One Super Deluxe CoH owner is reporting flaking foil...

I am no expert on bookbinding, but surely the binder will be able to 'perfect' any copies with minor faults such as this?

DAMN IT!

I've had to admit defeat with my #58 copy!

I mentioned in the other CoH thread that my copy had, what looked like, a scuff. After some thought & a good look I had to send it back.

The leather had been poorly tooled around one (back board; outside top) of the corners; you could actually see the board through it! It didn't look too good; but in the long term it was also a weak point, and I thought with time the leather would start to come away.

As I said to Deagol -Damn, Damn, and more Damn!! I don't have any 'Super' De Luxe editions; this was the first one I'd bought. And, #58 was nice and low for me. But now I've got #153...

Interestingly, as of the morning of the 17th only 152 copies had been shipped; hence me getting the next one. HC were extremely prompt at rectifying the problem mind you. I emailed on Sunday afternoon (undoubtedly not read until Monday morning), and the replacement was with me this morning (Wednesday!). [I currently have both copies!]

Your right about repair though Deagol! I did ask, but repair was not an option on the table. Annoyingly sense would tell you that #58 will be resold once repaired!

Please convince me that the number doesn't really matter...

BH

I think that if the board was showing through, that you did the right thing getting it replaced. I don't think the number matters at all, unless it matters to you.

Interesting that they have only sold 150 copies. Realistically, that means they got the price point completely wrong, as there is zero chance they will sell the remaining 350 copies (all the die-hard collectors have already bought them). I suspect the price will drop to 200 pounds or so (possibly via a reseller that can ship to the US, such as Amazon.co.uk), at which point they will probably shift [given enough time]. I suspect any prospective purchaser at this point would be holding off and waiting to see how it pans out.

In hindsight, I would have been happier if I had only bought one copy, but I'm planning on leaving both to my kids (and I haven't even had kids yet), so long term, I don't think it matters too much!!!

Stu

Thanks for that reply about the issue number Metapraxis! It doesn't really matter at all I don't suppose. Plus the alternative was to keep a damaged copy, which is stupid considering the money outlay.

Your surmise about the current rate of sales and price would seem to be correct. I don't know how long other De Luxe editions took to sell (I know Beren has mentioned the Hobbit Super De Luxe's that he bought a long time after their publication; and the fact that they still had a lot left), but I don't suppose they'll distribute them via alternate channels just yet.

(As you state...) when you consider that all serious collectors who wanted one have probably now bought their copy (and many bought two copies); and that a few book dealers have bought copies evidently just to sell -that would seem to be those two sales avenues exausted.

All in thats only really a core group of ~100 people. I think the price has certainly moved it beyond the reach of the average book collector. Perhaps the price Beren was originally banding about of ~£250, would have made purchase less prohibitive.

BH