Any bibliophiles here?
 

Seeing that signed copies of Pynchon books are going for $21,000-$55,000 on eBay, I was just wondering if anyone here collects rare books. any interesting first editions or signed copies?

I'm still looking for a first edition of Fredrick Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent He wrote this book in the 20's or 30's appealing to the US government regarding the violence seen in comic books of the day.
His work lead to the Comic approval stamp seen on most comic books today. Of course, the comics of those days are considered G-rated compared to what's out today... Even comic books listed in that book have higher valuves.

I do have a signed copy of Vic Elford's Porsche Performance Driving Handbook Does that count? :D

I've got some older books, but I doubt they are worth anything...

-Z.

hah I would say the Elford book counts!

I have first editions of a couple of Pynchon's books (NOT Gravity's Rainbow, unfortunately), DF Wallace's INFINITE JEST, and a lot of more recent future-collectables (stuff by Wolfe, Suzannah Clarke)...

and then I have a couple books signed by Bruce Campbell, a couple signed by local/campus authors, and THE EDEN EXPRESS signed by Mark Vonnegut...

... but here's the big one: I have the rare, hardcover 25th anniversary edition of SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE personally signed for me (not bought off eBay) by Kurt Vonnegut. Similar items on eBay have gone for almost a grand or so... should be worth hanging onto.

I've got a HC copy of "If Chins Could Kill" signed for my wife and me by Bruce.

He's a cool guy.

I dont know if they are worth anything but I have some "history" books from the 1860's that say all kinds of crazy stuff about the evolution of the white man opposed to all other races, phrenology, alchemy, etc... These were passed down to me with some really neat biology books with hand drawn plates of anatomy from the late 19th century.

My dream would be to have a first edition of "Childhood's End" signed by Arthur C. Clarke

Indeed he is, went to a midnight movie showing of Evil Dead 2 once and he showed up and just hung out with us afterward, B.s.'ing and just kicking back...

I have a Reservoir Dogs poster signed by the whole cast except Keitel. Still cool, though...

My 911 engine rebuild book is signed by Wanye. That counts doesn't it?

I have a 4 volume set of Thomas Jeffersons Works (correspondence etc) published in 1829 by his nephew TJ Randolph...In the back of vol. 1 is an engraving of the rough draft of the Dec of Indep. ....the owner of the Books was Edwin Gow a relativily famous Penn. attorney.

THe Last Battle signed by Cornelius Ryan....I bought it for $0.49 in a thrift store...

I also have the Road and Track 50 Ferrari's Poster circa 1985 signed by Phil Hill and Luigi Chiannetti.....signed and numbered..

Jared - I don't know if they are worth anything (they probably are), but they are almost certainly worth it for comedic value.

BlueSky/Jared - Bruce is a very good guy; I interviewed him over the phone for a horror movie magazine I was writing for back in 2000 or so, then met him at a book signing in 2002. He didn't remember me, but that's okay.

Tabs - now THAT (the Jefferson books) is cool.

PJ O'Rourke signed my copy of Parliament of Whores. I'd annotated it and he signed it: "To JP, who took notes!! Cool!!".

And Victor Davis Hanson signed a copy of Carnage and Culture for me.

JP

I own a bookstore. Does that count for anything?

I have a signed book of artwork by Hoyt Axton - met him on the set of We're No Angels (starring Deniro and S Penn). He also wrote "The Pusher" made famous by the film Easy Rider. An excellent "good old boy" who died before his time.

IMHO: yours is a dream job.

I agree.