Posts Tagged ‘Civil War’

Library Additions: Signed Books By Simmons, Spiner, Wellman and Wolfe

Tuesday, December 21st, 2021

Four more signed first editions:

  • Simmons, Dan. Lovedeath. Subterranean Press, 2013. First limited edition a PC copy of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Mylar-protected dust jacket. Formerly Subterranean Press founder William Shafer’s copy. Supplements a copy of the Warner Books first edition inscribed to me. Bought from Camelot Books for $52.50.
  • Spiner, Brent with Jeanne Darst. Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir Inspired By True Events. St. Martin’s Press, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, signed by Spiner. Mystery by Spiner, starring Spiner, revolving around a box he received during the filming of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Bought for $22.39 from The Mysterious Bookshop.

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. Rebel Boast. Henry Holt and Company, 1956. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy from which the FFE has been excised and a cracked front hinge, otherwise nice, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with a few 3/4″ closed tears along the top edge that have been mended (fairly skillfully) with blindside tape, signed by Wellman. Non-fiction about a group of Confederate soldiers that fought the entirety of the Civil War. “First at Bethel — Last at Appomattox.” Bought for $15 off eBay.
  • Wolfe, Gene. Home Fires. Tor, 2011. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with black remainder dot to top page block and slight bumping at head in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Wolfe. Supplements an unsigned first and a copy of the PS Publishing signed, limited edition.
  • Library Additions: Two Manly Wade Wellman Firsts

    Monday, April 6th, 2020

    Closing in on a complete Manly Wade Wellman collection, and picked up two of his more obscure works:

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. Many Are The Hearts: a play in one act. North Carolina Confederate Centennial Commission, 1961. First edition chapbook, a Near Fine- copy with small wrinkle on rear cover near head, touches of wear, some sun-fading around the edges, and rust bleed-through on the two staples. One act play about a confederate North Carolina artillery detachment. Even includes a detailed diagram of a 6-pounder field gun at rear; good luck to any theater company trying to get their hands on one of those! I think this is only the second copy I’ve seen offered for sale this decade. Currey, page 513. Bought for $38.25 off a fellow Biblio dealer.

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. Mystery at Bear Paw Gap. Ives Washburn, 1965. First edition hardback, a Very Good Ex-Library copy in the Hercules library binding, with pockets and interior stamps, with wear at head and heel, a 1″ very light stain to bottom page block, a couple of pinprick spots to top page block, and blunting of points, but no external stamps, sans dust jacket, as expected for the library binding. One of Wellman’s more difficult YA novels. Currey, page 513. Bought for $29.99 off eBay.
  • Library Addition: Manly Wade Wellman Associational Copy

    Monday, April 22nd, 2019

    Picked up another Manly Wade Wellman associational copy at a bargain price:

    Wellman, Manly Wade. Harper’s Ferry Prize of War. MacNally of Charlotte, 1960. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight wear at heel and head in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight spine fading, a tiny bit of loss at tips, and a touch of edgewear at head and heel. Inscribed by Wellman to his brother and fellow author Paul I. Wellman on the pictorial front free endpaper: “author time to Paul/the old War Chief of the/Tribe/Centia Campa/from/Manly”. Civil War history book. Bought off eBay for $20.

    This is the second Manly Wade Wellman associational copy inscribed to Paul I. Wellman that I own, the other being Third String Center.

    Library Addition: Signed Fletcher Pratt Book

    Tuesday, June 26th, 2018

    Here’s a book I picked up less for the contents than as an affordable way to obtain Fletcher Pratt’s signature:

    Pratt, Fletcher, editor. Civil War in Pictures. Civil War in Pictures, 1955. First edition (thus? no statement of printing, and there was a Garden City Books edition in 1955 as well, but what online references I’ve found (such as this from Henry Wessells) mention this Holt edition), a Near Fine copy with slight bumping at tips, a non-authorial bookplate on inside front cover (mostly obscured by the dj flap), and very faint yellowing to pages, in a Very Good dust jacket, with very shallow loss and head and heel, a 1″ semi-closed tear at bottom rear cover, same bumping at tips, and slight foxing to blind side spine. Signed by Pratt for members of the Civil War Book Club. $10 would have been very pricey indeed for 1955 (though it’s possible that was just for show and the club members received it for a substantial discount). Pratt died in 1956. Bought for $37.50 on eBay.