Vanguard Press in 1935

Does anyone have any suggestions for finding out the size of a run for
an unsuccessful book? I have a book that they printed in 1935 (Hedwig
by Vance Randolph) and am curious about how many copies are in
existence.

I contacted Vanguard Press (via letter) and have been ignored (yeah,
big surprise). I understand that the industry likes to keep those
numbers secret, but hope that someone has a general idea of the number
of copies "normally" printed for a first run. The author was
successful with the "Little Blue Books" and some anthologies of folk
tales, but this was his first and only incursion into fiction.

Thanks for any help.

Sam wrote:

> Does anyone have any suggestions for finding out the size of a run for
> an unsuccessful book? I have a book that they printed in 1935 (Hedwig
> by Vance Randolph) and am curious about how many copies are in
> existence.
>
> I contacted Vanguard Press (via letter) and have been ignored (yeah,
> big surprise). I understand that the industry likes to keep those
> numbers secret, but hope that someone has a general idea of the number
> of copies "normally" printed for a first run. The author was
> successful with the "Little Blue Books" and some anthologies of folk
> tales, but this was his first and only incursion into fiction.
>
> Thanks for any help.


Unfortunately, I cannot give you any help on the exact question you ask. I can
only add complications. There is no normal number for a first printing. The
number depends on several factors. A new author will get fewer books printed
than a published author who will get fewer books printed than a best selling
author, EXCEPT THAT if the new author is writing about some especially
titallating subject - the Kennedys, Diana, Jack the Ripper, some conspiracy or
other - the number of books printed goes up dramatically.

Of course, books printed do not translate into books sold, and all too often,
books unsold translates into remainders followed by pulping of the remainder of
the remainders. So, without knowing the pulping number, even if you know the
printed number, you have only one point on the chart.

But then I look at the Vanguard Press web site, and see the words "A unique
collaboration between publisher and author." That can mean anything, including
vanity printing. When I read the section "About Vanguard Press", I did not get
the feeling that it was a vanity publisher; on the other hand, I wasn't sure
what it is.

So I went to AddALL.com, and looked for your book. Nothing. Absolutely
nothing, even though the system canvasses about 15 major on line sellers. At
least you can say it is rare. Of course, without demand, rarity is nothing.


Francis A. Miniter