Signed bookplate

 >
 > Please tell me that I've misread your post.
 >
 > Scot Kamins
 > --

Looks that way Scot

I read it as two statements followed by a conclusion that the OP wants
clarifying:

Signed books are more valuable than unsigned
The author is deceased and therefore no new true signatures will appear.

Therefore:

Books with a bookplate (not particulary the authors bookplate, just a peice
of paper signed by the author) mut be worth more money than unsigned, yet
less than a true 'Flatsigned' copy. Plus they will add aesthetically to the
collection.

I would agree with this summation but qualify it by saying that if sold it
couldnt simple be called 'Signed', but instead 'Signed on loosely
inserted/affixed bookplate'

Cheers,

Tom L-M<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

In article <bu5fln$leb$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk>,
"Tom L-M" <sabran.DeleteThis@lintern-mole.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

  > >
  > > Please tell me that I've misread your post.
  > >
  > > --
 >
 > Looks that way Scot



Oh, goodie. Thanks, Tom. My faith in humanity is gradually being
restored. First week with the new brain; I'm not sure they hooked
everything up right.

(Last time I'll go to an off-shore discount surgery clinic, I'll tell
you THAT!)

Scot Kamins
--
Collecting the Modern Library 1917-1970
Modern Library Collecting Website at:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dogeared.com" target="_blank">http://www.dogeared.com</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

<Are we discussing the ethics of adding a signature to an
unsigned book, perhaps with the expectation of selling it as a book that
was actually signed by the author? Or worse, are we talking about
affixing a bookplate to a book, giving the fraudulent impression that
the book came from the library of an author?

<Please tell me that I've misread your post.

People live by different sets of ethics.
Ethics are like opinions. Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one.
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 06:03:04 GMT, "Al Kaff" <akaff DeleteThis @earthlink.net>
wrote:

 >I've noticed an ebay seller offering signed bookplates. I am interested in
 >perhaps obtaining one of a deceased author I collect and affixing it to a
 >book. Any thoughts on this? Clearly an actual signed book would be more
 >valuable, since it was actually held by the author at one point. However
 >common sense would also tell me that a book with a signed bookplate is more
 >valuable than an unsigned book, clearly more so in the case of a deceased
 >author whose signature is rare. How much value does a signed bookplate add
 >versus a signed book?
 >
 >Thanks, AL
 >

Al:

I could give you a much better answer if I knew who the author in
question was. If the bookplate is signed by a deceased author whose
sig is difficult to obtain, this could be an affordable alternative.
If it's the signature of a living author that's generally gracious
about signing books, there's not much point to the short-cut.

Back around 15-20 years there was a midwest mail-order specialist in
SF/Fantasy/Horror that went in for bookplates in a big way.
Considering that this was pre-internet and that they didn't charge
extra, this was a boon to customers that were in remote locations or
otherwise unable to gets books signed in person. Many of the plates
are of contemporary authors that make dozens of public appearances a
year or (like a couple that post here) are very accomodating about
signing book shipped to them if adequate return postage is included.
On the other if you were get a bookplate signed by Theodore Surgeon,
Robert Bloch, Manly Wade Wellman or another of the greats no longer
with us, that would be a fairly attractive addition to your volume.

I don't think such added material greatly enhances the value of a
book, but I've employed this method when there's no other way to do
it. For example, I have a couple of posthumous Bloch collections with
signed bookplates laid in. Obviously, were I to resell them I would
point out that there was no way that Bloch could've actually signed
them.

For my own copies of Ash-Tree, Tartarus, and Midnight House books, I
was lucky enough to snag autographs of Hugh Walpole, Violet Hunt and
Robert Hichens to include with the new editions of their short
stories.

