My understanding is that for purposes of collectors, book-club editions are less desirable than editions that are initially published, i.e., first editions, second editions and the like. Probably will have no impact on your enjoyment of the contents of the book. Me, I buy only from thrift stores so I am no collector, just a reader.

Often book club editions are a different size or cover than the originals. Collectors either shun book club editions or collect them exclusively; however, a book seller is expected by knowledgeable buyers to disclose as much information as possible about condition and edition, so this is fairly standard practice. If you are buying this as a reading copy, there should be no difference in the text between book club editions and retail sale editions, in fact, often the book club editions are in pretty good shape.

If you are buying a lot of used books, you may find useful this is a link to a set of standardized descriptions used in the book collector and used book seller world. Since you cannot see the books, it is good to know what you are getting.

And I agree. If you just want to read the book, it will not matter whether it is a book club edition (or BCE) or not. The text should be the same. If you are a collector, it may matter to you.

I don't know if you read science fiction and fantasy, but sometimes BCEs are all you can find of many older SF&F titles. Until about twenty or so years ago this genre was generally only published as paperback or as book club editions. Hardback publication was pretty rare in the SF world though even then not unknown. A few established writers could find publishers for hardback editions of their work even then.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: ABE book descriptions

Not that it adds much to what others have posted, but book club editions are much less desirable to a collector. Cheaper paper, lower quality binding, often smaller than the original--sometimes even abridged or missing illustrations. I am a longtime collector and would never buy a book club edition in my field, unless the original was impossible to find.

If it's a book you just want to read, book club editions are fine.

Hey thanks guys - that's been helpful.

When I read "not a book club edition" I figured the seller was warning me LOL! - from what ya'll are saying he's telling me something good about the edition.

Thanks a lot!

Well, if you are a collector, he's telling you that you don't have to worry about it being a book club edition, but I suspect you know that there is much more to it than that when it comes to the value of the book.

But if you are just getting a book to read, its fine.

BTW I often start my used book search with Bookfinder.com. Its an umbrella site for all of the others like ABE and Albiris etc. Its a good way to compare copies and prices at different places.

Luvdogs, no, it's the exact opposite. A book club edition is *not* good--unless you're only going to read it and toss it.

no Ginny, she's right-the seller is stating it's NOT a book club edition, it's a good thing.

"He's telling me something good" was a bit confusing--at least to me!

I'm curious, Ginny, what do you collect? Martin collects Booker prize novels and I think the writing of Paul Gallico, but no one else on this forum has mentioned being a collector, as far as I know. I myself am more of a book gatherer than a book collector, but I find book collecting intriguing.

Rosefolly

A book gatherer - I like that. I do collect children's illustrated books from the turn of the last century (about 1880-1920). Most that I have aren't really that rare, tho I do have a few treasures including a first American edition Winnie the Pooh, and an early edition of Little Women.

I have two collections. The main one, which I have been working on for over 25 years, is American garden books published from 1800 to 1940, especially those written by American women. I bought the majority of these books by roaming thru used, rare and out of print book stores, a habit I learned at my mother's knee--literally. Now of course the internet is my chief resource, tho you miss a lot that way. My first used book was a Nancy Drew, bought when I was about 9--I'm sure many of you can relate to that.

I also have many other garden books written by men of that time period and written by non-American, mostly English, authors. And I have my contemporary garden authors collection, which I use to garden from.

My other collection is related. I collect autobiographies, first-person memoirs and biographies of American women, from European settlement to 1940, tho I do have some more recent books in that area.

And of course I have my non-collection books, a vast throng which threaten the timbers of my house--but what can you do? I can't stop buying books. I purged my shelves once and have been losing sleep over it ever since.

Sounds wonderful, Ginny. An ardent gardener, I "gather" garden books myself, many topics especially roses. I would not call what I have a true collection, though.

Cindy, I have sometimes thought of collecting old children's books. I love the illustrations. Unfortunately, others thought of it before I did, and they became too expensive for me.

R

Hee, I understand. If you enjoy them, start with some newer editions - there are some wonderful remakes that are quite lovely - I have several of these. But keep looking for the older editions - making sure to that when you find them, they are in good to excellent condition before you consider spending the money to buy.

