Facsimile hardcover dustwrappers.
Posted: 07 Jul 2016, 07:26
I'm not quite sure if I've put this in the right sub-forum or not: it is prompted by a post I saw in the "For Sale" department, but doesn't directly relate to it - so I won't distract that thread with my question.
When I followed a link for an eBay sale of a Famous Five book signed by Enid Blyton, I decided I wasn't interested - not only because of the high price, but because the book didn't seem in very good condition, and it was clear that it was Enid Blyton's signature that was commanding the high price. (I am less interested in having signed books than in just having good copies in as good condition as possible.)
But I followed a link at the bottom of the page which led to a copy of "Five Go to Mystery Moor" which *did* look a lot more interesting. I have almost given up hope of finding a complete series Famous Five hardcovers with dustwrappers that won't bankrupt me; but this did seem for a minute to renew my hopes of accumulating such a series after all.
(I do have all the Famous Five books, and all in hardcover (with many duplications) except for "Five Have a Mystery to Solve"; but more than half have no dustwrappers, and most of those that do are very tatty, and some are in slightly later editions with Betty Maxey's illustrations, or else Eileen Soper's illustrations but later versions lacking the colour shading of earlier ones, and often printed more fuzzily and poorly, too. I am now less inclined to buy a copy if I suspect I won't be satisfied with it long-term, and later want to buy a better one. I've already wasted too much money playing that game.)
I almost bought this "Mystery Moor" copy, but took another look; and it is from this that my question stems.
What stayed my hand was my belatedly noticing that the dustwrapper was a facsimile one. I assume that means that someone photocopied a real dustwrapper and put it on the book. I have never seen one of these in person, so I am wondering just how well they turn out.
These facsimile dustwrappers do seem to be becoming more and more common, which I suppose underlines how the real ones are becoming rarer and rarer, and more and more expensive. Perhaps I may have to be satisfied with these if I want to get the complete series.
But what are they like? If you look at them, is it obvious that they are not the real ones? Do the colours reproduce well, and is the detail sharp, or kind of fuzzy? Does the style or quality of the paper look obviously different from the original dustwrappers?
This copy I nearly bought was £12, which seemed quite good for a book I first thought had a real dustwrapper; but now I am wondering if it is a tad expensive for a copy with a facsimile wrapper. But I am now a bit out of touch with what prices are reasonable for what.
Given that seeing this did slightly renew my hope of, even now, gathering a decent Famous Five collection, I would very much appreciate hearing anyone's thoughts about, or experiences with, books with facsimile dustwrappers - and also guidance about what prices would be reasonable for books in reasonably good condition with facsimile wrappers.
I don't have a particular issue about buying *first* editions; but I strongly prefer *early* enough editions that the colour shading in illustrations is still there (it got removed some time in the 1960s) - this includes having those large front- and end-paper illustrations with the colouring that was originally in them. Also, having the full-colour frontispiece illustrations is ideal, too, but I suppose makes things a lot more difficult.
Thank you.
Regards, Michael.
When I followed a link for an eBay sale of a Famous Five book signed by Enid Blyton, I decided I wasn't interested - not only because of the high price, but because the book didn't seem in very good condition, and it was clear that it was Enid Blyton's signature that was commanding the high price. (I am less interested in having signed books than in just having good copies in as good condition as possible.)
But I followed a link at the bottom of the page which led to a copy of "Five Go to Mystery Moor" which *did* look a lot more interesting. I have almost given up hope of finding a complete series Famous Five hardcovers with dustwrappers that won't bankrupt me; but this did seem for a minute to renew my hopes of accumulating such a series after all.
(I do have all the Famous Five books, and all in hardcover (with many duplications) except for "Five Have a Mystery to Solve"; but more than half have no dustwrappers, and most of those that do are very tatty, and some are in slightly later editions with Betty Maxey's illustrations, or else Eileen Soper's illustrations but later versions lacking the colour shading of earlier ones, and often printed more fuzzily and poorly, too. I am now less inclined to buy a copy if I suspect I won't be satisfied with it long-term, and later want to buy a better one. I've already wasted too much money playing that game.)
I almost bought this "Mystery Moor" copy, but took another look; and it is from this that my question stems.
What stayed my hand was my belatedly noticing that the dustwrapper was a facsimile one. I assume that means that someone photocopied a real dustwrapper and put it on the book. I have never seen one of these in person, so I am wondering just how well they turn out.
These facsimile dustwrappers do seem to be becoming more and more common, which I suppose underlines how the real ones are becoming rarer and rarer, and more and more expensive. Perhaps I may have to be satisfied with these if I want to get the complete series.
But what are they like? If you look at them, is it obvious that they are not the real ones? Do the colours reproduce well, and is the detail sharp, or kind of fuzzy? Does the style or quality of the paper look obviously different from the original dustwrappers?
This copy I nearly bought was £12, which seemed quite good for a book I first thought had a real dustwrapper; but now I am wondering if it is a tad expensive for a copy with a facsimile wrapper. But I am now a bit out of touch with what prices are reasonable for what.
Given that seeing this did slightly renew my hope of, even now, gathering a decent Famous Five collection, I would very much appreciate hearing anyone's thoughts about, or experiences with, books with facsimile dustwrappers - and also guidance about what prices would be reasonable for books in reasonably good condition with facsimile wrappers.
I don't have a particular issue about buying *first* editions; but I strongly prefer *early* enough editions that the colour shading in illustrations is still there (it got removed some time in the 1960s) - this includes having those large front- and end-paper illustrations with the colouring that was originally in them. Also, having the full-colour frontispiece illustrations is ideal, too, but I suppose makes things a lot more difficult.
Thank you.
Regards, Michael.
Also, although it happens all the time, I'm pretty sure there must be a breach of copyright involved in making copy dust jackets specifically for selling.