Cheers,

John<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

"John Pelan" <jpelan.TakeThisOut@cnw.com> wrote in message
news:85he00p5dcif3uemvpuuplgrs8p5cj2023@4ax.com...
 > On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 06:03:04 GMT, "Al Kaff" <akaff.TakeThisOut@earthlink.net>
 > wrote:
 >
  > >I've noticed an ebay seller offering signed bookplates. I am interested
in
  > >perhaps obtaining one of a deceased author I collect and affixing it to a
  > >book. Any thoughts on this? Clearly an actual signed book would be more
  > >valuable, since it was actually held by the author at one point. However
  > >common sense would also tell me that a book with a signed bookplate is
more
  > >valuable than an unsigned book, clearly more so in the case of a deceased
  > >author whose signature is rare. How much value does a signed bookplate
add
  > >versus a signed book?
  > >
  > >Thanks, AL
  > >
 >
 > Al:
 >
 > I could give you a much better answer if I knew who the author in
 > question was. If the bookplate is signed by a deceased author whose
 > sig is difficult to obtain, this could be an affordable alternative.
 > If it's the signature of a living author that's generally gracious
 > about signing books, there's not much point to the short-cut.

Thanks for the responses. The author is pulp/mystery writer William Campbell
Gault who died in 1995. His signature appears to be uncommon. This somewhat
lame method of obtaining a "signed" book via a signature on a bookplate laid
in would be for my own aesthetic pleasure. Your answers seem to support my
initial thoughts that the value is increased somewhat, but not a lot, and
that the book would indeed be more aesthetically pleasing. Of course that's
as long as the signature is authentic!

AL<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 03:14:27 GMT, "Al Kaff" <akaff RemoveThis @earthlink.net>
wrote:

 >
 >"John Pelan" <jpelan RemoveThis @cnw.com> wrote in message
 >news:85he00p5dcif3uemvpuuplgrs8p5cj2023@4ax.com...
  >> On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 06:03:04 GMT, "Al Kaff" <akaff RemoveThis @earthlink.net>
  >> wrote:
  >>
   >> >I've noticed an ebay seller offering signed bookplates. I am interested
 >in
   >> >perhaps obtaining one of a deceased author I collect and affixing it to a
   >> >book. Any thoughts on this? Clearly an actual signed book would be more
   >> >valuable, since it was actually held by the author at one point. However
   >> >common sense would also tell me that a book with a signed bookplate is
 >more
   >> >valuable than an unsigned book, clearly more so in the case of a deceased
   >> >author whose signature is rare. How much value does a signed bookplate
 >add
   >> >versus a signed book?
   >> >
   >> >Thanks, AL
   >> >
  >>
  >> Al:
  >>
  >> I could give you a much better answer if I knew who the author in
  >> question was. If the bookplate is signed by a deceased author whose
  >> sig is difficult to obtain, this could be an affordable alternative.
  >> If it's the signature of a living author that's generally gracious
  >> about signing books, there's not much point to the short-cut.
 >
 >Thanks for the responses. The author is pulp/mystery writer William Campbell
 >Gault who died in 1995. His signature appears to be uncommon. This somewhat
 >lame method of obtaining a "signed" book via a signature on a bookplate laid
 >in would be for my own aesthetic pleasure. Your answers seem to support my
 >initial thoughts that the value is increased somewhat, but not a lot, and
 >that the book would indeed be more aesthetically pleasing. Of course that's
 >as long as the signature is authentic!
 >
 >AL
 >

Fine author, and no, he's certainly not going to be signing any more
books... However, Gault's signature isn't particularly difficult (at
least not out on the Left Coast) there must be three-dozen signed
firsts of his titles on ABE. That said, he's one of those writers that
with certain titles you could look for years and never find a signed
copy, so if you've got one of his scarce 1950s titles, go for it! A
bookplate's better than nothing.

Cheers,

John<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

Al Kaff wrote:
 > "John Pelan" <jpelan.DeleteThis@cnw.com> wrote in message
 > news:85he00p5dcif3uemvpuuplgrs8p5cj2023@4ax.com...
 >
  >>On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 06:03:04 GMT, "Al Kaff" <akaff.DeleteThis@earthlink.net>
  >>wrote:
  >>
  >>
   >>>I've noticed an ebay seller offering signed bookplates.

