Red Threads by Rex Stout is 192 pages long. It is also unique in other ways. While other Bantams sold for 10 cents, Red Threads sold for 15 cents. Unlike the other Bantam books with illustrated covers (numbers 21-28) there is no text version of the cover. It is the only Bantam with a blurb about the book on the back cover rather than an ad and with a published date - 1941.
Red Threads is numbered A1 on the spine. It may have been planned as the first of a series of larger, more expensive, illustrated cover only books. But if so it is the only one published before Bantam Publications folded.
Red Threads was first published in The Mystery Book (New York: Farrar & Rinehart, 1939) as the fifth of five stories by five authors and was published separately by Wm. Collins & Sons (London: 1941). The Bantam edition is abridged.
The book is the same size, 110 mm (4 5/16") wide by 152 mm (6") tall, but is better made than other Bantams. Page collation:
[1] title page
[2] copyright page
3-192 Red Threads
Bantam A1
Bantam A1 back
What sort of BALLPARK value does the RED THREADS Bantam A1 have, presuming minor edgewear along spine, minor edgewear to front covers, tight binding and no writing inside of it?
ReplyDeleteI can comment from a buyer's perspective - have never sold books.
ReplyDeleteI bought this copy for a much less than market price on eBay. If it had been for sale by a book dealer I had have been very happy with a $200 price and would have paid $300. Your copy's condition is a bit less so a ballpark price that I would consider buying is $150 - $250.
I've never seen a copy for sale so all of this is real guesswork. There are two LA Bantams for sale online now - one for $1500 or so, the other $300. The $1500 is very much overpriced for the condition, the $300 is on the borderline because of not great condition.
Hope this helps.
Clarification - I meant two illustrated cover LA Bantams for sale.
ReplyDelete