Comments on: Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Rod

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:03:22 +0000

Hi Nic
Welcome to the site.
Does that mean it is worthless?
Yes I’m afraid it does - there were 19 printings/editions of the book beforehand
Best
Rod

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Nic

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:36:46 +0000

Hi,

I have a book that says all the ‘First published in 1997′ with copyright for Joanne Rowling and copyright for cover illustration to Thomas Taylor 1997 etc. It is also the usual printed and bound by Clays Ltd but does not have any of the usual 10 9 8…. numbers on the publishing page. Instead it just has the number 20 written at the bottom on its own.
Does that mean it is worthless?

Thanks, Nic

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Rod

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:18:32 +0000

Hi Ben
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
The book you mention has no real value outside its readability I’m afraid.
You have a third edition of a reprint “book club” type of book.
Cheers
Rod

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Ben

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:34:02 +0000

Hi,
I take it that the Ted Smart versions are not actually worth anything then? I was wondering because I have a Ted Smart book lying around with the numbers 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 in the publishing page. It also says that it was produced for The Book People Ltd. I don’t really understand what it all means.
Many Thanks, Ben

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Rod

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:06:08 +0000

Hi Carl
the ISBN, generally speaking, means nothing in terms of determining first edition status.
That simply identifies the title and can stay with it through multiple reprints
Rod

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Carl

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:58:08 +0000

I would just like to ask, I have a Harry Potter book, which I bought (or was actually bought for me) when I was younger which has the ISBN 1-85613-403-2. Does this mean anything or not? It does say Joanne Rowling on the copyrights page. However, the book is not in the best condition, having marks on some of the pages and a name (my name, written in lovely bright felt tips) on the inside. Just wondering is all, my friend related me to this page as I am not a Harry Potter fan myself.

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Rod

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:13:30 +0000

Rosh
]thanks fo rthe comment and welcome to the site.
The scam aspect of the Ted Smart editions are that they are sold as collectable first editions, they are in fact reprints.
Unfortunately some people who buy on ebay are gullible or new to book collecting and are paying collectors prices for books which have little or now collectable value outside gullible ebayers - that is why they are brought to peoples attention.

There is nothing wrong with buying them if you want as with a “1st edition 37th printing” just don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a 1st edition it is not - it is a reprint !
Regards
Rod

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: ROSH

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:45:19 +0000

I am afraid i have to disspoint the person who thinks, Harry Potter, TED SMART books are a scam, JOANNE ROWLING her self has given permission via Bloomsbury for Ted Smart to publish the books, please get your fact correct before advertising incorecct information and publicity stuants on the internet.

Rosh

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Rod

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:35:58 +0000

Hi Kathy
welcome to the site and thanks fo rthe comment.
To take your points.

Ted Smart is the name of a publisher who issues reprints which are almost identical to the original publishers first editions. As ythey are reprints their value is minimal.

The 1st edition, 1st impression is simply the first time the book was printed, all copies in that print run are so named.
Subsequent printings are all reprints in reality though on eBay they do like to suggest 37th impressions are of value by adding 1st edition in front of it. In fact the book has been reprinted 37 times and has no value beyong it’s readability.

The number of copies printed in a run can be anything, depends entirely on the publisher and how many they expect to sell.

Hope this helps Kathy
Regards
Rod

Comment on Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam by: Kathy Herbst

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:33:31 +0000

I am not a collector of 1st editions, but I did catch the ‘ebay scam’. From your message above, who is Ted Smart? Doesn’t the 1st edition, 1st impression go to the author? Does the number below the ‘print code’ indicate the impression number in that run? How many impressions can there be in a ‘run’? Thank you so much for the learning experience. Kathy