Secondhand finds #5

I took the liberty to continue this ongoing thread in a new topic. I am eyeing Montaillou for a while now, it very much appeals to me. My question is, is this a good read? For the ones who made the effort, please tell.

For me it was excellent, as much of a page-turner as a history book can be. Mind you, I haven't read much on the topic so I received it all as more or less new information. It's been years but I still recall some of the cases from the Inquisition records that he describes.

That’s helpful, thanks LolaWalser!

>2 LolaWalser:

Darn you enabler--now I'll have to go put the book in my TBR pile next to all the other TBR books.

I see a lot of mention of Abe Books and eBay in threads around here. I've had a lot of luck finding secondhand copies of Folio volumes on Amazon as well. A while back I managed to pick up very inexpensive copies of the Apocrypha and Myths and Legends of India from Amazon. I regularly do a search at Amazon for Folio books and recently saw that relatively inexpensive copies of The Kama Sutra and The Four Gospels were added (both of which I already have).

Sometimes, though, the prices are just as ridiculous as other book selling websites. Case in point: I found a single copy of Dante's Paradiso for sale on Amazon... asking price $550!

>5 Diglot:

Amazon, in my opinion, has deteriorated somewhat for all sales and in particular the used book market. In fact, I almost refuse at this point to buy a used book I cannot touch or at the minimum a book I can't see in detail. It is highly unfortunate, that Amazon is the largest reason for that. Oh, Amazon and some hack that sold me The Lord of the Rings (Folio Edition) missing the entire chapter on the final battle! It was partially my fault for having not looked at volume 3, until I was ready to read it, but after hearing his opinion and the solution, I doubt it would have been remedied. Anyway, Amazon should really just eat shorts in my opinion, but I've definitely heard others having some good results.

>6 The_Toad_Revolt_of84: Yikes, missing a while final chapter?! That is quite unfortunate.

I did have one bad experience on Amazon. I bought a “like new” copy of Folio’s edition of the Qur’an. Unfortunately, it was not in the immaculate condition as described by the seller, as the book had highlighting in the introduction! Thankfully the seller gave me a full refund and paid the return shipping cost.

I added three books to my library this week. I received Bury Me At Wounded Knee and The Fatal Shore on Wednesday. Just this afternoon picked up Twelfth Night with the Balbusso frontispiece. The last one cost me the equivalent of £13.50, a steal I found on the Dutch Marketplace website. Didn't think twice when it got listed. Was even able to negotiate the price down further. This must be the best deal I ever made for a Folio book. The book and slipcase are in Fine/Fine condition.

>8 NLNils: What a find! Congrats!

>8 NLNils: I saw it go and hoped it went to a nice home! Congrats!

>9 elladan0891: >10 Fierylunar: Thank you both!

This afternoon in Henley, I bagged the 2-volume The Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean by John Julius Norwich (FS, 2010) for £20 - in fine condition.

>12 boldface: The Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean by John Julius Norwich (FS, 2010) for £20 - in fine condition.

Sailing through, were you? Can't recall what I paid for mine but it was certainly more than that. I hereby declare your purchase a veritable bargain. It's a lovely book, too, and of course John Julius is always highly readable.

>13 folio_books:

No sign of Montmorency and I was confined to terra firma throughout, I'm afraid. But you're right, it's a lovely book with some stunning photos and JJN is a very urbane and amiable companion. I already have the Folio edition of Byzantium and, although I have an ordinary edition of Venice, I'm thinking I might need to seek out the FS version of that as well. Would you recommend it?

>14 boldface:

Think of it as an extended chapter of The Middle Sea, crafted to Folio standards. In terms of design and production I prefer The Middle Sea, but not by a huge margin. This is an easy recommendation to confirm.

Completed my Dante set with the rare Paradiso. :)

>16 EclecticIndulgence: - Congratulations!

>16 EclecticIndulgence: Nice!

My recent finds:
Dune (2015) As New for 68 GBP
Myths and Legends of Russia (2009) Near Fine for 65 GBP
Purgatorio (2007) Fine for 150 GBP
Paradise Lost (2003) Fine for 57 GBP
Beowulf (2010) As New for 140 GBP

>19 const-char-star:
All good finds. Well done.

>19 const-char-star: Those are some great deals there.

after a nervy 2 week wait after completing a BIN from eBay, a fine FS copy of The Dark Is Rising finally arrived today. Completes the set and all for a measly sum of $30 AUD (15GBP).

>22 cameronm75: Completes the set and all for a measly sum of $30 AUD (15GBP).

Now THAT is a bargain. Congratulations!

>23 folio_books: tracking showed it sitting at a depot on the other side of the country with no movement for over a week, then it just turns up on the doorstep, much to my relief!

>22 cameronm75: Congratulations on your find. I just got Silver on the Tree last week for £26. Still missing Dark is Rising and The Grey King unfortunately, but I have time to wait for a good deal.

>22 cameronm75: Congratulations on completing the set, particularly by taking a risk on a bargain price.

This is one of my favourite sets from Folio and is an example of what it used to do very well, i.e. make available to a wide audience a lesser known series in a super edition and what was, at the time, a very reasonable cost.

I recall that the illustrations of Laura Carlin caused quite a bit of debate here at the time of publication. Initially I was in the negative camp, but as I read through the books I became very fond of them indeed.