[snip]

 > Thanks for the responses. The author is pulp/mystery writer William Campbell
 > Gault who died in 1995. His signature appears to be uncommon. This somewhat
 > lame method of obtaining a "signed" book via a signature on a bookplate laid
 > in would be for my own aesthetic pleasure. Your answers seem to support my
 > initial thoughts that the value is increased somewhat, but not a lot, and
 > that the book would indeed be more aesthetically pleasing. Of course that's
 > as long as the signature is authentic!
 >
 > AL
 >
 >

I think signatures in general are interesting (we talked in an earlier
thread about books that authors have signed unbound pages of that are
bound in later). It seems potentially hard to prove provenance (is it an
authentic signature?) to a bookplate. On the other hand, it is
attractive to have something the author's actual hand touched to add to
a book, especially if they are no longer around. And it might have
helped out the author who got paid at some point for signing the
bookplate. I think it would add to my personal satisfaction to own a
book and a signed bookplate, although not nearly as much as if I
personally got the signature. I think the added resale value would be
questionable. The authenticity factor would probably be the biggest
block to added value - how can you prove it is authentic? If you do get
a signed bookplate, I'd think the best advice would be to have some kind
of provenance (distinctive signature, place of acquisition, etc.) and
lay it in, don't paste it down.

PS - I know 'flatsigned' is almost a dirty word around here these days,
but does what does that mean in the realm of signatures - is it on a
bound book, pre-bound page, bookplate, etc?

--
Pris Sears
sears at vt dot edu
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://filebox.vt.edu/users/sears/" target="_blank">http://filebox.vt.edu/users/sears/</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 04:52:55 -0500, p sears
<sears DeleteThis @nospamplease.vt.edu> declared:

 > I know 'flatsigned' is almost a dirty word around here these days,
 >but does what does that mean in the realm of signatures - is it on a
 >bound book, pre-bound page, bookplate, etc?

for all intensive purposes it means the actual book is signed, without
any sort of personal inscription, i.e. just the signature.


Robert

The sound of gunfire, off in the distance, I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstore, lived in the ghetto, I've lived all over this town
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

I would prefer to have the book plate laid in, and not attached, and it
probably makes it a tad easier to sell. Still, if it's for your collection,
and not for resale, go ahead and attach it if you prefer it that way. I have
collected many signed bookplates, and also some signed 3x5 cards from when I
was into getting autographs by mail. It's all good.

---Mike
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.booktouronline.com" target="_blank">http://www.booktouronline.com</a>



"Al Kaff" <akaff RemoveThis @earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:s2qNb.8265$q4.5938@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
 > I've noticed an ebay seller offering signed bookplates. I am interested in
 > perhaps obtaining one of a deceased author I collect and affixing it to a
 > book. Any thoughts on this? Clearly an actual signed book would be more
 > valuable, since it was actually held by the author at one point. However
 > common sense would also tell me that a book with a signed bookplate is
more
 > valuable than an unsigned book, clearly more so in the case of a deceased
 > author whose signature is rare. How much value does a signed bookplate add
 > versus a signed book?
 >
 > Thanks, AL
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

"Al Kaff" <akaff.DeleteThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<nGINb.9386$q4.5304@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
 > "John Pelan" <jpelan.DeleteThis@cnw.com> wrote in message
 > news:85he00p5dcif3uemvpuuplgrs8p5cj2023@4ax.com...
  > > On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 06:03:04 GMT, "Al Kaff" <akaff.DeleteThis@earthlink.net>
  > > wrote:
  > >
   > > >I've noticed an ebay seller offering signed bookplates. I am interested
 > in
   > > >perhaps obtaining one of a deceased author I collect and affixing it to a
   > > >book. Any thoughts on this? Clearly an actual signed book would be more
   > > >valuable, since it was actually held by the author at one point. However
   > > >common sense would also tell me that a book with a signed bookplate is
 > more
   > > >valuable than an unsigned book, clearly more so in the case of a deceased
   > > >author whose signature is rare. How much value does a signed bookplate
 > add
   > > >versus a signed book?
   > > >
   > > >Thanks, AL
   > > >
  > >
  > > Al:
  > >
  > > I could give you a much better answer if I knew who the author in
  > > question was. If the bookplate is signed by a deceased author whose
  > > sig is difficult to obtain, this could be an affordable alternative.
  > > If it's the signature of a living author that's generally gracious
  > > about signing books, there's not much point to the short-cut.
 >
 > Thanks for the responses. The author is pulp/mystery writer William Campbell
 > Gault who died in 1995. His signature appears to be uncommon. This somewhat
 > lame method of obtaining a "signed" book via a signature on a bookplate laid
 > in would be for my own aesthetic pleasure. Your answers seem to support my
 > initial thoughts that the value is increased somewhat, but not a lot, and
 > that the book would indeed be more aesthetically pleasing. Of course that's
 > as long as the signature is authentic!
 >
 > AL

