FANTASTIC
COLLECTIBLES
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY COLLECTIBLES



email:

The Google search engine below can be used to search this site
Custom Search
HOW I BOUGHT THE E E "Doc" SMITH PULP COLLECTION

A Journey to the Wilds of Northern Indiana

Doc Smith is one of the notable authors of early "Scientifiction". He passed away in 1965, so I never met him. However, his pulp collection passed on the his daughter Verna, who contacted me several years before she died. She wanted to sell his pulp collection, not for the money, but to preserve the collection before it was destroyed. She had stored the collection in her basement, which was damp, and several boxes had already been damaged by moisture.

Doc's scientific training was obvious by the construction of the boxes in which he stored his collection. He took heavy duty boxes, glued one inch strips of wood on the top, and fitted eyehooks on the end of the wood strips. He connected these eyehooks with metal rods. This construction sealed the boxes, and prevented them from opening, even if they received rough treatment.

His daughter had piled them in the basement in three tall stacks- one with a complete Astounding collection, the other pile was a complete collection of Amazing Stories, and the third was Wonder Stories and associated titles. The latest issue was about 1955. Of course the first issues of Amazing and Astounding were on the bottom, and it was these that were completely destroyed by moisture.

I was relating this story several years ago to a fellow collector and he made the comment that Verna had stored the boxes all wrong. She had stored the boxes upside down! What we thought was the top was actually the bottom. The wooden strips were intended to provide an air gap between boxes and floor. Had she stored the boxes properly, dampness coming from anything less than an inch of standing water would have not mattered.

Today I wish I had been able to hang onto this treasure, as it contained Doc's personal copies of Amazing Stories where many of his stories originally appeared. These contained marginal notations as to changes in the stories he contemplated for future publication, as well as his comments about a few stories by other authors. With the prospect of putting four children through college, there was no way I could add these to my personal collection. I did include a certificate with each pulp telling the new owners that this was from Doc Smith' personal collection. I rebought one of these several years ago, so be on the lookout for such items.

Verna had one highly desirable item I did not purchase- I did not even ask the price as there was no way I could have afforded such an item. It was the original oil painting from the October 1939 issue of Astounding Stories. This was the first appearance of the Gray Lensman story. The painting was about 36 inches tall and was far more impressive than the cover on the magazine.

Verna had one more artifact from Doc Smith's past. Doc had sold a number of his Lensman books in special editions published by Fantasy Press in the late 1940's. These were published as numbered copies as part of a subscription service that would deliver them over time. They could be purchased unsigned or inscribed by Doc. Doc had a file cabinet with several 3 x 5 cards for each person. On these cards, he noted the inscription he used for each book for each particular person. This made sure that the same inscription was not used twice to any individual, and maintained the illusion that your copy was personalized. Copies were also sold unnumbered and unsigned.

Doc's collection also contained his personal copies of many of the hardcover books he sold, including proofs of many. Verna did not want to part with these at the time. Doc's estate is now managed by her son Kim Trestrail who may still have these items. This was far from the largest collection I ever purchased, but was one of the more interesting.


Read about other trips Here

Was this article helpful? Any Comments?
Please email to me at:

Want to help support this page and keep the daily Pulp Magazine Cover of the Day coming to your computer?

Help defray the cost of this page by clicking on the Amazon.com banner at the top of this page when you purchase items from Amazon. This costs you nothing extra, and provides credits to support this page. Thanks in advance!

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

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.