Posts Tagged ‘signatures’

DVD Library Addition: Signed Fahrenheit 451

Monday, August 17th, 2026

Every now and then I come across something that’s not a book signed by an author I collect.

(Bradbury, Ray). Fahrenheit 451. Universal Studios, 2003. DVD of the 1966 Francois Truffaut film, let’s call it Fine, with only the seal at top slit, with sticker on front cover inscribed by Ray Bradbury: “Doug! 2006/Rosalie! XMAS Love! Ray B.” The auction listing said “Acquired at the estate sale of one of Bradbury’s best friends of 40 years.” Cursory investigation has not yielded who Doug and Rosalie might be, so further research is needed. Bought off eBay for $19.99.

I haven’t seen the movie yet, so it’s a dual-purpose purchase.

My signed(ish) hardback first of Fahrenheit 451 can be found here.

Library Addition: Pat Cadigan’s Chalk

Monday, July 27th, 2026

Here’s a chapbook I was unaware of before it popped up in a Cold Tonnage Books catalog:

Cadigan, Pat. Chalk. This Is Horror, 2013. First edition chapbook original, #46 of 125 copies, a Fine copy, signed by Cadigan, with an 8 written on the title page and eight Xs on the inside front cover. (I sent Pat an email asking what was up with that.) Horror novella about two girls that can disappear in plain sight. Bought for £10.

Library Addition: Signed First of Hal Clement’s Cycle of Fire

Monday, July 13th, 2026

I’m working on a complete Hal Clement collection, and this was one of the key titles I was missing.

Clement, Hal (pseudonym for Harry Clement Stubbs). Cycle of Fire. Ballantine Books, 1957. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with all the usual flaws, including stamps on page block edged, inside covers and interior pages, tape ghosts, endpapers excised. etc., with wear along bottom boards, moderate crease to spine, and writing on lower spine, in a dust jacket with 1/4″ chips at head, sticker at heel, and severe sunfading to spine and an inch to free cover, completing fading the the title, and front label faded from orange to yellow, with a bit more wear at edges at points, otherwise intact; call it a Good/Very Good- Ex-Lib copy, signed by Clement (“Hal Clement” (Harry C. Stubbs)”). Hassley, Hal Clement, pages 33-37./ Currey, page 469. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 76. ought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $100, bargained down from considerably more. It’s been decades since I’ve seen a Fine/Fine copy offered for sale, and even Ex-Lib copies tend to list for several hundred dollars.

I knew Hal a little bit, having given him a ride back from an Armadillocon dinner decades ago. We talked about him flying B-24 Liberators in World War II.

Library Addition: Micheal Swanwick’s Basil, Pepper, Salt, and Garlic Greens

Tuesday, June 9th, 2026

Been a while since the last Dragonstairs Swanwick chapbook:

Swanwick, Michael. Basil, Pepper, Salt, and Garlic Greens: A Year in a Witch’s Kitchen. Dragonstairs Press, 2026. First edition chapbook original, #16 of 80 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Short stories tied to seasonal dishes.

I will have copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (probably Novemberish).

Library Addition: Signed First of Greg Bear’s Take Back the Sky

Monday, June 8th, 2026

I picked this up because I had the first two books in the War Dogs trilogy and I found this signed first for less than cover price.

Bear, Greg. Take back the Sky. Orbit, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bear. Third book in the War Dogs trilogy. Bought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $20.66 plus shipping

Library Addition: Signed First of Andrew Vachss’ Flood

Monday, June 1st, 2026

Another Half Price Books find:

Vachss, Andrew. Flood. Donald I. Fine, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine-copy with slight bumping at head and heel, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a 3/4″ hairline crease at bottom front panel, and slight bumping at head, heel and points, signed by Vachss. His first novel, a mystery. Vachss died in 2021. Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought for $5.39 from Half Price Books.

I have two other things signed by Vachss: The Shaolin Cowboy Adventure Magazine No. 1, and the signed hardback edition of Veil’s Visit, his collaboration with Joe R. Lansdale.

Library Addition: Signed Illustrated First of Gail Carriger’s Souless

Monday, April 27th, 2026

Another Half Price Books find:

Carriger, Gail. Soulless. Orbit, 2018. First illustrated hardback edition, a Fine- copy with a tiny little ump at heel, sans dust jacket in illustrated boards, as issued, signed by Carriger. Supplements the signed PBO. I lack the Subterranean Press signed/limited edition, which was the first separate hardback. Bought for $13.50.

Library Addition: Signed First of Dan Simmons Hard As Nails

Monday, March 9th, 2026

I had the first two Joe Kurtz books (Hard Case and Hard Freeze) signed by Simmons, but the third wasn’t, so I pick this up cheap when I heard about his untimely death.

Simmons, Dan. Hard as Nails. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at heel, in a Fine dust jacket (taken from my existing copy), signed by Simmons. Bought for $14.95 plus shipping off eBay.

Library Addition: R. C. Matheson’s Bombyx

Thursday, February 26th, 2026

Another PS Publishing book came in:

Matheson, Richard Christian. Bombyx. PS Publishing, 2025 (not shipped until 2026). First edition hardback, #58 of 200 copies signed by both Matheson and Mick Garris (who is co-credited with the story), a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. Novella of a guy graduating rehab who suddenly feels that everyone hates him.

I will have one copy of this in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.

Library Addition: Signed First of James Lee Burke’s In the Electric Mist With The Confederate Dead

Wednesday, January 7th, 2026

Another Houston area Half Price Books find.

Burke, James Lee. In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead. Hyperion, 1993. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar protected dust jacket, inscribed by Burke: “To Morey,/All the best,/James Burke.” I picked this up because I heard good things about it (and the author), and since there’s a ghost in it, it qualifies as slipstream. Bought for $9.99.