Main Menu
Home
Sign Up
Login
Getting Started
Tips & Tricks
FAQ
News
Bookstore
Contact
Sections
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
|
Stealing Books-A Bookscout's Guide To Book Collecting
Chapter 4 - Getting Your Books Signed
Getting Your Books Signed
There are some sites on the internet to obtain author addresses, but the surest method to contact the author is to mail them in care of their publisher. First send them a polite letter stating that you have a copy of their book and asking if it would be okay to send it to them for them to sign. State that you will include a self addressed box with return postage. Include a self addressed stamped envelope. Mail your letter off, and wait. Sometimes you will get a quick reply, others may take a while, and others may not reply at all. Be sure to get permission to send the book before actually sending it, or you might never see your book again.
Here is a copy of the letter I sent to Tom Clancy asking if I could send my first edition of The Hunt For Red October to be signed:
Dear Mr. Clancy,
I found a nice first edition of your book, The Hunt For Red October at a used book store for the price of six dollars. I happily paid the price they asked, and without telling them the book normally sells for about a hundred times that, I laughed all the way home. I was wondering if would be possible to send you the book (postage paid both ways of course, and packed so you only need tape the box closed, and drop it in the mail again), to get it signed. This is one of my favorite books, and I am very happy to have it in my collection. Thank you for writing it!
- Thank you very much for your consideration,
- Joe Bookcollector
- 123 Yadda St
- Anywhere, AL 12345
If the author says it is okay to send the book, obtain a priority box from the post office. The priority box that 12.5 x 15.5 x 3.25 inches is a good choice. Wrap the book in bubble wrap, and slide into the box. Include a letter reminding the author that you contacted them previously and that they gave you permission to send the book for them to sign. If you want them to write something personal to you, you can ask here as well. Generally I just have them flat sign (simply sign their name) the book as this will make the book more valuable than if it is personalized.
Here is a copy of the letter I included with my copy of The Hunt For Red October:
Dear Mr. Clancy,
Thank you for allowing me to send my copy of The Hunt For Red October for you sign. I appreciate it greatly. This has become one of my favorite books, and this first edition is the prize of my book collection. I have read all of your Jack Ryan books, as well as some your other non-fiction works, and have enjoyed them all. I know you are very busy, so I have tried to pack the book so that you can just put it back into the box, seal it shut, and drop it into the mail.
- Thank you very much,
- Joe Bookcollector
- 123 Yadda St
- Anywhere, AL 12345
Seal one end of the box by removing the strip covering the adhesive and close the flaps. Close the flaps on the other end of the box, but do not seal. Address the box to yourself. Take the box to the post office, have it weighed, and have postage applied using postage stamps. Do not mail the box yet. Wrap the book in plain mailing paper. Address the wrapped box to the author, and take this to the post office. Have it weighed, posted, and mailed. You can insure the package, or purchase delivery confirmation for the trip to the author, but it is difficult to do this for it’s return trip.
I have successfully had books signed by authors including Tom Clancy, Pat Conroy, James Patterson, G. Gordon Liddy and W.P. Kinsella. Jon Krakauer sent me a signed copy of Into Thin Air, and included some signed postcards and a very nice letter. Nicholas Evans replied that it would be difficult to sign the book since he was living overseas, but he sent me signed bookplates. Authors who never replied include Carl Hiaasen and George Plimpton.
Previous Page
Next Page
|
|