I personally find signed bookplates (and any other impersonal
method for disseminating an author's sig as a matter of convenience)
very tacky, even when they don't pose ethical problems. If mailing
costs is prohibitive, better just to get the author's signature
directly on any piece of paper and treat it like an autograph.*

*Years ago, before I care to save anything, I wrote to an author (who
since then has become much more well known) to ask about a
linguistical problem posed in her book; she was kind enough to reply
with a handwritten letter while still recovering from surgery. Now
that kind of author "signature" is what I value --damn I wish I kept
that letter.

--
Ht<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

"Al Kaff" <akaff DeleteThis @earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<nGINb.9386$q4.5304@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
 > "John Pelan" <jpelan DeleteThis @cnw.com> wrote in message
 > news:85he00p5dcif3uemvpuuplgrs8p5cj2023@4ax.com...
  > > On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 06:03:04 GMT, "Al Kaff" <akaff DeleteThis @earthlink.net>
  > > wrote:
  > >
   > > >I've noticed an ebay seller offering signed bookplates. I am interested
 > in
   > > >perhaps obtaining one of a deceased author I collect and affixing it to a
   > > >book. Any thoughts on this? Clearly an actual signed book would be more
   > > >valuable, since it was actually held by the author at one point. However
   > > >common sense would also tell me that a book with a signed bookplate is
 > more
   > > >valuable than an unsigned book, clearly more so in the case of a deceased
   > > >author whose signature is rare. How much value does a signed bookplate
 > add
   > > >versus a signed book?
   > > >
   > > >Thanks, AL
   > > >
  > >
  > > Al:
  > >
  > > I could give you a much better answer if I knew who the author in
  > > question was. If the bookplate is signed by a deceased author whose
  > > sig is difficult to obtain, this could be an affordable alternative.
  > > If it's the signature of a living author that's generally gracious
  > > about signing books, there's not much point to the short-cut.
 >
 > Thanks for the responses. The author is pulp/mystery writer William Campbell
 > Gault who died in 1995. His signature appears to be uncommon. This somewhat
 > lame method of obtaining a "signed" book via a signature on a bookplate laid
 > in would be for my own aesthetic pleasure. Your answers seem to support my
 > initial thoughts that the value is increased somewhat, but not a lot, and
 > that the book would indeed be more aesthetically pleasing. Of course that's
 > as long as the signature is authentic!
 >
 > AL

I personally find signed bookplates (and any other impersonal
method for disseminating an author's sig as a matter of convenience)
very tacky, even when they don't pose ethical problems. If mailing
costs is prohibitive, better just to get the author's signature
directly on any piece of paper and treat it like an autograph.*

*Years ago, before I care to save anything, I wrote to an author (who
since then has become much more well known) to ask about a
linguistical problem posed in her book; she was kind enough to reply
with a handwritten letter while still recovering from surgery. Now
that kind of author "signature" is what I value --damn I wish I kept
that letter.

--
Ht<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate 

<<I personally find signed bookplates (and any other impersonal
method for disseminating an author's sig as a matter of convenience)
very tacky, even when they don't pose ethical problems. >>

The exception to this is a situation where the book couldn't otherwise be
signed (or at least not easily.) At a World SF Con several years ago, the plan
was to sell Harlan Ellison's ANGRY CANDY and to provide a presentation by
Ellison with him signing afterward. Unfortunately, the book wasn't there and
ready for signing, so the publisher provided bookplates (with artwork, even)
that Ellison signed and then the books were shipped to purchasers later. Made
for an interesting collectible.
Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Signed bookplate