Donel Fattibene I DID IT

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 10:16 pm

YES: I make it a personal policy not to critique small self published publications.

If you have been published by a major publishing house, nation wide, then its a new ball game.

But, in the case of Donel Fattibene I will make somewhat an exception.

That is the problem with self published books, especially by people who do not have a clue.

The problem with Fattibene is she went out an published her book and told us in the book that it was a First Edition Limited to 100 copies.

Now she sells out. Hurray for Fattibene. So what does she do?

She publishes another 100 copies and calls this run the "Second Edition Limited to 100 Copies"

Dah!!!!!!!!!!

If you are going to publish a book and you are going to call it LIMITED, how about learning something about the trade before calling it LIMITED when it is not LIMITED and then when you publish a book and call it LIMITED, try making it so.

Now, I understand that Ms Fattibene may be ignorant about what a LIMITED EDITION is. Her publication reminds me of the book THE GIRL IN THE HOUSE OF HATE which has been publishing the book for 30 years and it is still LIMITED to 300 copies.

So, what is the big deal? Well we purchased the last one in the 100 LIMITED EDITION run. At least that is what the exclusive dealer which handled the book said. At least, I thought it was the last one. It said it in the book that it was ''LIMITED". Ms Fattibene went out and changed that. Profit, financial gain, swelling proceeds, or what have you, was just to tempting.

BUT, what do you know? It is not a LIMITED edition after all. But, wait.......Simply call it a Limited 2nd edition and presto; that changes everything, yes?

NO.

Fattibene's new publication is not a second edition. It's a second printing. She has changed nothing about the book, with the exception of a couple of corrections. Also, this means that the first edition is no longer LIMITED. So, for everyone who thinks they are purchasing a special publication, you are not. If the second edition (second printing) sells out, you can be sure there will be a third.

What's next Ms Fattibene, a THIRD EDITION LIMITED TO 100 COPIES?

Before you jump on me, before you voice yourself that I am being a little critical, let me just add---I have read the book. My criticism above is very considerate.

SteveS. · Post by **SteveS.** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:17 am

I honestly wouldn't have expected anything less from someone who is a self proclaimed "mouthpiece" of Miss. Emma Borden herself. I mean afterall.......her long distance charges alone from those long talks to Emma must be astronomical.

Oh wait.......I gotta go.....Lizzie is calling again......she is such a chatter box.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:12 am

Thanks MB for the explanation. I know little about such things.

What would be the purpose of an unknown author wanting a Limited Edition in the first place? Why limit their potential sales? I can understand limiting the printing of the book as they are self-publishing it but why bother calling it a Limited Edition? It is of secondary importance to the average reader if they notice it at all.

Is it to spur sales to collectors of first editions? Would a book collector even pursue a paperback Limited Edition of a new book?

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:37 am

Yes* When a publisher makes a LIMITED EDITION it means that there is something special about the publication. It may be something as simple as "Limited Edition to 250 copies or 2000" BUT THAT IS IT.

They don't go out and publish another edition in that format. It is special in the way it was built, its size, paper used, font, illustrations, signature etc. It may be published later in a totally different format but you don't publish the same book and now call it LIMITED or a 2nd LIMITED.

LIMITED EDITION may be signed by the author or not. It may, and should, be numbered and a place in the book should be reserved for that number, which should be written in in pen or stamped in.

If she had changed the cover, format, size.......then she could call it a 2nd edition. She can even call it a Second Edition LIMITED, since the book would be completely different from the first. But, it should be numbered and never published again in that format, if it is to be called LIMITED.

Most of the time LIMITED editions are sold at a premium.

When you buy a LIMITED EDITION, you do so because you love that author, collect that genre, or simply as an investment. Whatever the reason, it is special, one of a kind. (one of 100 etc.)

When Robert Flynn re-published Porter's book THE FALL RIVER TRAGEDY in a LIMITED edition of 1000 copies, I PURCHASED THREE COPIES. I did so because it was limited and would only go up in price. Who was to know that he would go out and publish another 1000plus extra copies.

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Pi--ed me off.

But it is true. Just because a person signs a book does not make it more valuable if they are unknown.

Take Len Rebello's book LIZZIE BORDEN PAST AND PRESENT. Signed copies are not worth any more than unsigned copies. Its about the subject matter not the author.

Now if you collect Ray Bradbury; signed copies are about the author, more so than the subject matter. There are countless collectors who have paid hundreds for a signed Bradbury but have never read the book.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:50 am

Thanks again, MB.

Yes, I remember the Flynn fiasco on the reproduction(s) of Porter's book. Copies still pop up on EBay now and then.

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:23 pm

To a collector, once he has his hardcover collection complete he moves onto softcover......but they are almost never anywhere as expensive as the hardcover version. Most are never worth more than cover price.

But, there is a whole field of collection out there of those who collect paperbacks, especially paperback authors and stories which published in the 40s 50s and 60s and were never published anywhere else. I know very little about it, though.

Examples below are of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.

The TRUE FIRST EDITION of FAHREHEIT 451 was in PAPERBACK.

