Smoke From This Altar - Louis L'amour 1st question

I recently purchased (for a ridiculously low price) a signed/inscribed 1st
ed. copy of Louis L'amour's Smoke From This Altar.

I went to ABE to check pricing but there were only 4 copies listed there,
all seemingly different.

Two are in orange bindings; one listing says this is 2nd State, the other
says this is the "Preferred" version.

Another listing is for a "first state yellow binding."

The last is a gray binding "Presentation copy."

Well, the copy I bought is bound in green cloth. The FIRST EDITION statement
is there and all other points match up. It is inscribed to an Army buddy of
L'amour's.

On louislamour.com they have all but the yellow binding for sale. These
copies are apparently unsigned.

Can anyone tell me the story behind the different bindings and which is
actually preferred?

Thanks!

"Gary Phillips" wrote...
I recently purchased (for a ridiculously low price) a signed/inscribed 1st
ed. copy of Louis L'amour's Smoke From This Altar.

I went to ABE to check pricing but there were only 4 copies listed there,
all seemingly different.

Two are in orange bindings; one listing says this is 2nd State, the other
says this is the "Preferred" version.

Another listing is for a "first state yellow binding."

The last is a gray binding "Presentation copy."

Well, the copy I bought is bound in green cloth. The FIRST EDITION
statement
is there and all other points match up. It is inscribed to an Army buddy
of
L'amour's.

On louislamour.com they have all but the yellow binding for sale. These
copies are apparently unsigned.

Can anyone tell me the story behind the different bindings and which is
actually preferred?

Do your ABE search using 1939 in the publisher slot, rather than the
publisher's name, and you'll turn up 8 copies.

Five of those copies are from various LA-area Book Barons (2 from Anaheim, 3
from the Long Beach eShop), with these bindings: 3rd issue gray, green,
second issue orange (a signed presentation copy), 1st state yellow, and
"preferred" orange (probably copped that adjective from the louislamour.com
description). The other 3 listings are for "gilt stamped green cloth,"
"Gilt-stamped green" again, and green. What seems odd here is that the
louislamour.com copy looks to be stamped in dark green on the front board.
How is your copy lettered? Is there gilt on the spine?

My guess on the "yellow" copy is that there is no yellow binding--it is an
orange, either badly faded or listed by someone with eccentric color
perception. The "second issue orange," though, is a puzzle.

The Ahearns' Collected Books gives priority (or at least pricing preference)
to the orange binding ahead of the green; the gray is not listed (in the '98
edition--I never bought the newer one).

Sorry I have only speculations and second-hand info to offer. But I hope
this helps you sort things out.


--
Jon Meyers
[To reply,
lose your way.]

"Jon Meyers" wrote in message
...
"Gary Phillips" wrote...
I recently purchased (for a ridiculously low price) a signed/inscribed
1st
ed. copy of Louis L'amour's Smoke From This Altar.

I went to ABE to check pricing but there were only 4 copies listed
there,
all seemingly different.

Two are in orange bindings; one listing says this is 2nd State, the
other
says this is the "Preferred" version.

Another listing is for a "first state yellow binding."

The last is a gray binding "Presentation copy."

Well, the copy I bought is bound in green cloth. The FIRST EDITION
statement
is there and all other points match up. It is inscribed to an Army buddy
of
L'amour's.

On louislamour.com they have all but the yellow binding for sale. These
copies are apparently unsigned.

Can anyone tell me the story behind the different bindings and which is
actually preferred?

Do your ABE search using 1939 in the publisher slot, rather than the
publisher's name, and you'll turn up 8 copies.

Five of those copies are from various LA-area Book Barons (2 from Anaheim,
3
from the Long Beach eShop), with these bindings: 3rd issue gray, green,
second issue orange (a signed presentation copy), 1st state yellow, and
"preferred" orange (probably copped that adjective from the
louislamour.com
description). The other 3 listings are for "gilt stamped green cloth,"
"Gilt-stamped green" again, and green. What seems odd here is that the
louislamour.com copy looks to be stamped in dark green on the front board.
How is your copy lettered? Is there gilt on the spine?

My guess on the "yellow" copy is that there is no yellow binding--it is an
orange, either badly faded or listed by someone with eccentric color
perception. The "second issue orange," though, is a puzzle.

The Ahearns' Collected Books gives priority (or at least pricing
preference)
to the orange binding ahead of the green; the gray is not listed (in the
'98
edition--I never bought the newer one).

Sorry I have only speculations and second-hand info to offer. But I hope
this helps you sort things out.


Jon,
Thanks for the reply. My copy is stamped on the front and spine with dark
green. No gilt anywhere (and no pun intended as I relate the story of how I
came by it below).

At any rate, I only paid $75 for it. A woman came to see me, having been
directed there by the owner of a local new-only bookshop. The book had been
her
ex-husband's (who had died several months ago - their son had given her the
book - he didn't want it) and she wanted to sell it. $75 was her asking
price; I quickly accepted but told her several times about the book having a
greater value than $75, although I didn't know how much more. I even told
her she might want to sell it on Ebay. She simply wasn't interested and just
wanted to know it I was going to write her a check or give her cash.

I suppose this is qualifies as a brag...

Gary

"Gary Phillips" wrote in message .com...

At any rate, I only paid $75 for it. A woman came to see me, having been
directed there by the owner of a local new-only bookshop. The book had been
her
ex-husband's (who had died several months ago - their son had given her the
book - he didn't want it) and she wanted to sell it. $75 was her asking
price; I quickly accepted but told her several times about the book having a
greater value than $75, although I didn't know how much more. I even told
her she might want to sell it on Ebay. She simply wasn't interested and just
wanted to know it I was going to write her a check or give her cash.

I suppose this is qualifies as a brag...

Yes, of your virtue in not taking undue advantage of a widow. Congrats.

--
Ht