FANTASTIC
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SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY COLLECTIBLES



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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
NAME THAT BOOK!
  • Can you help a collector remember the title of a book or movie?
  • check here
PLASTIC BAGS ARE BACK!
  • We have found a new supplier for plastic bags to protect your collectibles
  • check here
PULP MAGAZINES
PAPERBACK BOOKS
SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY HARDCOVER BOOKS
Note: We have decided to drop hardcover books to concentrate on Pulp Magazines and Paperback books. We have sold our hardcovers to my brother-in-law known on Amazon as Pulpsguy. (he also has some pulps). You may find our hardcover books plus many other items at his store which can be reached on Amazon with the following link: Pulpsguys Store
Pulp Magazine Cover Scans
Over 6000 Hi-definition Pulp Magazine Cover scans
are available on 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
Worlds Best Pulp Magazine Priceguide
Read Here

The bible of pulp magazine priceguides. Place a value on most any pulp, no matter how obscure
Here are some reference guides to help you understand and appreciate the Science Fiction world of books and pulps better
REFERENCE MATERIAL

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!
Here are links to previous Pulp Magazine of the Day Covers
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.