The hardcover came out almost 5 months later. But, collectors want the hardcover. Still, no Bradbury collection is complete without both. The paperback first edition may sell for 50 or 60 dollars, where the first edition hardcover may sell upwards of 600 dollars in fine condition and signed by Bradbury.

For a the true blue crazy collector, the true, first ever seen publication of FAHRENHEIT 451 appeared in a magazine. I think it was Galaxy Magazine. (?) This was the true first edition of the story. It was called the Fireman. I think it was published in 1951 just about 2 years before the hardcover.

The blue copy is the paperback.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:42 pm

Yes, I can't imagine paperbacks being worth much. I bought the paperback edition of Radin's book when it first came out. Several years ago it had deteriorated into pieces and now has to be held together with rubber bands. They must have a relatively short life span a major deterrent to a collector.

Not to change the subject but I wonder how many of the books Lizzie owned were Limited or first Editions. Would her habit of putting in her name, initials, or "B" stamp ruined their value? Or would the combination of her name and the edition made the value even greater?

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:43 pm

Talking about LIMITED EDITIONS.

Below are two early copies of Fahrenheit 451.

One is the famous 'ASBESTOS" copy. The other is the more famous but cheaper Limited Edition Club's "ALUMINUM" covered edition.

The asbestos copy is on Ebay as we speak. The asking price is 35,000. That's "Thirty Five Thousand". The last one I remember for sale was asking 12,000. I was offered a copy in 1979 for 600. Should have bought it.

The other is the Limited Edition Club copy which came out in 1982. Limited to 2000 copies and signed by Bradbruy and the illustrator and issued in an aluminum covered slipcase. Copies when found sell between 300 and 600 dollars.

The asbestos copy below has a red leather and marble board slipcase made for it by the collector. Not sure if they sold it, but that is the copy that had an asking price of 12,000

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 1:20 pm

Yes Harry. A book signed by Lizzie makes it her own and trumps the author by hundreds. Real funny, I think. One with her seal in it make it worth even more.

I would imagine that if you had a Ray Bradbury FAHRENHEIT 451 first edition signed by Bradbury and worth 500 dollars, it would just about double in value if Lizzie Borden signed it also.

But, then again, you would have been robbed since Lizzie borden was dead for 26 years when 451 was published.

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Below is a copy of one of Lizzie's books. The only one I have with the seal in it. The title is NANCY STAIR, and the author was Elinor Mcartney Lane.

Copies can be found for 2 to 3 dollars. A no seller today.

Place Lizzie's initials in it, written in her hand, and place one of Lizzie's "B" stickers in it and presto.........book sold on ebay for just about 700 dollars.

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 1:44 pm

Yes, well: Of course comparing Donel Fattibene with Ray Bradbury or a signed Lizzie Borden is just preposterous.

The fact that Donel Fattibene Publishes her Limited Edition Books should really be no big deal.

Whether it is limited or not, if she wants to call it that it is really her business.

I could also get a horse, dress like the Lone Ranger and ride around town.

Impersonating the Lone Ranger is my business and if Ms Fattibene wants to call her book Limited it is hers.

But, what does that say about us?

So, put on your mask Ms Fattibene, get on your Limited Edition horse and ride.

I await the Tonto Edition.

Bobbypoz · Post by **Bobbypoz** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:12 pm

Hey MB,

If I put MY B in the NANCY STAIR book (which I don't have!) would that devalue the price even more as Harry suggests in his question or would that mean nothing since the price is so low anyways...thanks!

~B

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:20 pm

Yes, bobbypoz. When you say placing your "B" in the book a assume you mean your own personal B not Lizzie's.

Well, if you put your B in a book worth 5 dollars, it will probably still be worth 5 dollars.

Writing in a book, or placing a sticker in a book devalues some books.

If you have a 500 dollar first edition Hemingway and you place your B sticker in it in principle it devalues the book. It may not be by much. But if the book is offered with and without the B in it, the more desirable copy will always be the one without the sticker. Any writing that goes into a first edition devalues the book as a collector's item unless it is by the author.

When we speak about collecting "First Editions" we are usually talking about fiction. If you write in a first edition copy of Fahrenheit 451 you would take away from the desirability of the book. By how much is very suspect and dictated by how much someone wants to pay. But, there are many who would not consider a first edition with writing in it.

But, if it is a really old book, such as WilkIe Collins WOMEN IN WHITE published in 1860 your B would probably be expected since it is so rare and old, and not take away from the value at all.

But take a more recent first edition such as Robert B. Parker's EARLY AUTUMN. This is a book worth about 40 dollars. A signed Parker EARLY AUTUMN may be worth 50 dollars. Place your personal B or your signiture in a first edition of EARLY AUTUMN and the book is now worth about 10 or 15 dollars.

The copy of NANCY STAIR above not only has the Borden Initial in it but it has a little phrase Lizzie cut out and pasted into the book along with her handwritten initials L.A.B. Theses three things add value. Together they add great value.

If I was to rip out the Borden sticker, cut out Lizzie's writing and try to sell the book as belonging to Lizzie without any provenance or proof I would be lucky to make much more than 2 or 3 bucks.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 4:11 pm

Hi-yo, Silver!

This is a very entertaining thread about, what I have heard, is a very loony book.