Oh my goodness it's mine! Thanks mum!

[Samsara]

Okay, so my wonderful Mother just (as in 5mins ago) just bought me the
BEST
early Christmas present ever purchased in the known universe since the beginning of time!!! It was entirely too much money for her to spend on a present but she knew how bad I wanted it and that I could NEVER afford to buy it myself.... I REALLY want to tell you all what it is, and I will as soon as I have confirmation from the seller that the money has actually been received so watch this post because it really is
THE BEST THING EVER!!!

[Becky]

Ok, so no hints??? It's cruel to make us wait!!!! Can't wait to find out what you're getting!!

[Samsara]

okay a hint seems fair enough... oh stuff it... I'm sooooo excited I can hardly breathe...

It is:

A 1st ed, 1st printing, mint condition HC Dragonflight, signed by Anne and Michael Whelan on the title page. it is also signed by Michael on the dust jacket.. so it has 3x signatures on it!!!



It was entitely FAR TOO MUCH MONEY but it's mine!!!!!

I feel like I have found the Holy Grail or something!!!!

[Hans]

Good grief, what a mum, what a book.

Are there any mum's like her left? I want one!

Congratulations Samsara, that is not ony a magnificent gift but an absolute TOP collectors item! I'm very happy for you.

[P'ter]

You lucky girl you!

[jube]

Cool bananas, Hans, she may be chasing after you now on the book front

Well done Samsara! Now once you've received it, you'll have to post pictorial views

[Samsara]

Thanks for the well wishes guys! Like I said, I'm soooo excited I can hardly breathe.... And yes, my mum is awesome!!! But, no... she is definately not for sale... She has however, informed me rather strongly that she WILL NOT be buying me any more presents for ANY reason EVER again for as long as I live... I happily agreed that that sounded fair! Pics will definately be posted as soon as I get it (just try stop me)... and Jube... what you said is very sweet but I have many years of collecting ahead of me before I can even come close to rivalling a collection like Hans's.... but I'm sure going to try!!!!

[Lily]

Fantastic gift, Samsara

Fortunately Mums have very short memories when it comes to presents

[DragonBuddy]

Wow! What a lovely gift! I can't wait to see the pictures. Do you have a special place of honor to put it? I wouldn't even begin to know how to take care of a book like that! Wear gloves when you hold it? Keep it out of sunlight and never open it? Maybe you could get it insured with your insurance company. Do you know who has owned it or its history? I love stories that come with books! Congrats!

[jube]

My sister's like that, she sends me xmas gifts and often there's an AMC book that somehow she pulls out of the hat that I don't have and fortunately for me, she's based in the USA at the moment so between my darling sister, Cheryl (with some help from Hans ), Deanne, Larry and Becky have certainly added to my collection. Thanks guys, you're legends

[Samsara]

Happy happy joy joy! I have just gotten confirmation from the seller that payment has been received, so YAY!

Dragonbuddy has made a very good point though... how do I care for a book like this? Am I even a llowed to touch it??? Gloves are not a bad idea, and a book covering of course... but where do I keep it? On my bookshelf? Or as Dragonbuddy suggested, maybe a place of honor would be appropriate it? Any ideas would be welcome....

And Lily, I really hope you are right about that, but I am thinking that Mum is going to have a long memory when it comes to this one! I owe her big time!!!

[Hans]

If you buy it for value you keep it locked away and out of the light to prevent discolouration.
If you buy it for the sheer pleasure you put it in your Pern bookcase (if possible behind glass, like I do).

I wouldn't wear gloves. That's only necessary for irreplacable things IMHO. Being careful is enough but the book does need a transparant cover of library/archival quality to protect the dustjacket, although I can't imagine it hasn't got one already!

[Samsara]

I definately buy for the sheer pleasure of just owning it! Unfortunately though, my bookshelf does not have glass cabinets... Should I go get one? Actually, my hubby bought me a new bookshelf (that I chose of course!) last month as a birthday present...I did want one with glass cabinets, but alas, we could not afford one....

Also an update on the book itself.... Whilst I am still very happy and excited by my new book, I have just realised that it is not actually a true 1st ed...
It is the 1st ed published by Del Ray in 1978... still loving the book and the mama though!

[jube]

Mothers are great for many things that's for sure!

[Hans]

It's the first official hardcover edition, Samsara. Dragonflights true first edition was a mass market paperback!

