• THOMO
  • 24 Oct 2022 3:33 AM
  • Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 318 subscribers
  • Views 678 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Latest posts

Minsmere Portrait of a Bird Reserve

As I started another thread a few years about the signed copy Ive got of Minsmere Portrait of a Bird Bird Reserve wuth the signatures of Bert Axel and EricHosking of which I ordered before publication day during the 1970’s. Well I’ve been having a look at the second hand copies of this book as you can normally buy a second hand copy of this book quite easily online. But I’ve a number of signed copies of this same book foe sale of around £40.00 plus. I’ve got my original members enamel badge from much earlier af which the RSPB don’t sell now. But again those members do come up for sale occadionly online. So not that expensive The Ian that works at Minsmere I wonder if you have any idea how many   copies of Minsmere Portrait of a Bird Reserve where actually signed by Bert Axel and Eric Hosking. As I was surprised at how much the signed copies where being sold for. Which seems to sugggest that not many copies of Minsmere Portrait of a Bird where signed by Bird Axel and Eric Hosking: Thanks if you can help Ian!

Regards,

Ian.

  • Ian Barthorpe
    I have no idea how many signed copies there are, but I'm told that both Bert and Eric Hosking did sign a lot when they were newly published. The book is still readily available from many secondhand retails for just a few pounds (or even pence in some cases), and I very much doubt that Bert Axell's signature itself is worth much since he'll be unheard of outside of the conservation sector. Most of us have signed copies bought for next to nothing!
  • ItisaRobbo
    I'm struggling to find any copies on sale for £40+?
  • THOMO

    In reply to Ian Barthorpe:

    biblio.co.uk/.../1439076993
    This signed copy first edition is on sale selling at £40.00. Mine was a first edition ordered months before publication day. And there are other first editions i can show on sale for a little more or less all first editions and signed copies. Hope the link works.

    Regards,

    Ian.

  • ItisaRobbo

    In reply to THOMO:

    Thanks Ian. Link works fine. I missed that one. I've had a look at that site and expanded the list from the one book to all copies of that book that are signed. On that site alone, there are three with the £40 being the most expensive. Link here. Most of the other searches elsewhere on the net suggested £20 ish was a more common asking price for signed copies (though obviously an individual selling them would prob have to accept less than professional book sellers). Of the 22+ copies on Amazon, at least one is signed and £24 incl free postage. Certainly a nice book to have at home though.   

  • Ian Barthorpe
    When I did a quick online search yesterday I found copies for sale from £1.24 to more than £120. Signed ones were generally but not always more expensive. Some claim to be "new" although the book has been out of print for years. I would certainly recommend a good read, but don't spend silly money when you can easily pick up a good quality copy for just a few pounds!
  • ItisaRobbo

    In reply to Ian Barthorpe:

    Ian Barthorpe said:
    When I did a quick online search yesterday I found copies for sale from £1.24 to more than £120.

    Amazing what impact 2022 exchange rates have!

  • Clare

    In reply to Ian Barthorpe:

    Ian Barthorpe said:
    I would certainly recommend a good read, but don't spend silly money when you can easily pick up a good quality copy for just a few pounds!

    Wish everyone had your sense, Ian.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • ItisaRobbo

    Good sense + Internet = in theory no one should be paying over the odds for anything. Yet, there's a local 'antique' place near me that never ceases to amaze me. Sells stuff by the boot load that all they're doing is buying online, then restocking their premises to then sell for inflated prices to people who could have just bought the stuff online!