My finds on a trip to the UK

Brat Farah No slip case 1.99
Traitor's Purse No slip case 1.99
Song of Songs No slip case 7.99
Diary of a Provincial Lady 1.99
The King Must Die 17.99
The Surgeon of Crowthorne 7.99
First Folio 1.99
Impossible Journeys 2.99

And the real bargain. Ideas A history Wiggenstein to the world Wide Web 30.00

All in Oxfam Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

>27 N11284: Remarkable finds, congratulations! The Diary of a Provincial Lady is the sort of small, simple yet charming Folio I wish there were more of.

>27 N11284:
>28 cronshaw: The Diary of a Provincial Lady is the sort of small, simple yet charming Folio I wish there were more of.

Agreed. Entirely unpretentious and elegant. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed The Surgeon of Crowthorne, too. Wonderful story.

recent purchases on ebay:
The Raj
Dream Days
A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls (in shrink wrap)
all under a tenner (plus postage)

fantastic finds i think

>30 stumc:

I find the Wonder Book to be generally underappreciated, but it's illustrated by Walter Crane of Faerie Queene fame. I like it very much. Congratulations!

>31 folio_books: the main reason for me wanting the book is for the Walter Crane illustrations. i love the Faerie Queene, not so much for the pretty challenging text, but for the illustrations, and of course the faultless FS production.
so anything that FS produce related to Crane is a must for me.
im getting that way inclined for Kay Nielsen; i love my East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and will eventually pick up the Hansel and Gretel LE

I just received The Rise And Fall Of The British Empire by Lawrence James. Negotiations broke down on a copy which was listed on eBay, after which I scrolled through the Biblio website and found a as new copy (with very agreeable shipping to boot) for less! Made an account and ordered the book. Fine/Fine and very much looking forward to the read (just dabbled in the introduction for now)!

Natural History by Pliny in excellent condition for $100

Not sure if it’s a deal, but I got the Folio Fine Press Milton volume for $32 CAD shipping included. It does have a stain maybe water stain. I decided to bid anyway. Very happy with it.

>35 RRCBS: Congrats! Do you have De Profundis? I saw it in a bookstore for about the same you paid for that one.

>36 _WishIReadMore: No, I have the Oscar Wilde set so didn’t need that one.

>36 _WishIReadMore: Which store is this? I've been after a copy of Folio Press De Profundis for reasonable price for a while. Thanks in advance!

I just recently found a copy of Ghost Stories of M.R. James for $43, including shipping. I'm not sure if that's a good deal or not given the book, but I am happy to add it to my collection.

I just received "the remains of the day" for £13, best second hand buy I've had in a while! A nice edition.

>39 Tyler_ghaskjd: Depends on which edition ! (The larger, more recent 460 page Collected Stories is the complete short stories with very nice Mosley illustrations, and the ‘Ghost Stories’ is slimmer ‘best of’ selection of stories with some lithographs by Charles Keeping). Prefer the illustrations in the ‘collected’ & it’s nice to have all the stories in one place rather than just a selection, but if you’re happy with just a selection of the best known stories then its a nice enough edition.

I’m kicking myself. I was roaming an antique mall and came across the E.M. Forster set from the ‘90s for $60. I walked away because I was with best beloved who tuts and snorts when I look at books since I have a ridiculous number and no place to store more. When I checked prices I find the set going from $200-400. I’m planning to sneak back at the first opportunity and hope it’s still there. 🤨.

>42 varielle: Curious: for the purpose of reselling? Or to own? Interesting to know because would you value it more just because the prices are up at the moment? Or is it more about wanting to own it and you may be less likely to ever own it if you don't jump on the lower price?

(Just entertaining a philosophical notion...no judgment)

I often find it weird on Antiques Roadshow when the people gathered around find out when an item is expensive, their focus goes straight to the monetary figure, and what seems lost is the intrinsic beauty/value. Again, no judgment, most of us do it, just interesting. I guess it's partly why that show brought in the three items segment, getting people to guess least to most valuable.

I spotted a copy of The Master and Margarita on eBay a few months ago for $35 AUD and was umming and ahhing about it for 10 mins, during which time it sold in front of me. (I had happened to login to eBay the moment it was listed, so it didn't last more than the blink of an eye.) The only reason I hesitated was because I had tried reading it in the past and didn't like it at all, and figured it was better that someone else got it. I'm not much of a (re)seller, and buy to own and read.

>43 Jeremy53: It’s just to own. I couldn’t persuade myself to spend the money at the time but I should have anyway. I was sure it was a good price but didn’t realize how good until I checked. I get a world of criticism about book buying from people who should mind their own business.

>41 antinous_in_london: There is also an (even more recent) edition from 2017, illustrated by James McBryde. I don't have this edition, but it is not immediately obvious (to me, anyway) why FS issued another edition rather than reprinting the 2007 edition - the 2017 edition only has a handful of illustrations and is presumably a selection (as the word "collected" has been dropped from the title, and the page count is lower).

>45 TheEconomist:

James McBryde was a close friend of the author's. I believe he was commissioned to produce a full set of illustrations for one of James's books (the details entirely elude me) but he died before they were completed. The 2017 edition features all four (?) of the completed illustrations. So not a selection as such, and it's a nice story, but I stuck with my 2007 Collected version.

I paid £15 for a copy of Rogue Male, which I thought was a decent price. What an incredibly thrilling read--there's more going on in the first five pages than in many full-length novels.

>42 varielle:

" I walked away because I was with best beloved who tuts and snorts when I look at books."

