Easton Press Masterpieces of Science Fiction

This is actually a sort of self-serving post. Myhusband collected this entire series of books, along with many others in Easton Press's 100 Greatest Books series and also some from the Greatest Fantasy (I forget the correct phrasing but the same concept - the most important, influential books in Fantastical literature)

Like the rest of the world, we've been forced to liquidate things we'd have preferred to keep and the Masterpieces of Science Fiction is the latest "lamb" on that altar.

So let me tell you , in case you don't know, just a little about these books.

First, they are are all First Editions. They faithfully reproduced the First Edition - mistakes and all. BUT they marked them as facisimile first editions. I have only had one idiot get pissed cause he thought he was getting a real first editon. And truthyfully, many times, the Easton Press edition is worth more than the true first.

2. They have beautiful leather bindings with gorgeous blind-stamped gilt decoration.

3. The page ends are all coated in gilt and each book came with a bookplate to be affixed, and a "Collector's Notes" page.

4. The Collector's Notes explains which version of the first edition they used (meaning who owned the one they used to reproduce it) and what the author had going on in his life and his writing at the time it was published. There are folks who just collect these Notes.

5. Some copies of each book included in Easton Presses series are signed by the author. These books are also limited quantities - some particular books are so limited you might not ever get one.

And tomorrow I will be listing the last 10 from my husband's collection - so please bid ifyou're a book collector or if you need a holiday gift for a discriminating book collector.

Here's the link - http://budurl.com/EastonPress

If you don't collect books or can't afford to bid, please tweet these

I just found a great site for collectors

I'm always toodling around the net reading articles - I wish I got paid for doing that. BUT tonight I found a website I really love (well it's one of many)

http://collectibles.suite101.com/article.cfm/fiesta_home_decorations

I also like thevintagelist blog but I'll have to get you a link for that.

Go check out the suite101 site! Fiesta - something I have to get busy and drag out of the storage area and list.

List more - sell more - because now I owe Dell more... (a lot more)

Post Cards - a snapshot of when and where and even who

Have you ever gone on vacation and NOT mailed back a post card saying "wish you were here"?? Me either - I always send at least one and ahve since I was in my late teens. My excuse was my little sister. She's 14 years younger than I am so when I went to London as a 21 year old, she was 7. And I could maile 3-4 postcards a week for 1/3 of what a long chatty and basically illegible letter would say to a 7 year old. So I sent her postcards. Knowing her?? She still has them some place.

Likewise when she when on a long roadtrip with a family friend to New Mexico and Colorado?? She sent postcards cause it was less expensive.

Now I'm over 60 but I still send HER a postcard when I go somewhere new - like eBay Live in New Orleans in 2004 and eBay Live in Chicago in 2008. (the only two places I've gone lately.)

All of which makes me sympathetic to postcard collectors. And from 2004 to now, I've pickedup maybe 2000 post cards at auctions and garage sales. And in line with that, I've been learning more about them. And I'm gonna share some of MY learning and experiences with you here. Please Warned - this is not the bible, it's not carved in stone - different folks, will experience different results.

A Brief History

Postcards started in the late 1800's. At first Congress authorized printing of the cards with the name written on one side and a a picture on the other. There was no stamp and no postage denoted. Then they authorized one that had the name on 1/2 of one side and a message area on the other side and had a square with the note inside "1 ct postage".

Those, continued til 1921 about. They included, personal postcards where people went, got their kids pictures taken and put on a postcard and mailed it to the family and inlaws. Or Newly weds got a photo put on a postcard and sent it home saying Wish you were here.

During WWI for a brief time postage went up to 2 cts. Then back down to 1 ct until 1950.

In that period the post card industry flourished here and abroad. Internationally, people began to collect the "greeting" type cards, like the Halloween postcards or the Christmas ones. Some artists developed a reputation for wonderful art on ostcards, like Clapsaddle, Brundage and Griggs.

Some deveopled a reputation for WEIRD art - like Louis Wain who drew cats but anthormorphised them...His cats were the hoodlums of the postcard world. Wain himself ended his life in an asylum after a mental breakdown and you can clearly see his disintegration over time if you collect enough examples of his art.