Never mind the glass cabinet then, just put it on your Pern shelf.

[Samsara]

I'm confused... Becky's guide states there is also a HC published in 1968 by Rapp & Whiting?

[Hans]

Oops, yes there was but that isn't the true first edition of the title. That's what I meant. Fort a few early books by Anne the paperbacks are the true first editions. Sorry to have confused you.

The book you mean, the so called Walker edition, is currently the one that is missing in my own collection and even harder to get than the Del Rey hardcover! More expensive too!

[P'ter]

July 1968 was the Ballantine pb in the US

1969 was the Walker hb in the US (in Feb) & was the Rapp & Whiting hb in UK (in June).

June 1970 was the Corgi pb in UK.

[Samsara]

Okay cool! So I'm getting the 1st "official HC".... yay! And after just doing a google search for the other 2 HC, I see what you mean by expensive... I found a Walker & Co one that is going for USD $2500.... I don't think the mama will be buying that one for me any time soon....

[Hans]

aye, I did mean expensive as in filthy expensive. Must admit I have seen them from $900 upwards though, so you spotted a VERY expensive one.

[Samsara]

I don't think mama gonna buy me the $900 either. Looks like I'm going to have to save the money myself If I want it... Maybe in 2 years time if I have saved the money and there are still some around....

[Becky]

You have a wonderful mother! Congrats on the gift! Treasure it and handle with care. You could, of course, buy a clear box to display it in... the kind that they sell in sports trading card shops. I bought one once that a cereal box would fit in. I bought it for something else, but it did the trick, kept the dust and dirt off the item. Just don't put it anywhere near the sun, even reflective sun as it will fade the cover.
No matter what enjoy the book!!!

[Samsara]

Thanks Becky! I like your idea of a display box, I will have to try find one!

The book is on it's way to me, and I expect to have it in about a week or so. The seller tells me that he purchased the book in a used bookstore in Seattle about 15 yrs ago. He got Michael's signatures on it a World Con a few years ago, he thinks maybe Boston World Con in 2004, but he can't remember exactly. I couldn't find refernce to Michael being at that Con, but I think he was at the Glascow one in 2005.. so maybe that is where it was signed. Anne's siganture he got last year, but he didn't specify where...

I'll post some pic as soona as I get it!!!

[Samsara]

I got my book today!!! It is beautiful! I can't believe what good condition it is in! Will post some photos later today hopefully!

[mawra]

Congrats!!!!!!!!

[Samsara]

I am fighting a losing battle with my camera at the moment... The battery will not hold charge...

Camera = 3 points
Samsara = 0 points

I will win in the end though... and post some pics asap...

[DragonBuddy]

Oh I can't wait to see your book! Hang in there with your camera!

[P'ter]

Batteries? Charges? It must be the Light Brigade.

Canon to the right of them; Nikon to the left of them
Onward rode the two hundred and thirty volts....

till they did a volt face!












Sorry early morning madness. :-(

[Samsara]

I suffer fromt that as well P'ter, so don't worry!

Camera = 4 points
Samsara = 0 points



I'm going to have to get a new battery....

[P'ter]

Some cameras it's cheaper to buy the whole camera.

[Samsara]

Okay I have some pics... finally!!! My camera won the war, by the way... these pics were taken on my phone.

This book is by far the pride and joy of my collection, and I feel very lucky to own it!

Here is the cover. It is signed by Michael Whelan at the bottom.



And here is the title page, signed by Anne & Michael.



Geez these photos really don't do the book justice! Sorry the photos are sooo bad & blurry. I dont know why the 2nd photo is so small and the 1st one is so big?!??!!

Anyway, that is the book and I am very much in love with it. Rest assured though the book is great condition (it looks new), but these are not the best pics I could have taken!

[Hans]

Great pictures and the book looks fantastic, in a very nice condition! Congrats again

[P'ter]

Samsara: it my be your phone. They have a rather small temporary memory for 'holding' the data stream from the lens. When you tell it to save the photo it THEN transfers that data to your card; but they're notoriously slow at doing so.

If you take another shot before that transfer has finished, then it down sizes the new shot to what ever will fit in the available memory.

[cwett]

Wow that is amazing, I must congratulate you on your gift!

[DragonBuddy]

What a beautiful book!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Samsara]

Thanks guys! I must say it is wonderful to be able to share my treasure with other people who understand!