Have you considered a separation or divorce??

I just received the 1977 edition of the LoTR. I think it was a very good bargain for about 100€. The books had no slipcase and the binding is faded on the spine (this seems to be problem with all other listings of the books as well) and additional damage to the boards. The textblock is quite nice though. I bought them with the intent to have them rebound in the future.

>48 dlphcoracl: He enables me by building new book cases so he’s a keeper.

Like many people on this thread I'm also kicking myself - missed out on a First Edition Library facsimile of the 1955 Olympia Press Lolita, in clamshell case, on eBay a few days ago. I was too slow and didn't realise how rare they were/how much they go for. It sold for £76!!!

>42 varielle: update- I went back and of course the Forster set was gone. 😩Not only that, there had been plenty of other folios there, now all gone. Somebody came by and cleaned house. The time to buy is when you see it. Carpe librum.

>52 varielle:

Bad luck!

If it's any consolation, though, the 1996 set suffers from split personality. Once taken out and opened, the books and illustrations are pleasant enough. But to get that far you are first beguiled by the worthy dull brown spines and tweedy red labels. Thus lulled into a false sense of slippers and sherry, you draw them out of the slipcase and are immediately and violently assaulted by a series of migraine-inducing narrow vertical stripes in cream, green and gold, where (I'm quite sure) angels fear to tread.

>53 boldface: Haha, thanks. I needed that. I have the set without the slipcase. The books are positioned on the shelf below eye-level - I'm looking at them as I type now in my study...the stripes are just visible...ready for a full-on assault.

By contrast, to manage to read the gaudy sets of Wodehouse, you have to get past their psychedelic event horizon, where time stops and all thoughts become impossibly dense and pointless.

I got „Why the caged bird sings“ on eBay marketplace Germany and was quite thrilled. Only 30€ with shipping.

Arrived a few days ago and it has some brownish dots on the cover…but even if I had known I would have taken it nevertheless. Otherwise in great condition and have never read it before.

My best second-hand find was The Third Policeman. I love FS's approach to that book. I think I paid $75.

Two years ago in Los Angeles I found copies of “The Oregon Trail” and “A History of the Indians of the United States“ in a Salvation Army.

They were $3 each, but luckily it was Black Friday and all books were 50% off!

Came home today to find a beautiful 1971 blue leather (lighter blue version) War and Peace had been delivered. I was not expecting it today as I thought it might take longer for delivery so it was a lovely surprise. Though not pristine it is absolutely gorgeous. I can’t actually believe I have it as I did not ever think I could afford one with how prices are (the last one on eBay went for over €500).

>58 assemblyman:

Congratulations on your find. The leather binding is to die for.

>59 folio_books: Some once living creature did...

Thank you. I am very pleased with it. I agree the leather binding is just lovely to hold. I kept taking it off the shelf last night.

>60 English-bookseller:

I hope that doesn't get your goat too much...

>61 assemblyman:

I'm reading from this edition now. It's a real pleasure.

>62 boldface: I bet. By coincidence I started on my 97 edition last week before I seen or ordered this one and there is now the big temptation to switch over but I may just stay with it this time.

I sometimes find the odd FS book in one of my favourite 2 charity shops.

Latest finds were Henry James - Portrait of a Lady and Mark Twain - Tom Sawyer. Both in pretty good condition. The slipcases show wear but the books themselves are like new. About £4 each I think.

I hope it is not off-topic as my question is about a book which you can find on the secondary market.

Burke's "The Italian Renaissance. Culture and Society in Italy" is still available on Folio's website for about 50£. Unfortunately they don't ship to Lithuania anymore so I've been searching for a copy on the secondary market and there are only a couple of books that are priced much higher - at 100$ and more. I've been searching for a couple of years now and it was always the same. Any ideas why?

>65 Lukas1990:

I expect it's just that there aren't many reasons, other than immediate disappointment, for anyone to buy a full priced Folio book then offer it for sale within a year or two - so early secondary market offers are mostly from professional operators (some folk here have meaner words for them) who buy in-print books from the publisher in the hope of selling them at a profit.

As the title has been available for a while, it may be due a sale appearance shortly, which could at least (if the discount is deep enough) prompt a few people to offer copies for sale at around the original Folio price.

>65 Lukas1990:
Have you tried using a forwarding agent to buy a large order direct from the FS once or twice a year?

Hi >65 Lukas1990: I live in The Netherlands where FS is still willing to ship. But things have also changed for European countries with Brexit taking effect. If I was to buy the book for £49.95 I have to pay 9% VAT at checkout and my only option to ship is express which amounts to £25 for a single book. Total cost would be £79.45. So it might be a better option to negotiate down to about that number with a secondhand seller as a new book would not save you any money.

>67 wcarter: I am only interested in that particular title and some other out of print FS books. So forwarding is not an option. I was just curious why there are so little copies on the secondary market for a higher price.

Due to the distuptions the FS caused by eliminating shipping to certain countries, some resellers are doing a service by offering in print books for small markups on platforms like eBay. Eg, the SE Dracula seems to be selling briskly on eBay, and after fees the seller definitely isn’t making a killing.

If the book costs £50 and cannot be shipped to you, it doesn’t seem such a bad deal to have to acquire it for $100.

Note this is different from shameless sellers like Island Books and Analecta Books that sell in print books for large markups, depending on buyers not knowing the books are still available from the FS directly.

