Firsts Magazine

A well written magazine all about collecting books, Firsts, supplies a wealth of information in every issue.

Book collectors want true first editions; but identifying a book as such requires significant knowledge. Sadly, most Internet book dealers who have gotten into the game over the last couple of years lack that knowledge. Many, many mistakes show up in listings on the Internet all the time, I believe honest errors by people who simply do not realize the different between a "first thus" and a "first state."

Not only does this magazine educate the collector and dealer on the nitty-gritty details of collecting, each issue focuses on a single author or small group of authors, listing the work of the author and giving key points on the identification of valuable editions.

I've been reading Firsts for a while, and ordered back issues as well. I use it to help make sure that when I say a book is a first edition, it really is. In this business, as in life, reputation is everything.

Highly recommended.

International Shipping Changes

One of the best feedback comments I ever got was, "Thanks from Japan."

Alas, recent changes in postal rates and rules mean I can no longer offer international shipping on larger, heavier books.

Smaller books, which will fit inside a standard USPS flat rate priority envelope will still be offered internationally. Larger, heavier books can cost $25.oo U.S. or more to ship, depending on the size and shape. Since the amount provided by Amazon is not nearly enough to cover the cost of shipping a larger book, I will no longer be able to ship the big ones overseas.

Too bad.

It made me feel very good to ship Brazil, Australia, France, and so forth. I guess that little thrill will come less often now.