Condition of old FF books

[jnicol]

During the past few weeks since rediscovering FF I have started to build a small collection of Puffin, Wizard and Scholastic editions.

My main interest is in reading the books, not displaying them, though I confess to being attracted to older editions when I spot a good deal.

However having recently acquired a star edition of Chaos and an early edition of Shamutanti Hills, I am realising that books of this age are in danger of falling apart at the seams, so to speak. My copy of Shamutanti was literally losing pages despite being described by the seller as being in "good" condition (I am in the process of getting a refund). My copy of Chaos ("very good condition") is intact, but it feels delicate enough that I'm nervous to read it.

Those of you who collect older editions: do you actually read the books, or just display them?

I had no qualms about chucking my Wizard City of Thieves in a backpack to read during my commute, but I don't think I'd want to treat a Puffin edition the same way. Maybe I'm being too precious.

[johnbrawn1972]

Jun 19, 2019 22:04:36 GMT jnicol said:

During the past few weeks since rediscovering FF I have started to build a small collection of Puffin, Wizard and Scholastic editions.

My main interest is in reading the books, not displaying them, though I confess to being attracted to older editions when I spot a good deal.

However having recently acquired a star edition of Chaos and an early edition of Shamutanti Hills, I am realising that books of this age are in danger of falling apart at the seams, so to speak. My copy of Shamutanti was literally losing pages despite being described by the seller as being in "good" condition (I am in the process of getting a refund). My copy of Chaos ("very good condition") is intact, but it feels delicate enough that I'm nervous to read it.

Those of you who collect older editions: do you actually read the books, or just display them?

I had no qualms about chucking my Wizard City of Thieves in a backpack to read during my commute, but I don't think I'd want to treat a Puffin edition the same way. Maybe I'm being too precious.

I bought 1-15 and Sorcery during the 1980s though I did not take very good care of Warlock where the pages are intact but there is a terrible crease in the spine of the book. I carelessly wrote onto a piece of paper lying on top of Citadel so it is marked. Some of the paper has become like parchment especially Shamutanti. I took fairly good care of the other books. Again unfortunately I stopped buying the books with Rings though I bought Trial when I saw it in WH Smith. I wish I had bought the others but the years 1983-1985 speak for themselves where I would have been about 11 to 13 years of age. The last 5 years of the 1980s I was something of a gaming junkie. I was undiagnosed but I think both the books and games are built on a structure which appeals to the autistic mindset.

The other unfortunate thing is during the late 1980s I kept the books on a shelf which faced a window so the spines have faded a great deal. I now keep them in a cupboard with doors.

The only fortunate thing is I never wrote on the books when I was young. I always used a piece of paper so it was always to hand.

I am wondering whether to attend Fest 3 to see if I can sell some of my books. I am paranoid about transporting them safely as I do not drive. Like Alvy Singer in Annie Hall I have too much hostility.

[jnicol]

Jun 19, 2019 23:18:44 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

I bought 1-15 and Sorcery during the 1980s though I did not take very good care of Warlock where the pages are intact but there is a terrible crease in the spine of the book. I carelessly wrote onto a piece of paper lying on top of Citadel so it is marked. Some of the paper has become like parchment especially Shamutanti. I took fairly good care of the other books. Again unfortunately I stopped buying the books with Rings though I bought Trial when I saw it in WH Smith. I wish I had bought the others but the years 1983-1985 speak for themselves where I would have been about 11 to 13 years of age. The last 5 years of the 1980s I was something of a gaming junkie. I was undiagnosed but I think both the books and games are built on a structure which appeals to the autistic mindset.

The other unfortunate thing is during the late 1980s I kept the books on a shelf which faced a window so the spines have faded a great deal. I now keep them in a cupboard with doors.

The only fortunate thing is I never wrote on the books when I was young. I always used a piece of paper so it was always to hand.

I am wondering whether to attend Fest 3 to see if I can sell some of my books. I am paranoid about transporting them safely as I do not drive. Like Alvy Singer in Annie Hall I have too much hostility.

Good on you for hanging on to your original books! It sounds like you have treated them well, other than the faded spines. Even as kids we knew not to write on the adventure sheets, but to judge by the FF books on eBay it was common practice to do so.