My wife found (and gave to me for Christmas) a nearly perfect copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude. To say I am tickled is an understatement.

>42 varielle: re my line of whining about missing the Forster set, best beloved Santa was sneaking around and snagged it for my Xmas. 🎅🥰

>72 varielle: That’s a lovely story, congrats!

I just had delivered the four-volume set of Wilkie Collins' novels (sold as the Four Mysteries set) in a near fine condition. The set was sold back in the 90's so I am very pleased that this used set looks so good in its original slipcase.

I recently managed to grab the following:
1. Periodic Table (sealed for £28)
2. Treasure Island (excellent condition, unsealed for £63)
3. Songlines (good condition, £28)

I'm using a parcel-forwarding service, so hope everything reaches me fine.

Other books I'm currently looking at will cost me dearly on the secondhand market, so I'm not even thinking about them. However those two below come at reasonable prices:

1.Siege of Krishnapur
2.The War at the End of the World

I might buy them at some point.
Not too sure when I'll be able to buy them, but

I received the FS Three Kingdoms in the post yesterday after a very long search. This is one which I have been looking to acquire for years but the price was always too high when it did come up for sale. Finally have it for a reasonable enough price (€250). It will go nicely with my Outlaws of the Marsh. Photos don't do it justice :)

>76 assemblyman:

Congratulations! That's a lovely set. The silk binding is very striking.

>77 folio_books: Thank you. It was worth the wait. It has been one of my top FS wants for years now. Now I just have to plan when to read it.

I got:
1. North American Indians for £47, sealed.
It's OOP and I couldn't find cheaper sealed.

2. History of Western Philosophy, leather-bound for £43, perfect condition.
I'm pretty happy that I managed to get it, as I've seen many people praising this edition.

3. A History of the Indians of the United States for £17.
Happy to add this to my collection, although I think it'll be on sale very soon. I'm using a parcel-forwarding service for this one, so they may charge me more. :/

Recently found Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, as good as new condition, £10

>80 rolloc: Whoa.

Not a popular set, but I just won an auction for the 6 volume The Second World War Churchill set. I’ve been looking for this set for a while and usually never do eBay auctions because I feel like I’ll never win, but did this one on a whim and got the set for 42 pounds! Pretty happy to add this set to my library (though it will take up a significant amount of space!)

>82 RRCBS: I have this set and it's a great read. Mind you it's Churchill's own take and perhaps a bit biased in his favour.

>82 RRCBS: congratulations. I put in £41 because a part of me was nervous to explain the said family why a huge package has arrived.

I know the feeling…my husband just accepted three giant HP deuce editions and the Shackleton set. Luckily these will take a couple of weeks to get to Canada.

>85 RRCBS: how’s the shipping to Canada? Hope it’s not too costly.

>86 ironjaw: was the same cost as the books! But not bad, also includes import tax.

Latest 2 finds for me are Memoirs of a Georgian Rake by William Hickey and The diary of a village shopkeeper by Thomas Turner. Both in good condition and £6.99 each. Not really my usual reading material but sometimes that's part of the allure of getting these pretty obscure titles. Expands my horizons a bit.

>88 DaveGLeeds:
Absolutely beautiful books. You should collect the full set.
See https://www.librarything.com/topic/271392

Just got my LE copy of Madame Bovary. Found it on eBay about $30 below retail with free shipping. With the reduced price, not having to pay $50 for shipping, and a $20 off coupon from eBay I saved a bit over $100. Not bad since I was going to buy it full-price for my birthday in a few months!

>90 jskalitz: Nice find! Enjoy your new book.

Today my two new Folios arrived: Phantom of the Opera and Around the world in 80 days, which were a nice find. I paid €54 (Ca.£45) for both and they are in excellent condition 😃

Finally some luck on the second market

I got the quarter bound Apocrypha and the quarter bound Paradise Lost with Blake illustrations, for 70 EUR shipped. Pleased as Punch. The Apocrypha was missing a slipcase but otherwise both are in fine condition, and the presentation is just excellent. I hope to steal the others in this 'series' over time; Goethe, Blake's Jerusalem, Dante and so on.

Delighted with my newest acquisition from ebay, one of the 41 leather bound editions of 'Louis Philippe de Segur' from 1960.

>94 F.Trier: Nice find at £9.99(?). If so, this is the same seller who managed to sell a similar 1960 special binding of The Golden Ass for £280 one day before your winning bid and probably in response to the alert posted here! https://www.librarything.com/topic/309553#7743609

For some reason, the seller listed your find as 'faux leather', even though it is described as being bound in red morocco on the FSD wiki site. Either way, congratulations on being one of 41!

Edited to add: There should be a limitation page bound into the back of the book like this example https://www.librarything.com/topic/151317#6332362

>95 mr.philistine: it is described as being bound in red morocco on the FSD wiki site.

And in Folio 60.

>95 mr.philistine: yes that was the one. I have no complains over the price, indeed I would have been willing to pay far more. As you point out, the incorrect description was the sole reason for this low price.

It is number 18 for what it is worth, although I did not share a photo in my previous post of the limitation page. It is joining my number 21 1960 Golden Ass (not from the same seller).

Just arrived in the mail last night:
(Procopius): The Secret History
that will go on my immediate TBR

Safely received yesterday, a copy of Uncle Silas as produced by the Folio Society in early '90's (I think). Bargain price of under $20.00 (in the original slipcase).

