics... With McGinnis supported to boot 👍

[Blorgon scum]

I can't find my copy of The Demolished Man.  I hate when that happens.

[Blorgon scum]

A number of DAW paperbacks.

[flashlites]

On 8/27/2022 at 8:45 PM, Surfing Alien said:

That is some world class material you have and thanks for sharing it here  BTW, book related toys are welcome Especially minty and with promo stuff!

What a show! I loved it!

[flashlites]

On 8/27/2022 at 7:33 PM, Book Guy said:

Lastly, here are my unsigned really NICE copies of the paperback Firsts and most of his Magazine appearances. I don't have them all and need to finish off that part of the collection. They cost a lot more now than they did then...

I have all the hardcover Firsts, once again mostly signed, but I'm too lazy to drag them all out.

The 'hardest' of the American hcs for me to get back in the early '80's was STIGMATA. I think that was just random though. The hardest American trade hardcover to get now is a non-Library First of MAZE OF DEATH. That was the Book Doubleday pulped almost as soon as it was released. Also a large portion of the print run was sold to a Rental Library Company and those copies are what you usually see offered. "Evidence of Bookplate removal', 'Seems to be a Library Copy but with few markings', 'end papers restored (or 'refreshed'). If the description says something like that it's probably a Rental Library Copy. Luckily most of those didn't get a lot of reading wear and they are often nice copies. ANDROIDS in pre BLADE RUNNER days commanded no price premium over the other harder to get Doubleday hardcovers. Now...that's a different story!

The hardest items to acquire are the oddball ones, not the Books. PKD contributed to some fanzines, though he was not really an active Fan. Those can be tough as the print runs are always small sometimes as low as 25-50 copies. I've turned up several examples that weren't in the PKD bibliographies. The Small Press Poetry Magazine  A CHILD'S HAT has some PKD poems. Very tough to find. I bought mine years ago from Bill Blackbeard!

You see a lot of 'Signed' copies on eBay. Many of them are in fact signed by PKD, but I've seen a number of dubious examples. If there isn't a good provenance attached to the Book, be careful!

Hope you enjoyed these!

 

Thanks so much for sharing! It looks like I have more to collect than I thought. Those signed editions must be amazing to have!

[Book Guy]

Mostly Right Place, Right Time. Thanks.

[OtherEric]

On 8/28/2022 at 7:14 PM, Book Guy said:

Mostly Right Place, Right Time. Thanks.

Even now, with online marketplaces and everything else, that’s 90% of this hobby.

[flashlites]

On 8/27/2022 at 3:46 PM, OtherEric said:

On a totally different note, this is neither vintage, nor a comic or pulp.  In fact, it's a comic that came out this week.

With that said, getting Robert McGinnis to do a comic book cover seems like they're trying to market directly to the regulars in this thread.  I gather there's a couple other covers he's done for Hard Case that I need to track down as well now.

This Hard Case Line always seems to be good - I picked up the Minky Woodcock series and loved it. Well written and fairly well illustrated. I would recommend them. I saw they had a new title out last week, I did not see this cover though.

[Surfing Alien]

Couple of real nice Handi Books in by two of my favorite noir-mystery writers, Milton K. Ozaki and Harry Whittington. Some light wear but not heavily creased like usual.

I really need to up my game on the Handi Book series...

[frozentundraguy]

On 8/27/2022 at 6:59 PM, Book Guy said:

As I mentioned earlier PKD was my number 1 Collecting Target way back when (Probably tied with another writer, but what the heck!).

I was most active in the 1970's and 8's. Things were a LOT cheaper then, so bear that it mind. Of course I had almost no money then either!

First here's bunch of my paperbacks. Common enough you say! The kicker-they are all Signed and/or Inscribed by Phil! I had friends that knew him and they got Books signed for me. As well, after he died they sold their collections and I bought a bunch. Just luck to be at the right place and time with the appropriate interest. In the 1980's in my career as a Book Seller, I did 3 PKD lists selling Firsts, unusual items, Signed dupes etc. I still see some of 'my' Books show up on eBay.

 

Who was the other  author that was tied with PKD, if you don't mind my asking?

[Book Guy]

JG Ballard was my other # 1.

I also collected lots of other Sci-Fi, Arkham House etc. Raymond Chandler, Flannery O'Connor, Nathanael West, Ross MacDonald. People I liked, mostly genre fiction.

[Surfing Alien]

Been away on a work trip but got back to a couple of boxes of cool books of various, mostly sleaze, interests.

A couple more nice Canadian Gold Medals

Pretty sharp Beacon Sci Fi with Emsh GGA

A crazy Monarch title with a Robert Stanley cat fight cover

A pretty rare hot rod/gang title

The world is going "Crazy Town" so I had to have "Crazy Street"

A classic non-Rader Midwood

A sweet Maguire Gothic Midwood

Rader cover on a Lez fiction pioneer Sloane Britain Midwood

And another, slightly suggestive, Rader cover on a Lawrence Block Midwood classic

[Pat Calhoun]

Surf posted a Handi Ozaki: Pat bought a Graphic Ozaki: just in...

[Surfing Alien]

When this came up I had to have it. My final upgrade on the 1st Paperback, 1st Print of "The Hobbit". The Ballantine's file copy. My undercopy is extremely nice, but not unread publishers file copy nice!