Biblioctopus
May 31, 2010 5:55 PM Subscribe
The Biblioctopus Catalog can be as entertaining a read as some of the rare and antiquarian books that the Beverly Hills, Calif., shop sells. An entry for a $3,300 first edition of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea asserts that the book is “as stubbornly immortal as those plastic baby diapers that won’t biodegrade.” Although Catalog 44 was mailed earlier this month, I have only been able to find links for Catalogs 20, 22, and 34. (previously)
Wow, these are great. And I haven't read a comic book since I was 12 years old, but this, from catalog 20 -- Classics Illustrated [Classic Comics] (NY, 1941-1969).
171 vols. total. Each title is a 1st edition, 1st printing. The complete run (numbers 1-169), plus both states of The Woman in White and folio galley proofs for The Arabian Nights. Numbers 1-34 are titled "Classic Comics," as originally published before the name was changed to "Classics Illustrated."...Many titles had 10 or more editions, most were sold for years, and each later printing is bibliographically distinguishable, creating over 1000 variations of covers, ads, price and text, but our set is the 1st state of each title, and perfect on every single point. Don Quixote, Musketeers, Jane Eyre, Tom Sawyer, Cleopatra, Moby-Dick, Ivanhoe, Christmas Carol, Call of the Wild, Robin Hood, Pathfinder, War of the Worlds, Wuthering Heights, King Solomon's Mines, Uncle Tom, Poe's Tales, Monte-Cristo, Tale of Two Cities, Treasure Island, Rip Van Winkle, Black Beauty, 20,000 Leagues, Red Badge, Scarlet Letter, Frankenstein, Copperfield, Crusoe, Moonstone, Mohicans, Hunchback, Huck, Holmes and 137 others.35,000" WANT!
posted by puny human at 6:57 PM on May 31, 2010
171 vols. total. Each title is a 1st edition, 1st printing. The complete run (numbers 1-169), plus both states of The Woman in White and folio galley proofs for The Arabian Nights. Numbers 1-34 are titled "Classic Comics," as originally published before the name was changed to "Classics Illustrated."...Many titles had 10 or more editions, most were sold for years, and each later printing is bibliographically distinguishable, creating over 1000 variations of covers, ads, price and text, but our set is the 1st state of each title, and perfect on every single point. Don Quixote, Musketeers, Jane Eyre, Tom Sawyer, Cleopatra, Moby-Dick, Ivanhoe, Christmas Carol, Call of the Wild, Robin Hood, Pathfinder, War of the Worlds, Wuthering Heights, King Solomon's Mines, Uncle Tom, Poe's Tales, Monte-Cristo, Tale of Two Cities, Treasure Island, Rip Van Winkle, Black Beauty, 20,000 Leagues, Red Badge, Scarlet Letter, Frankenstein, Copperfield, Crusoe, Moonstone, Mohicans, Hunchback, Huck, Holmes and 137 others.35,000" WANT!
posted by puny human at 6:57 PM on May 31, 2010
When I worked in a bookstore I would on occasion look through a Robb Report. I never understood some of that stuff. I remember reading s review for a $250,000 watch. Honestly, do you need a review at that point? I mean the thing better work well. I don't wear a watch. $15 or $100 or yes, even $250,000 I'd still lose it after a day.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:59 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by cjorgensen at 7:59 PM on May 31, 2010
Narrow hands? I have that problem too. Watches just fly off my wrist whenever I point forcefully at something.
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:18 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:18 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
“as stubbornly immortal as those plastic baby diapers that won’t biodegrade” sounds like a nice tribute to Leonard Cohen's "Democracy." I'm stubborn as those garbage bags that time cannot decay.
posted by kenlayne at 9:04 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by kenlayne at 9:04 PM on May 31, 2010
WANT!
Have em all (digital). Good substitute for a few plodding classics like Ivanhoe or The Last of the Mohicans. But man, most of them it's a travesty - Moby-Dick? Don Quixote?
posted by stbalbach at 9:12 PM on May 31, 2010
Have em all (digital). Good substitute for a few plodding classics like Ivanhoe or The Last of the Mohicans. But man, most of them it's a travesty - Moby-Dick? Don Quixote?
posted by stbalbach at 9:12 PM on May 31, 2010
Classics Illustrated [Classic Comics] (NY, 1941-1969).
171 vols. total
First ten issues will turn into mummy-dust if you try and read them, though. My early copies of #2 and #3 are sealed up tighter than Carbonite.
I'll take that 1st Ed. Brave New World, though. Thanks!
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:36 AM on June 1, 2010
171 vols. total
First ten issues will turn into mummy-dust if you try and read them, though. My early copies of #2 and #3 are sealed up tighter than Carbonite.
I'll take that 1st Ed. Brave New World, though. Thanks!
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:36 AM on June 1, 2010
From #34, linked above:
This summer [Tom] Clancy will be honored for his contributions to literature. That leaves him just 5 months to make a contribution to literature.
Comedy gold.
posted by The Shiny Thing at 7:00 AM on June 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
This summer [Tom] Clancy will be honored for his contributions to literature. That leaves him just 5 months to make a contribution to literature.
Comedy gold.
posted by The Shiny Thing at 7:00 AM on June 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
You're probably right stbalbach. I remember a few from when I was a kid. Treasure Island I think, and 20, 000 leagues (reprints I'm sure).
have you seen Sikoryak's Masterpiece Comics?
posted by puny human at 4:26 PM on June 1, 2010
have you seen Sikoryak's Masterpiece Comics?
posted by puny human at 4:26 PM on June 1, 2010
wow, all the comic book nerds around here and no one has ever done a post on Sikoryak?
posted by puny human at 4:35 PM on June 1, 2010
posted by puny human at 4:35 PM on June 1, 2010
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