>99 jillmwo: a copy of Uncle Silas as produced by the Folio Society in early '90's (I think).

A little earlier - 1988

>100 folio_books: Thank you for the date verification! Quite a few of my LibraryThing buddies have expressed enjoyment of Uncle Silas so I'm looking forward to reading this.

Found a nice copy of Wren's London to add to my small but growing collection of Folio Society volumes.

I finally found some more of the Letterpress Shakespeare companions other than the last ones that were on sale!
£22.50 wasn't bad actually. I was able to get:

- The Merchant of Venice
- The Tempest
- Two Gentlemen of Verona
- The Comedy of Errors

Had almost given up hope, because they very seldom appear on the second market...Maybe one day I will find Othello and Macbeth!

I just bought a nice copy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. ($30AUD inc postage) I know the art is divisive but something about it really appeals to me. I imagine there’s probably quite a few on the secondary market. Looking forward to reading it for the first time. My teaching career at an all girls school is now many years ago, but I’m sure I’ll be able to relate.

While the market is still pretty hot, occasionally nice Folios come up (some that are perhaps unfairly neglected / underrated).

If you like the art here , you will also like the other books illustrated by Beryl Cook. The Loved One and Mr Norris Changes Trains both published by Folio and easily available on the used market.

Another 2 this weekend

The complete Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans - illustrated by Ronald Searle
The Folio book of comic short stories - illustrated by Paul Cox

The illustrations in the first one are so good and really accentuate the tone of the writing. Very reminiscent of his work on St Trinians.

Generally, the slipcases are rubbed up when I get Folios from the charity shop but the books themselves are in superb condition. Mostly they appear unread

>106 DaveGLeeds: Good finds. Plenty of enjoyable reading there.

Your post also shows why slip cases are a great means of protecting books over the long term.

I wish more publishers used them.

I was lucky to find a still shrinkwrapped „Five little Pigs“ on eBay for just 35€. It was sold by someone who normally only sold water softener, toilet brushes or LED flashlights in boxes…😂

No idea why no one had spotted it yet, but I didn’t hesitate this time and was rewarded with a pristine book and very happy about it.

No flash light bonus though

I know there have been discussions/threads on this in the past, which I've read, but am interested in any thoughts on how the Thomas Hardy editions have held up as time has gone on.

I'm contemplating a copy of Tess of the D'Urb which looks very good - no scratches/wear to the spine title, which seems to be extremely rare. But there were comments that it does damage easily, so maybe I should find an edition from a different publisher. As a test, I bought a Penguin clothbound of Wide Sargasso Sea - not great... (they produce the Hardy set as well, of course)

>109 Jeremy53: you could always get the Folio edition and then do this: https://youtu.be/c8ZQiiWz83s

I got the 12 Bonds for 190€!
They are in perfect condition.

>111 David_Mauduit: wow, congratulations! That is indeed a great find!!
On eBay or in a bookstore?

>112 woodstock8786: Neither, I found it on a Belgian second hand website. It was first listed at 250€ but it progressively went down to 175€ + 15€ shipping.

>111 David_Mauduit: Wowsers, great catch! Enjoy those!

I just acquired a mint copy of As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning. I really like the edition, which I'd ignored for all this time since its release. I read on the blurb that Laurie Lee played the violin, so that'll be interesting to relate to...

Can anyone give a feedback on "Great stories of crime and detection"?
Found someone selling it for 25 euros.

>115 David_Mauduit: The four volume set? It’s great.

Saw Dante's Inferno (2004) at 50€.
Is that a good deal? Looks like the lowest you can find on ebay and else where is 100€.

>117 David_Mauduit:

It's about as good a price as is likely to come along - there are a few copies on ABE at £60-£80, there's also an earlier binding in decorated cloth that can be had for a little less. The trouble comes if you want to complete the Divine Comedy - the Purgatorio volume tends to be some way over £100, and the only Paradiso currently listed is at an insane but perhaps typical £675.

>118 terebinth: Thanks, I was expecting the 2 other volumes to be harder to find but I'm not in a hurry.
I'll probably buy it after I get more information from the seller.

Acquired the 1998 William Blake illustrated Dante's inferno for 15 pounds in the Oxfam in Notting Hill a couple of weeks ago. Good condition but without the slipcase.

Ended up getting Dante's Inferno for 48 euros with shipping. The book is brand new and looks amazing.
It is so big it doesn't fit on my book shelf standing up.

Last acquisition: The Dispossessed
Only 36€ and good condition, just a small bump in one corner of the slipcase.
I love the material used for the cover, it is very soft.
The only issue I have is the smell, it has a strong smell of cold cigarette when you open it.
Any advice on how to get ride of bad smell on a book?

>122 David_Mauduit: ...it has a strong smell of cold cigarette when you open it. Any advice on how to get ride of bad smell on a book?

The newspaper trick: https://www.librarything.com/topic/151792#7324149
Plastic receptacle + baking soda etc: https://www.librarything.com/topic/783#7593
Airing in sunlight?: https://www.librarything.com/topic/42134#708698
Stinky books: https://www.librarything.com/topic/321263#7185848
Caring for your Collections (useful links): https://www.librarything.com/topic/665
Storage practice (useful links): https://www.librarything.com/topic/42135#711674

>123 mr.philistine: Thanks! I will try the newspaper trick.

