Posted by Robert Thompson on December 11, 2003 at -1:33:47 from 212.229.58.245 user robert.
In Reply to: Re: First Edition of S&A for sale posted by Malcolm Temple on December 10, 2003 at 12:06:10:
What a shame that another of only two thousand original first editions of Swallows and Amazons has now been irretrievably "improved" by the addition of a vellum binding. There would be an outcry at such a treatment of a vintage car - (a 1930s Bentley adorned with extra chrome "bits" and a new streamlined fibre-glass body??!!) so why the fad for such mutilation of a lovely old book?
I was saddened to read a recent article in Mixed Moss in which a member wrote of his search for the twelve in first edition and the subsequent rebinding of them in modern leather. I am happy for that member as he clearly has a great love for the books and a pride in his collection, but the result of that collection is that twelve fewer genuine first editions now exist. I'd much rather have an edition in its original condition, albeit faded and perhaps with a tatty wrapper.
I don't think that the eventual price of the vellumed book when sold will reflect the price of a genuine 1930 first, whether with or without wrapper. Current market prices of a S&A first edition with wrapper range from £5000 up to £15000 - the latter with a mint dust-wrapper. A rough guide to firsts without wrappers is to divide these prices by 10.
N.B. - I know of only three copies of S&A first edition with wrapper!