This is sort of a vertical sampling (somewhat out of order) of cover designs for H.G.Wells War of the Worlds, from Dr. Zeus. This site features book and magazine covers from dozens of countries with an incredibly well cross-referenced database. You can find covers of tripods, flying saucers, humans running at you, humans grabbed by tentacles, or just plain odd covers of this book which was first published in 1898. Dr. Zeus even has a graph of design element trends for WotWs' covers over the last century. While you browse, listen to the original Orson Welles radio broadcast which first aired on October 30th...
ABC’s of Book Collecting: Autograph
Portrait of Edgar Allan Poe by Clark Ashton Smith, circa 1915with Poe autograph facsimileAUTOGRAPHIn our world it is an adjective (and is better not used as a noun). It is properly applied to a manuscript, a letter or a document, either in the hand of, and preferably signed by, the author of one’s choice, or on the subject of one’s choice; or annotations in books, whether signed or not. Descriptions of the former are commonly buttressed with abbreviations, for which see the list of abbreviations above. It is as well to remember that without the essential preliminary ‘A’, ‘L.s’ must...
ABC’s of Book Collecting: Author’s Corrections & Authorized Edition
AUTHOR’S CORRECTIONSThe larger changes made by an author to his work after it has been set up in type and before it is printed, the cost of which is charged by the printer, as distinct from printer’s errors. Some authors continue to rewrite even after a book has been printed, necessitating cancels (for which the printer will send in another bill); if their work is attended with success, this process may be extended to its subsequent forms. Their printers (or publishers) may tire of it, but the book collector will delight in the multiplicity of editions and impressions, issues and...
ABC’s of Book Collecting: Author’s Binding
AUTHOR’S BINDINGCopies to be presented by authors to their friends or to public figures were, from the earliest times, occasionally bound to their order; normally in a superior manner, but by no means always recognisable as such. (morocco was a common style for this purpose in the 17th and 18th centuries and vellum, gilt, in the 16th.) In the absence, therefore, of an inscription or other evidence, the statement that a leather-bound book is in an author’s binding will usually be made – and should always be received – with caution, still more so the assumption (commonly made) that such...
ABC’s of Book Collecting: Auctions
AUCTIONSSales of books by auction go back to the middle ages, although their enhancement by printed catalogues dates from the second half of the 17th century. Traditionally, auctioneers undertake to conduct the sale, charging consigners a percentage of the prices realised for their pains.In the 1980s British and American houses began to follow European practice by levying a premium (a percentage of the prices realised) from the purchaser, as well as the consigner. Auctions conducted on the internet, notably on eBay, have their own conventions and risks.The subject may conveniently be divided into four sections; (1) Catalogues, (2) Bidding, (3)...