New second hand haul!
To Kill a Mockingbird has unfortunately its spine washed out and A Christmas Carol has a few marks on the spine.
I'm very impressed by the paper in A Christmas Carol, it is very thick. I like a lot the extra colour illustrations together with the end paper that are not in the new version.
I got the four of them for 120 € including shipping.

Latest find: Kelmscott Chaucer LE, £355. Book in perfect condition, minor bump to box (straightened now). Counting myself lucky!

>126 cinnamonspirit: Great find!

BTW, how did you straighten the bump? I guess, it would be hard to straighten a bumped corner of a slipcase (have some of these).

>127 Lukas1990: Lukas1990

I was lucky in that it was on an edge that stood out a little so a combination of fingers and rolling it with a marble (with some force!) did it. I think that’s easier with boxes though than slipcases due to the material.

I’ve not yet figured how to straighten the cardboard ones. Have looked at one (not very rare) set with nicked slipcase but have so far held back as I’m not sure how I’d go about it.

Nabbed Pinocchio for 32 EUR. I hope that's a fair price? Lovely edition, anyway.

I picked up a copy of the 1985 Zuleika Dobson. No slipcase and the printing on the spine shows some wear, but for two dollars at a thrift store I couldn't leave it behind.

Just got "The tomb of tutankhamun" (older version with the picture on the slipcase). It looks brand new. I had my doubts about the slipcase design but it actually looks much better in real. Got it for 75€ including shipping, seems like a good price considering I would need to pay 100€ more (without shipping) to get it directly from FS.

>131 David_Mauduit: Good find. That is a great set. I like the pictorial wraparound slipcases.

I very recently acquired the Laxdaela Saga for a couple of £s. 1975 printing, but the volume is in wonderful condition. The marbled paper, (Cockerell?), boards shows no fading at all, the binding is tight, the leather spine and gilt lettering fine.

There is a book plate - the original owner most certainly cared for their books.

>133 Amarisy: Kudos! I've been on the hunt for one of those myself. Pickings are slimmer in the US in that regard, so probably will have to order sight-unseen from across the pond.

>133 Amarisy: congrats! This was one of the first FS volumes I ever bought (about 15 years ago!). It’s a real treasure and a great example of the kind of elegant, beautiful gem FS can produce.

>133 Amarisy: etc.
Laxdaela Saga is reviewed at https://www.librarything.com/topic/338505

Thank you >136 wcarter: for the link to your review.

I don't have many Folio Soc. volumes that are pre 1990. I am astounded by the quality of the binding on the Laxdaela Saga. The book is nearly 50 years old, and is gorgeous. The slip case - well, I can only wish that the current Folio Society cases were as sturdy.

Just an FYI to Toronto folk that I was in the BMV bookstore on Edward street today and there are quite a few Folio Society books currently there in fine condition including the fine edition of Beowulf for $399 and Pinocchio for $249

There is a Holkham Bible LE that just popped up on Abebooks (no connection to seller). The main reason I am highlighting this is that it is numbered 1800 of 1750. I was wondering if this has happened much where an LE is numbered higher than it's limitation?

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31515589867&searchurl=pn...

>139 assemblyman:
That is indeed weird.

>139 assemblyman: >140 wcarter: The limitation page for posterity:

>141 mr.philistine:
Possibly Glenn (Folio-Books) could approach his contacts at the FS to see if they have an explanation for this.

>139 assemblyman: Another reference to 1800 limitation:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/2007-folio-society-limited-ed-221-800-192...

Possibly, it is a case of erratum on the limitation page. Alternatively, but I have to admit it usually happens in the opposite direction, FS printed more copies and expanded limitation. Either way, FS ought to have mentioned it somewhere, either in their website or in one of the magazines.

This morning at a thrift shop $2 Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
I am looking forward to a re-read, for me one of her best.

>142 wcarter: Possibly Glenn (Folio-Books) could approach his contacts at the FS

I'm certainly happy to give it a try.

>139 assemblyman: Well spotted! I initially thought perhaps it was someone who'd received copy number 1300 but was averse to the number 13 in any shape or form and had decided to plump the 3 into an 8, but the photo provided by Mr. Philistine removes that possibility. An explanation from the FS LE department would be most welcome, though given the staff cuts and changes since the year the Holkham Bible LE appeared over a decade and a half ago, any persons in the know may have left.

Brings up an interesting quandary regarding limitation if there are actually 50 more copies floating around than stated. What really prevents them printing extras other than a handshake agreement that they won't? As I understand it, it's very common to print extra copies that are not part of the limitation to put in the reference library or to give to special contributors or as replacement copies. But those don't usually get further numbers but follow some other counting (roman numerals or letters, or otherwise separate indications - or none at all).

Since part of the value lies in a known limitation, there's some sense of being robbed should there be a large number of additional volumes floating around.

>147 A.Godhelm: The contributor copies are lettered, and sometimes don’t go as high as 26. Replacement copies usually require either the return of the book or removal of the limitation page, after which they replace the book with the same number, once they have extras.

If they end up with extra books, I am not sure how they dispose of them, but usually they would have blank limitation pages and are referred to as out of series. They wouldn’t continue to number them beyond the maximum limitation number. These are usually valued less on the secondary market.

>148 What_What:
I’ve seen books advertised with the number space left blank, but what’s to keep the buyer from simply writing one in? And what do publishers actually do with the extras they print? Eventually, some of them seem to find their way into the marketplace.