To keep my anxiety levels as low as possible I think I will focus on Wizard editions for gameplay, and only buy Puffins when they’re not available in other formats.

It’s a shame Scholastic didn’t use the original illustrations, or their books would be a no-brainer.

[dragonwarrior8]

I have bought them to read but I enjoy displaying them as well. Although really, all you see in the bookcase is the spine which is kind of a shame because I love the covers and many of them bring back great memories. It might be a bit overboard but a glass case to display them all would be cool. lol. I wonder if anyone here has done anything like that or how do you display so you can see the covers?

I didn't treat mine very well either back in the 80s. They got tossed around pretty liberally, left outside, etc. It was really just something that never occurred to me quite frankly that I would be treasuring them 30 years later. The same was true with my GI Joe figures. I wish I had taken better care of them but when you are 10 years old its not really front of your mind.

Its funny when you mention the condition because I started out trying to get the most pristine copies I could and managed to get quite a few that looked like they had never been opened. My City of Thieves looked like it had come right off the press. The problem was I was then reluctant to play them because it seemed a shame to crease anything. lol. I obtained a pristine set of the Falcon books (books 1-4 anyway) that Im going to be afraid to play for this reason and its a little bit crazy when you think about it. I mean that's their purpose. Im just anal about damaging anything that looks new I guess.

So now its strange but I prefer any books I get to actually be a bit beat up already when I get them. I don't feel guilty that way for some reason.

[jnicol]

Jun 19, 2019 23:43:09 GMT dragonwarrior8 said:

Its funny when you mention the condition because I started out trying to get the most pristine copies I could and managed to get quite a few that looked like they had never been opened. My original City of Thieves looked like it had come right off the press. The problem was I was then reluctant to play them because it seemed a shame to crease anything. lol. I obtained a pristine set of the Falcon books (books 1-4 anyway) that Im going to be afraid to play for this reason and its a little bit crazy when you think about it. I mean that's their purpose. Im just anal about damaging anything that looks new I guess.

I’m glad I am not the only one! It’s like that thing of collecting toys mint in box, and never being able to touch them for fear of causing damage. First World problems, eh!

[kieran]

My collection spends its time in shoe boxes I'm afraid - I have a mixture of Puffin and Wizard editions and I don't mind since I primarily want to read them and look at the (original!) illustrations.

The idea of a complete mint Puffin set has a certain appeal but I don't lose any sleep that my collection is mismatched and battered (though I like to keep them in good nick as much as I can).

I've had to replace 2 books that were falling apart - Deathtrap Dungeon and Master of Chaos (both I'd had since being a child and was a lot more rough then - I used to use dice as bookmarks!) I also replaced Fangs of Fury as the first copy I got off ebay had certain options circled in pencil which annoyed me no end.

[vagsancho]

Connection with Fighting Fantasy books.. Vice or virtue.. I would dare to say that there is nobody normal in this fighting fantazine site.. Nobody here is a normal person.. Not even me.

[schlendrian]

The FFs I bought in the late 90s/early 00s were anthologies containing three books each. I don't think I mishandled them that much, perhaps they were just cheaply produced, but they have fallen to pieces a couple years ago. To get to your question, I just read and don't display, so I punched holes into the pages, put them into folder and can now read them without having to worry about the condition anymore.

[jnicol]

Jun 21, 2019 8:50:45 GMT schlendrian said:

I punched holes into the pages, put them into folder and can now read them without having to worry about the condition anymore.

I like your style!

[bloodbeasthandler]

Jun 19, 2019 22:04:36 GMT jnicol said:

Those of you who collect older editions: do you actually read the books, or just display them?

I had no qualms about chucking my Wizard City of Thieves in a backpack to read during my commute, but I don't think I'd want to treat a Puffin edition the same way. Maybe I'm being too precious.

I read and display.

My old Puffin editions (with the exception of a few of the earliest ones) are in generally good condition and I think they were well-made in the first place, so all I'm careful about is not breaking or creasing the spine or causing any further sort of damage.

As for the second point there - don't worry, you are not alone!

[stevendoig]

I've always liked any books I own to look a bit knackered - it shows how much I enjoyed them! I do have all mine on display in a bookcase (well, I say on display, they are in a wee box room where no one but me ever ventures...