Sunday 9 October 2016

Dune, 2015 Folio Society first edition.

For years, I was a member of the Folio Society. Sucked in by an opening deal which provided great value for money, I then bought the requisite minimum of books, and let my membership lapse. They had my address though, so roughly every two weeks (it certainly felt that regular) I would get a new offer, a new catalogue, a new leaflet. Once a year they'd do a "go on then, everything's half price, and you only need to buy one book" sale, and I would usually go for something. Folio Society books are lovely things, and every house should have at least a few of their slipcased volumes, usually with exclusive illustrations, on its shelves.

These days, the membership model has changed: anyone can go on the Society's website and buy one or more of their books. Their adverts have started appearing on my Facebook feed, and that's how I knew of their amazing edition of Frank Herbert's Dune. The first printing sold out very quickly last year. A copy of this printing came across my desk this week, complete with the poster which came with it (but not with the currently selling second printing). It is a thing of beauty, and I was sorely tempted to keep it, not least because the world of Dune is not one I have ever entered (I've not even seen the film). But I'm a Bookseller, so I listed it on eBay, where it lasted less than two hours. It's now on its way to its new owner. Not before I photographed it though.

The fabulous illustrations are by Sam Weber.






















Sunday 2 October 2016

Fab and Gear! Dances for Mods and Rockers: A Panther Pictorial from 1964

It sold within hours of being put up on eBay, but it's still worth sharing the photos of this wonderful, ephemeral bit of cash-in fun. Some of the photos are from the set of Ready Steady Go! and the dance instructions look a bit complicated to me, but hey, it's a thing from another time...