>149 jroger1: I have a few titles with the colophon reading "This is copy number" and a blank. I suppose if I did write in a number, it would conflict with an existing number out there, and unless I had other copies to review the number itself would probably look very different (letter style, color of ink, etc). In some cases I'm not sure if these are extras left from the series, or just ones they forgot to number. Most of the presses involved are tiny or one-person operations.

>150 Shadekeep:
But if you were to forge a number in the space, even #1, you could sell it to an unsuspecting buyer who would probably not have another copy to compare it with. My point is that it is unethical for any publisher to print and bind additional copies and give them to friends or family or even to keep them on a shelf in a storeroom, because eventually they will find their way into an estate sale or bankruptcy sale. Extra pages might be printed but they shouldn’t be bound until needed for a replacement.

>151 jroger1: Oh, I agree that all copies should be numbered or otherwise have an indication that they are out of series or whatever. Leaving the limitation space blank is an invitation to mischief, regardless of how competently said mischief is executed.

Agreed, they should have something marked in the limitation space. Disagree they should only be bound on demand.

Publishers will usually print a certain number of extra copies because it makes the most sense for the binder to do them all at one time. Replacements are re-numbered and sent out until exhausted, as was the case with the LOTR, or you end up with extras, like many Letterpress Shakespeare, and who knows how they end up for public sale.

>142 wcarter: Possibly Glenn (Folio-Books) could approach his contacts at the FS

I'm certainly happy to give it a try.

And today I received a reply:

"I must admit to being slightly stumped by that (my 'notes' only really go back to 2008! so I don't have the launch details, but there would only have been 1750 made (with the possibility of 26 lettered copies). We didn't really ever used to have 'blanks' for replacements back 'in the day' so I don't think it has been re-numbered. And the numbering looks very much like Folio hand. My best guess is that the numberer made a mistake. Probably got to number 1600 in the pile and thought it felt more like 1800!"

So not a definitive answer but my opinion is that his best guess seems quite likely.

I recently picked up the Travels in Arabia Deserta LE. It’s missing the slipcase but getting it for £150 in otherwise perfect condition I can live with that. A gorgeous set.

>155 assemblyman: nicely done, that does seem like a good price even without a slipcase. I hadn't paid much attention to this and your post induced me to have a look. I've made a mental note to keep an eye on it.

>156 ubiquitousuk:

Good luck with that. You don't see them very often.

It's a lovely set. I was casually flicking through mine only yesterday.

>156 ubiquitousuk: Thanks. I’m delighted to have it. It was on my list of “love to have but way out of my price range” so I was not actively looking for it when it popped up. I can see it being one of my favourite FS books in my collection and would definitely recommend it (at the right price).

>158 assemblyman: I don't have either version, but the Limited Editions Club binding of Arabia Deserta looks really interesting and pretty well available. I don't know how the contents vary.

I broke my book-buying ban when I saw a steal on "The Bloody Chamber" for $20 at a used bookstore. Now back to my life of privation.

>159 PartTimeBookAddict: The LEC is a heavy abridgement

>160 gmacaree: What has been excised? Does it still retain qualities?

>161 PartTimeBookAddict: Not having the LEC, I couldn't say. But the abridgement will be substantial — by page length alone I'd guess it's about two-thirds of the work.

>162 gmacaree: Right. Have you read the full work? Is it something that can withstand abridgement or needs to be kept intact to feel you've gotten the complete picture.

I don't mind abridgements (like the shorter version of Captain Cook's Journals) when I'd rather just get a quicker overview of the whole story. Thanks.

>163 PartTimeBookAddict: I've read the full work, twice. It is difficult for me to see where cuts might be made without damaging the integrity of Doughty's work. There are some slower sections, but there's much of worth in the writing itself even when not much is happening.

Arabia Deserta is a work of literature in a way that Cook's Journals are not. I would aim to take on the whole thing! But as ever YMMV.

I have the abridged version, from the Heritage Press (the poor man's LEC). The abridgement was done by Edward Garnett and was approved by the author Charles Doughty. The editor said in his introduction that his approach was keeping "as much of the personal narrative as was feasible, and sacrificing the greater part of the vast store of information which renders Doughty's Travels indispensable to every student of Arabic and things Arab". He excised about 500 pages of the 1100 page length. Alas, I haven't read it yet, so I can't comment on the quality of the abridgement.

I have both the LEC and the FS LE. The LEC is an easier read. As >164 gmacaree: mentions, the FS LE can be a slog at times. It takes more than twice as long to get through the unabridged version. The FS LE has great period photographs.

Thanks for all the input everyone. I'm still on my buying ban, so I will wait for happenstance and see what version appears before me at the right time. Of course if I get a deal like assemblyman did, I'd jump on it!

Right now I'm still forcing my way through "Origins of Totalitarianism" which could have used a slight abridgement if it were up to me. It's good, but some of the points are repetitive and belaboured.

I am now a proud owner of Luttrell psalter! That thing is huuuge and smells like goat but I like it. Must be the high point of FS.

My latest second hand catch. You won't guess how much I paid for it!
They are all first print.
I love the design of the new Gormenghast but I'm still very happy to have found this version.
This also officially starts my collecting of the civilisation set.

Beautiful books and it sounds like you get them at a very good price. Well done.

My own view is that whether an ordinary Folio Society book is a first or some other printing is of no import, but opinion obviously varies.