I ran across a book that should whet your appetite for the illustrations you love : The Fantastic Kingdom. Its a collection of illustrations from the late 1800s early 1900s edited by David Larkin. You have to go through bookfinder.com and other search engines to find it, but its worth checking out. The book has over 40 plates by famous illustrators of the time such as Kay Neilsen, Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rachman, Maxfield Paris and Howard Pyle.

One other thing about book-club editions: Some used-book stores in communities where I've lived wouldn't buy them even for store credit. But there are lots of other places--like libraries, senior citizen facilities, hospital reading rooms--to take them when you're done reading them and don't want to keep them on your shelves.

Nursing homes or "adult day care" facilities are an excellent place to start-when my grandmother passed away, we donated my grandmother's entire collection of book club editions and the bookshelf to a local daytime senior center. Many older people (including myself, I have suddenly found to my utter surprise!) prefer a hardback to a paperback. Slightly larger print and if necessary, can be laid on a table or lap pillow to read and usually will stay open to the page.

Two things come to mind when I browse these missives:

1.) "Book Club Editions" - I've bought always have a "Book Club Discussion Suggestions" section in the back (after the last page of the story). These are aids for guiding discussions about that book. Also, sometimes there's a Q&A section w/the author.

2.) When I was doing volunteer work for The Used Bookstore/Cafe (NYCity's Soho neighborhood), one day a strange and wonderful thing happened. A large carboard box full of books had been dropped off for donation. When the store manager unloaded them, one ho-hum book after another appeared, until ... at the botoom, the very last one -- a small volume by TS Eliot -- a first edition -- worth $1,500.

lauramarie-the "Book Club Editions" that used book sellers refer to are not the ones that we can buy now, with the discussion questions in the back-although someday they probably will be. "Book Clubs" as referred to by a used book seller are books that were sold by subscription through the mail. Literary Guild was one that I remember. They would buy the second rights to a book, reprint it on cheaper paper with a redrawn cover, and each month send out the "title of the month" to their members.

OK, ccr.

Another one was Book of the Month Club. I used to get books from the Science Fiction Book Club once upon a time. They worked just like the record clubs of the time. I don't imagine any of them are still around.

Rosefolly

Oh yes they are, as well as all of their clones: Children's book of the month club, history book of the month club, name your favorite topic book of the month club. I was a member a while back but realized that most of the books they had were not the ones I wanted to read.

Here is a link that might be useful: book of the month club

How interesting, Cindy. I had assumed that those clubs were designed for and patronized by people who did not have convenient access to good bookstores. With the rise of Amazon and Barnes and Noble online, I thought they would have faded away.

Rosefolly

They haven't completely faded away for at least one reason. Unless you tell them otherwise in advance, they automatically send you the book of the month. A lot of people, speaking, ahem, from experience, don't get around to sending in the refusal and thus end up with a lot of books they don't want.

When I was in college, the Time-Life corporation was in hot pursuit of me for failing to pay up for the history books they kept sending. My father rescued me from a life of crime, paid the bill and cancelled the membership. Confession is good for the soul.

I belong to the Mystery Guild and Literary Guild. They are cheap books (and you can reply on line now), and for authors I collect but do not care about having top-of-the-line copies of, e.g., Anne Perry, etc., they are perfect.

Also, the monthly bulletins keep me clued in to books I might want to read but not buy, so I order them on line from the library.

I too, am in several books clubs. After I buy the two required books, I cancel my membership. In a month or two, the club sends me a letter wanting me back In order to tempt me back into the club, they offer me several free books. I take the books, buy the two reired (at a fairly good rate) and cancel again. I have been doing this since I was 13 years old. I am now er, a LOT older. I don't buy buy books I know I want to keep forever this way, but I do buy the mysteries I love and the popular bestsellers. Also some gardening books and cookbooks.

I belong to the Quality Paperback Book Club but hardly ever buy anything from them. I just like reading what they offer as it keeps me up to date on what is out there.

I do, however, have to keep an eye on my mail and make sure that I refuse their books every month. I have a few that I don't want turn up on my door step every now and then!

Do the book club offers include lots of gifts to entice you to join? Here in Sweden prospective members are lured by "gifts" that have nothing to do with books, and I must confess that I fell for the latest offer from one of these clubs. I got three books for next to nothing, a leather handbag with matching wallet and an afghan throw. I cancelled as soon as I could, after three compulsory books, because most of the books are either translated from English or are self-help books. I read English language books in the original and get by without help from books.