E-bay Books?
Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:51 pm
The very last place I would look for books would be E-bay. However, one never knows.
I just recently found an E-bay seller offering a copy of Frederick Soddy's superlative old book, "The Interpretation of Radium".
I already have 6 copies. It is one of those very few books that I just have to have all printings and editions. (of which there were a number). Soddy's book was published in 1909. The small first edition, first printing, sold out in months. There were other printings that followed quickly and by 1912, The book was in a third edition. The book was published rather constantly into the 20's. The first printer was John Murray of London. In the early 20s this was taken over by Putnam.
Putnams editions have the latest and best updated info, but nothing beats an early edition, as Soddy waxes eloquent and is obviously awe struck by radium and its radiations. This material is purged ruthlessly in later printings as being a bit maudlin. Too bad, it is a testament to the romantic spirit of late Victorian/Edwardian England.
Anyway, I figured that I could take a shot at another copy even though the conditon was not given or the edition #. It was only $20.00 to start and a decent, but well used, 1920, Putnam copy goes in the $40.00 range. So I shot for it.
I got it at $20.00! This was a real coup.
The book arrived today and low and behold it is a rare third edition of 1912, the last Murray printing, that I did not have! This puppy is worth at least $100.00! ( I enclose an image of its red highly embossed cover, which is a classic and identical to the first edition.)
So E-bay does, on rare ocassions, have a good book buy.
Richard Hull
I just recently found an E-bay seller offering a copy of Frederick Soddy's superlative old book, "The Interpretation of Radium".
I already have 6 copies. It is one of those very few books that I just have to have all printings and editions. (of which there were a number). Soddy's book was published in 1909. The small first edition, first printing, sold out in months. There were other printings that followed quickly and by 1912, The book was in a third edition. The book was published rather constantly into the 20's. The first printer was John Murray of London. In the early 20s this was taken over by Putnam.
Putnams editions have the latest and best updated info, but nothing beats an early edition, as Soddy waxes eloquent and is obviously awe struck by radium and its radiations. This material is purged ruthlessly in later printings as being a bit maudlin. Too bad, it is a testament to the romantic spirit of late Victorian/Edwardian England.
Anyway, I figured that I could take a shot at another copy even though the conditon was not given or the edition #. It was only $20.00 to start and a decent, but well used, 1920, Putnam copy goes in the $40.00 range. So I shot for it.
I got it at $20.00! This was a real coup.
The book arrived today and low and behold it is a rare third edition of 1912, the last Murray printing, that I did not have! This puppy is worth at least $100.00! ( I enclose an image of its red highly embossed cover, which is a classic and identical to the first edition.)
So E-bay does, on rare ocassions, have a good book buy.
Richard Hull