Collecor's Cornor

~Published without and FEL Identification~

* The first three FEL titles produced – FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, THE GREAT GATSBY and OF MICE AND MEN, were printed without any facsimile identification on the dust jacket, for the first issue of 2,500 copies of each title. Legal issues prevailed and starting with the fourth book, LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL, "FEL" was added to the back flap of the dust jacket’

~Collectors Reprint~

* Initial printings included the facsimile identification on the copyright page and published by “Collectors Reprints” vice “First Edition Library”.

* Books with “Collectors Reprints” on copyright page are true first issues of the series extremely rare and priced accordingly.

Know issues with the “Collectors Reprints” copyright:

* All The King’s Men
* As I Lay Dying
* Bridge of San Luis Rey
* Ethan Frome
* Farewell to Arms
* For Whom the Bell Tolls
* Go Tell It On The Mountain
* Look Homeward, Angel
* Main Stree
* Miss Lonelyhearts
* Mosquitoes
* Old Man and the Sea
* On the Road
* On The Road
* Sound and the Fury
* Sun also Rises
* The Grapes of Wrath
* This Side of Paradise
* Tom Sawyer
* Tortilla Flat

 

(Citation requested as to other books issued with “Collectors Reprints”)

~Marketing Loss Leaders~

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, a loss leader for marketing, was offered at the original $2.95 price tag, similarly, a loss leader was offered for the James Bond series, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY AND marketed at $2.95.

~Dust-Jackets~

As with the “originals” there were no dust jackets included with these FEL facsimiles:

HUCKELBERRY FINN

TOM SAWYER

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE

THE JUNGLE

THE AWAKENING

and THE RED PONY.

~Publisher’s Lay-In Cards~

All First Edition Library printing included the Lay-In, however, the Penzler Mystery series produced their own card identified with red markings on the lay-in.

~Slip Cases~

Issued for all books by FEL and early Easton Press. The philosophy being that if you have a book valued in the tens of thousands you’ll have it protected – right? Thus the slip case. Easton Press discontinued offering books protected in slipcases as a cost cutting during the latter years of publishing FEL titles, as did, Mystery series books published by Otto Penzler.

~Lack of slipcase ‘As published’~

The discontinuance of Slip Cases by Easton Press has created a problem for collectors in identifying books with/without Slip Cases and thus in determination of relative value. Had FEL never issued slipcased books – we never would have missed them. However, FEL did, and they do enhance the appearance of any shelved books giving a certain elegance and richness.

* Otto Penzler, collaborator in the Mystery Series, did not issue slipcases with their mystery series of books whereas FEL did continue issuing slipcases.

* Thus, the initial FELs were all issued with slipcases and lay-In cards and remain highly sought after as collectables.

~Identifying books with no slip case~

Some Ad Blocks avoid any mention of lack of slipcase. Such as:

“As new still in publishers shrinkwrap”

“Easton Press - New As Published”

“Book Fine Dust Jacket Fine” or “Fine/Fine”

“Penzler edition” published in collaboration with FEL without slipcases.

Finally a long wordy Ad block with any mention as to the ‘missing slipcase’ buried deep within the text.

* Our Preference: Upfront statement on ‘title line’

“ Catch-22.{As New~Slipcased~Publishers Card} “

~Valuation~

‘Original first editions’ may be extremely expensive and the collector unable to afford that price and may consider reductions in the hefty price-tag by selecting lesser quality or absence of a dust jacket.

Expensive ‘originals’ without dust jackets would typically sell for 25% less. Slipcases would increase the price by at least the cost of the enclosure.

However, the FEL books, selling for a fraction of that price, would presumably only be collectable in a fine condition – for a few bucks why sacrifice quality - fine dust jacket, fine slipcase and Lay-In. “Period – my emphasis.”

* My current valuation: Slipcase is 50% of value, lack of dust-jacket or excessive wear valued at ‘a reader’ price. The Lay-In Card $5 to $7.

~Ephemera~

* James Bond Marketing flyer promoting the new series. 15”x21”

* Promotional pamphlet for the initial 35 FEL books and text from the Publisher’s Lay-In Cards of each.

”We use the original binding techniques, and take great care to get the colors and textures exactly right; the only difference is that we use acid free paper. Had you walked into a bookshop in 1920, the copy of Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street, sitting in the window, fresh off the press, would have looked just as ours does today…

*ON THE ROAD note card – I’ve seen one personally mailed to Reid Moore Books and signed by Henry Reath.

* “The cornerstones of crime fiction are now so rare that the merest handfuls of collectors can ever hope to possess them in genuine first editions. This new series of facsimile reprints provides an alternative for those who enjoy the look and feel of great old books. Produced to the highest standards, all books in this series will replicate exactly (except for a notice on the copyright page and on the back flap of the dust jacket) the striking period look and craftsmanship of the true first edition.”

~Misconceptions~

* FEL has nothing to do with “The Book of the Month Club”. FEL was marketed on a subscription basis but published seven to nine books annually.

One exception: NATIVE SON was published by Harper and Brothers simultaneously with the Book-of-the-Month Club on March 1, 1940 and does have “The Book-of-the-Month Club” marking on the dust jacket. (FEL Publisher’s Card).

* We’ve seen FEL sales marketing sheets promoting, BRAVE NEW WORLD - Aldus Huxley, SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE - Vonnegut, 1984 - George Orwell, but never in published form. – if you find one of these - its Rare – very rare. {Lisa Watkins – Collector}