>170 English-bookseller: yes to me it also doesn't matter if it is a first print but it was interesting to see that they are all first print. They were probably bought by someone who systematically ordered books from the new collection. Probably an effect of the subscription system.
I got them for 5€ each. There was many more I could have bought that would have been a great deal at that price but my space is limited and I didn't feel like buying them to just resell them for a profit.

I buy books at estate sales here in the US, so Folios don't show up as often here as in the UK (an "estate sale" is when someone dies, his heirs take what they want and then they hire a private company to sell off what remains. On occasion, this can include a fine collection of books).
Yesterday stumbled on a wonderful one, but just after I had already put a big dent in my budget the previous month. Scattered in 6-7 bookcases in almost every room of a rambling suburban ranch-style house were perhaps 300 Folio editions, most of them in slipcases. The folks running the sale wanted $10 each and there were two other book-persons elbow-to-elbow with me filling their bags. Then, when our bags were overflowing, all three of us had to empty them out and decide which ones we really wanted while peaking at each other's discard piles.
I ended up with only 7 books, 6 of them Folios. The prize is the Daniells' Illustrated Journey Round the World, which is oversized and filled with drawings of India. I generally prefer non-fiction, so I also bought The Siege of Paris, The Black Sea, Retreat from Moscow and The Grand Tour, plus Robert Graves The Siege and Fall of Troy, which I promptly sat down and read and now need to wash my hands to get off all of the blood and gore.
But not a bad haul for $70.
I've had good fortune with Folio lately. Last month I found The Black Death; The Eagle and the Sun; William Russell, Special Correspondent; Belloc's Cautionary Tales; and Lewis Carroll's Utter Nonsense, and Complete Nonsense, also for $10 each.
But now I may go another year or two before finding another.
PS - I awakened this morning with the fantasy of going back to the sale before they opened and offering the folks there, say, $2,000 for all of the 2,000-odd books remaining in the house and then opening a bookstore and a business on Amazon. One can always dream.

Thanks SJ >172 SteveJohnson: - that's interesting. Great to hear they went to loving homes!

I agree re: going through patches of finding second-hand Folios and long patches of not. I'm in Oz so like you, it's a little less common than it would be in the UK, obv.

I just bought an Everyman edition of Alice Munro's Carried Away. Haven't read any of her stuff yet, so looking forward to that. As for recent Folio purchases 2nd hand, I bought a couple back at the end of May: Travels with Charley and The Blind Watchmaker. $70 AUD together inc. postage. Not a bargain as such, but still pretty good, esp. given today's prices! (And both in excellent condition)

>172 SteveJohnson: I think there are easier ways to earn a living than selling books...

>174 English-bookseller: 'I think there are easier ways to earn a living than selling books...'

But would any of them make you happy? If not, keep on doing that thing that you do :-)

>171 David_Mauduit: wow, that is cool. Wherever did you get those for 5€ each? That’s a steal!

>176 woodstock8786: I saw a listing on a second hand website of someone selling tones of books, including FS. The woman selling them lost her father recently and does not really care about the value of each individual books. He owned a tone of books including about a 100 FS. They live 2km from my place, that is quite unexpected since I live in Belgium.
I actually couldn't resist and reserved a few others that I will pick up on Friday.

>177 David_Mauduit: Wow, what a find! Congrats! I can understand, get what you can, especially for that price!

I couldn't resist and went back to get more books!
Got those for 90€.
The Herodotus has the slipcase almost completely cracked on an edge and the end paper is getting a bit loose.
I did not check all the books out of their slipcase before buying them so I got a big surprise when I took Empires of the word out.
Anyone know how I can clean that or I should just throw it away?

A strong magnifier or loupe is helpful to see what you're dealing with (hard to tell from the picture), but initially I would give it a vigorous going over with a stiff bristle clothes brush, then depending on the results, follow up with a barely damp microfibre cloth. Maybe a good quality eraser or some squashed bread to try on any small blemishes, and a scalpel to lift any bits that are stuck to the boards. Go carefully and the best of luck!

>179 David_Mauduit: Amazing haul! What luck.

Personally, I would take the win and throw that volume out, especially if it smells like mold.

>180 red_guy: Thanks for the advice. It looks like a kind of mold caused by humidity. It grew on the pages too. It is strange because it is one of the most recent books of the collection and the slipcase does not have any damage. All the other books are fine.

>179 David_Mauduit:
Toss it!!

>183 wcarter:

Absolutely. To paraphrase Dorothy Parker, this is not a book to be tossed aside lightly. It needs to be thrown away with great force.

>179 David_Mauduit: Congratulations on an amazing haul, your own personal Naughty Trolley! But please throw that mouldy Empire of the Word volume out pronto. Don't even remove the slipcase again, every time you do you risk sending thousands of spores floating everywhere.

Great haul! And definitely throw that one out.

>181 PartTimeBookAddict: >183 wcarter: >184 folio_books: >185 cronshaw: >186 What_What: Thanks all, I threw it away. Still painful to put a FS in the trash :/

>169 David_Mauduit:
I love the design of the new Gormenghast but my still very happy to have found this version.
One of FS's most successful publications IMO - and a favourite in my collection. You have some lovely volumes - these were all from a time when, again very much from my point of view, FS got the balance of quality and title selections just right, and prices seemed all the more reasonable (even outside sales).

Mould can kill. There is a nasty incurable mould-based disease called Aspergillosis which usually develops with those suffering from asthma.

Mouldy books are best thrown away.