Going off topic a bit, but why the phrase, "flat-signed"? What does it actually *mean*?
- wellinghall
- wellinghall
Eh, I'm actually totally misusing the term. I believe "flat-signed" actually means the author signs their name & nothing else e.g. without a dedication. It doesn't really have anything to do with having signed the book itself, in person.
BH
BH
This brings back bad memories of a certain ebay seller (flatsigned), we had some dealings with him on the forum
Here is his convoluted description of the phrase, that he modestly claims to have invented.
"The word FlatSigned, whether on books or any other item, means that the autograph is an original (no facsimile/photocopy, no machine/auto-pen written, no stamped or otherwise tooled), hand-signed example of the autograph which is not personalized (can have a date, additional words such as "Congratulations" or "Thanks for a wonderful evening", etc.), to an individual including the person obtaining the autograph.
Put more simply, FlatSigned means:
A hand-signed, original autograph which is not personalized such as:
"To Billy Bob, John Grisham."
FLATSIGNED EXAMPLE:"Thank you for a great evening, John Grisham May 30, 2010
NON-FLATSIGNED EXAMPLE: "To Billy, thank you for all! John Grisham May 30, 2010
Warmest Regards,
Tim Miller
Founder"
I would rather not use this phrase, but say that it was signed in person by the individual.
Here is his convoluted description of the phrase, that he modestly claims to have invented.
"The word FlatSigned, whether on books or any other item, means that the autograph is an original (no facsimile/photocopy, no machine/auto-pen written, no stamped or otherwise tooled), hand-signed example of the autograph which is not personalized (can have a date, additional words such as "Congratulations" or "Thanks for a wonderful evening", etc.), to an individual including the person obtaining the autograph.
Put more simply, FlatSigned means:
A hand-signed, original autograph which is not personalized such as:
"To Billy Bob, John Grisham."
FLATSIGNED EXAMPLE:"Thank you for a great evening, John Grisham May 30, 2010
NON-FLATSIGNED EXAMPLE: "To Billy, thank you for all! John Grisham May 30, 2010
Warmest Regards,
Tim Miller
Founder"
I would rather not use this phrase, but say that it was signed in person by the individual.
By all accounts Stephen King coined the phrase. I've no idea if that's internet twaddle or based on fact though...
BH
BH
15 Aug, 2013
(edited)
2013-8-15 6:00:15 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2013-8-15 6:29:08 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2013-8-15 6:33:24 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2013-8-15 6:33:24 PM UTC
2013-8-15 6:00:15 PM UTC
I have to blame Peter Jackson for this madness
It is price-clipped and has marks from sticky-tape on the book.
eBay Item #400550804814
Thank you ebay for pointing out that the seller is away, up and until 4 days ago (this is the 15th August 2013).
It is price-clipped and has marks from sticky-tape on the book.
eBay Item #400550804814
Thank you ebay for pointing out that the seller is away, up and until 4 days ago (this is the 15th August 2013).
Khamûl wrote:
I broadly agree.
The CoH bookplates are a slightly troublesome example though. These were pre-signed but actually stuck in by the publisher (as has been said) at the point of purchase. Nobody (although, I'm sure there may have been one or two) received these signed bookplates loose with the book they purchased in Piccadilly, London on publication day. Sophistication, maybe; but certainly of publisher origin, & not some later cobbled together cut-letter + book nonsense. So, I certainly agree these belong together. The bookplate certainly doesn't belong in any other book.
That said, I think it's really splitting hairs, for example, to suggest Christopher signing a pile of loose sheets in the South of France that would later be bound into a completed book (i.e. the signed limitation pages of all "super" deluxe editions), is really that different from him signing a little sticky piece of paper, as with CoH. These seem more legitimate, but CT certainly never had a book in hand. A 1977 Silmarillion flat-signed at Museum St. prior to its release is, on the other hand, a proper signed book.
BH
From my perspective, I don't think there is a great deal of difference between the two scenarios that you describe. The key for me is that there is an intent for the book and the page (or the book and the plate) to be together -- it isn't just some random mismatched pairing to make a fast buck.
It is not even released yet, but you can get signed copies of Jemima Catlin's Hobbit from Mark Faith, would it not be better if HarperCollins issued signed copies (they do have a website tolkien.co.uk), and not have to pay a £12 markup on the Amazon price from Mr Faith
eBay Item #231033693012
If you want a signed copy, then it may be worth waiting to see what does appear on tolkien.co.uk
eBay Item #231033693012
If you want a signed copy, then it may be worth waiting to see what does appear on tolkien.co.uk
20 Aug, 2013
(edited)
2013-8-20 5:39:29 PM UTC
Edited by Ephemeral on 2013-8-21 7:21:53 AM UTC
Edited by Urulöké on 2013-8-21 7:35:11 AM UTC
Edited by Urulöké on 2013-8-21 7:35:11 AM UTC
2013-8-20 5:39:29 PM UTC
I don't think you would get a copy of the same book as in the picture, very nice if you did.
eBay Item #390646614390
eBay Item #390646614390
This lists like this (i.e. a picture of the Super Deluxe, but they're selling the standard Deluxe) all the time; as I'm sure you've noticed before Trotter. Haven't looked at this one in particular --but many of the listings have some other ISBN which matches neither edition & pulls up incorrect data regarding the publication date. When you ask the sellers about this (& why they have a picture of the Super Deluxe book), it's the old "this is the information provided by the publisher" quip; along with "we can't check our stock --it's in a big warehouse somewhere else"...
BH
BH
eBay Item #400558756447
"A Very Good, rare, sixth impression, third edition, hardback book in a Very Good, clipped d.j. Not ex-library. Book shows shelf wear, particularly to spine ends, light creasing to corners of first two pages and a little light browning marks to front pastedowns (possibly from tape transfer, which seems to have been uses on a jacket protector - see picture). D.j. shows wear, creasing, chipping, a couple of closed tears and brown lines at end of fold-over flaps (tape resudue, used to secure a protector at some point - see picture). For all these faults, still a very nice, clean, square and presentable copy of a rare classic from the master of fantasy. Published by George Allen and Unwin, 1971."
Yes, but is a £20-£30 book, would be nice if ebay sellers checked current prices before listing
"A Very Good, rare, sixth impression, third edition, hardback book in a Very Good, clipped d.j. Not ex-library. Book shows shelf wear, particularly to spine ends, light creasing to corners of first two pages and a little light browning marks to front pastedowns (possibly from tape transfer, which seems to have been uses on a jacket protector - see picture). D.j. shows wear, creasing, chipping, a couple of closed tears and brown lines at end of fold-over flaps (tape resudue, used to secure a protector at some point - see picture). For all these faults, still a very nice, clean, square and presentable copy of a rare classic from the master of fantasy. Published by George Allen and Unwin, 1971."
Yes, but is a £20-£30 book, would be nice if ebay sellers checked current prices before listing