TAROVFAOGT Red Leather Presentation Edition

[Dr. Bantham]

"The Agonizing Resurrection of Victor Frankenstein and Other Gothic Tales"
Red Leather Edition

I own one of ten copies of the red leather edition. This is, to my knowledge, the rarest of all Ligotti book editions. These were not available to the public for purchase, and instead were presented to various individuals as Publisher Copies.

With regard to this specific edition, I would find it most intriguing to trace the history of various owners for each copy. Since there are only ten in existence, this is not an impossible task in nature. While some copies may remain in the hands of the original owner, others may have fallen into various hands over time. If you have any knowledge of the ownership history of your copy beyond your own, please indulge my curiosity.

[BeelzeBob]

Alas, I've taken the plunge. I had to go get a personal loan to do it, but I'm now the proud owner of a Red Leather TAROVFAOGT. I'm not married and I have no kids("Posterity is for suckers."), so I treated myself. It's the one that's been up on abebooks for a while. The seller was Kathmandu Books down in Florida. I was talking with the owner and he said that he had purchased it and a Black Leather edition, which he's already sold, from a collector years ago. I paid $2,500.00 for it on the Kathmandu website, owner would not budge on the price at all. I don't physically have it in my possession yet, as it is on the way. I can post a pick when it gets here.

On the one hand, I couldn't be more excited. But on the other, is it possible that I just paid the most anyone has ever paid for a single Thomas Ligotti tome? Please someone comment and comfort me by saying you've paid more....

	TAROVFAOGT The Agonizing Resurrection of Victor Frankenstein and Other Gothic Tales

[Kevin]

No comfort, but plenty of admiration and envy!

[Ascrobius]

That price is about right for that book due to it's rarity, give or take. There are a couple other books that if they were a) made aware of to collectors, and b), put on the market, might fetch significantly higher prices than that. The market, as always, dictates that. You are not likely to see another copy, for that price, that is, any time soon. It's what happens when you print these fine tomes in small quantities and then a guy like TLs popularity explodes. I think this aspect of Ligotti collecting gives it a kind of mystique, if you will. It's funny because Tom has a copy of that book sitting on his Mother's bookshelf, and as many times as I've prodded him, he just can't bring himself to take it back as it was a gift to her that he is very proud of, which I understand completely.

[BeelzeBob]

Received it today!

[Ascrobius]

By the way...unless he has gotten more copies of books I am unaware of, which is entirely possible, that LE version we are speaking of is the sole survivor of his book output. Yes, that's right. Tom Ligotti has no actual copies of his own books like you think he might. He is more often to have extras, which he sells, when getting X number of books as part of a contract. Some do, some do not. But I always found that very interesting. Later on down the line, with the advent of online book sales and what have you, he became all about moving, not keeping them, which makes perfect sense.

[bendk]

Quote Originally Posted by BeelzeBob

Received it today!

Beautiful. Have no fear, it will be worth much more in the future. About 15 years ago I spent over $500 for a signed mint copy of the Silver Scarab Press SOADD. It is by far the most I have ever spent on a book. Never regretted it.

	SOADD Songs of a Dead Dreamer   Songs of a Dead Dreamer was the first book published featuring a collection stories by Thomas Ligotti. Original Printing Revised Printing