All Easton Press volumes ship with a book plate.  The first thing many people do is to diligently fill their name into the book plate and then paste it to the interior of the volume.  They are usually well meaning, but don't understand that these are collectibles as well.  If all you are doing is getting these volumes to read and want the book plates in them, by all means go ahead, after all they are your books and your collection.  If you decide to do this, don't do what too many have done in the past and affix the book plate to the interior of the book on one of the front or back pages.  With it affixed to the fabric end sheets, you at least simply leave a stain behind when the book plate is removed.  When you affix it to one of the pages, it is there forever and Suzy certainly isn't going to want a book with Bobby's name permanently affixed.

But, if you are looking to collect these and think that at some time in the future you may wind up reselling them, DON'T DO IT!!!  I am still amazed at the number of people that attach book plates to these fine editions.  The book plate does absolutely nothing to add to the appearance of the book, but it does go a long way to instantly decreasing the value of the volume.  I've even found auctions where the seller listed a book in mint condition and then proceeded to tell everyone that a book plate is attached.  A book not in its original, pristine condition is NOT mint condition.  I consider these volumes to have lost 1/2 of their value the instant that you attach a book plate to them.  You are introducing something  foreign to the volumes.  If you have ever encountered a volume that had a bookplate attached on the fabric end sheets and then carefully removed, you will note there is a staining of the end sheet where the adhesive of the book plate damaged the fabric.  You may even have end sheets that are adhered to each other because of the adhesive.  In short, if you want your books to remain in collectible condition, the only place your book plates should wind up is in the garbage.  This means that you can still read these volumes as that is what they are meant for and doing so does not destroy the collectible value as long as you are careful with them.  No reading a book with a bag of Cheetos!  But, introducing anything foreign to the volume that adheres, rips, tears, warps, stains, etc. will give you a great book to enjoy, but not something that very many would add to a collection.

Losing 1/2 of their value when a book plate is attached may seem harsh.  That is the value I and many others place on Easton Press volumes with book plates.  Why?  Easton Press editions fall into the categories of both books and collectibles and to me are subject to both.  When you alter a collectible, it takes a noticeable drop in value.  Many book dealers will not discount rare, collectible volumes by 1/2 when a book plate is attached and there is a reason for that.  How many first editions could you find for "The Great Gatsby", "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Huckleberry Finn", or "Dracula"?  Probably less than 50 and in some cases less than 10.  However, you can find thousands of each of the volumes in the 100 Greatest Books that have never had a book plate in them or any other marking.  When you are dealing in true rarities, a book plate is a very minor thing.  When you are dealing with a volume that can be easily found without a book plate or other markings, the value takes a drastic dive when one is attached.  When you can have a volume of Moby Dick shipped to you from the Easton Press, shrink wrapped, and without any markings whatsoever, should you really be paying anywhere close to the issue price for one that has someone else's name stamped on a book plate and pasted into the volume?

If you are looking to sell your collection for whatever reason, full or partial, contact me to discuss terms and payment schedules.