FANTASTIC
COLLECTIBLES
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY COLLECTIBLES

updated January 20, 2009

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HOW I BOUGHT THE "COLD SHOULDER" COLLECTION

A Husband and Wife who were not Talking to each Other

Some collection purchases are memorable because I get to see some rare pulp or other collectible. Some are memorable because I see an unusual collecting methodology. Others I remember because of the people involved. This collection qualified on at least two of the three elements.

The collection was in West Hartford, Connecticut. It was all paperback books- no pulp magazines at all. I would not normally be interested because my first love is pulps. And the paperbacks were of 90% recent vintage. But the gentleman pleaded with me that he had to sell immediately, and he would sell the 4000 paperbacks for under $1000. So I decided to have a look.

He did indeed have over 4000 paperbacks displayed on metal shelves in his basement. There was nothing else in the basement. The paperbacks were not just recent, they were mostly within the last year, and they were mostly new. He had decided at some point that he wanted to own every Science Fiction paperback ever published. Not just every title, but every edition of each title as well. His plan was to purchase every new paperback as it came out, and then work back in time to find all the older ones.

He had an agreement with a local mall bookstore to set aside one new copy of each book they received. As there were several new books issued every day, he obviously did not have time to read more than a small fraction of the books.

What upset this grand plan? The cost had to be a factor, as he appeared to be of modest means. Space would have eventually become a problem, as he had been at this for only a year or two and the basement was half filled up. But there was a wife involved, and they were on the outs! Whether the books were the issue, or whether they were just one aspect of a weird personality I don't know. But she was unhappy, and they were not speaking. If they communicated, it was using me as a conduit. They were splitting up, and the books were an asset and she wanted her half. When we agreed on a price through a three way negotiation with me in the middle, I had to make out two checks, with equal halves going to each.

My boys packed away the books in our dynamite boxes (see Dynamite Collection- coming soon) and away we went. This was not one of my greatest acquisitions, but watching the dynamics of the couple for a few hours was quite a spectacle.


Read about other trips Here

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COLLECTIBLES
FOR SALE
PULP MAGAZINES
Titles starting with letters:
  • A
  • B thru H
  • I thru R
  • S thru Z
    • PAPERBACK BOOKS
    SF and Fantasy books are listed by author.
     Ace Doubles listed by book number.
    SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY HARDCOVER BOOKS
    Authors starting with letters:
  • Science Fiction Bookclubs
    • Pulp Magazine Cover scans
    Over 5000 Hi-definition Pulp Magazine Cover scans
    are available on CD-rom or DVD
    The largest collection of hi-definition scans available anywhere. Buy this collection and see it all at once, or view it on this page- it will only take 15 years to see it all!
    POSTERS!!
    Beautiful hi-gloss pulp magazine cover posters
    suitable for framing- you will be proud to display these
    REFERENCE MATERIAL
    Here are some reference guides to help you understand and appreciate the Science Fiction world of books and pulps better

    PULP ARTICLES
    How to Collect Pulp Magazines
    Read Here
    Useful information if you are considering starting a collection
    Worlds Best Pulp Magazine Priceguide
    Read Here
    The bible of pulp magazine priceguides. Place a value on most any pulp, no matter how obscure
    Grading Pulp Magazines
    Read Here
    Accurate grading is essential in pricing Pulp Magazines
    Travels in Search of the Elusive Pulp Magazine
    Read Here
    A series of articles about traveling around the country in search of Pulp Magazine collections- the weird characters, the strange collections the odd homes and locales
    What will be the Treasured Collectibles of the Future
    Read Here
    to find which items lying about today may become the valuable collectibles of the future

    PAPERBACK ARTICLES
    Read our standards on
    PAPERBACK GRADING

    Read a useful article on
    COLLECTING PAPERBACKS
    to see what a pro thinks about the subject.

    Looking For a Great
    PAPERBACK PRICE GUIDE?
    Read a review of what I consider to be the most up to date and perhaps the best Collectible Price Guide ever printed.

    INTERESTING LINKS
    Visit our companion page
    Pulp Magazine Cover of the Day
    to view the daily updated Pulp Magazine Cover. You can purchase the CD or DVD above and enjoy all 5500 pulpcovers in high resolution glory, or you can see then in low resolution one at a time over the next 15 years!

    Visit our companian Paperback Cover page
    Slightly Sleazy Vintage Paperbacks
    to find a daily pulpish paperback cover from my collection
    SCIENCE FICTION DVD's
    Here I list my selection for the 10 most underrated Science Fiction Movies of all Time. Do you agree? Use the email link at the bottom of the page to add your favorites.