MindElec wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 00:04:46 -0400, "William M. Klimon"
declared:

"Francis A. Miniter" wrote in message
...

To see it in trade
paperback confused me even more. I pulled it off the shelf and
discovered the words "Advance Reading Copy - Not for Sale" on the
cover.
A letter from the publisher was on the free front end paper,
announcing
that Dexter, who last published in 1995, had signed with Doubleday.
The
copyright page declares it to be a First Edition and the publishing
date
is October 2003. The back cover contains some information about the
book, the author and marketing of the book.



I found a hardcover ARC at the local thrift today: James L. Halperin,
*The
Truth Machine* (Del Rey 1996) "Preview Reader's Edition", no title page,
"Reader Survey" form on last 2 pages.

I'm seen special advanced (not limited) editions (like Burke's *Cadillac
Jukebox* for the ABA), but I don't recall seeing a hardcover ARC before.


that one is a special case. the book was actually privately published
before del rey bought it. that's why the title page is missing.


When did softcover ARC's become the norm? I have seen a few books from the
1950's and 60's, normal first editions, with cards dropped in by the
publisher announcing the new book. The oldest "ARC" in my collection is
Sinclair Lewis's "Our Mr. Wrenn" with a stamp across the top of the title
page in purple ink that announces "ADVANCE . COPY - NOT PUBLISHED."

Tim Crawford