Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
FOWLES, John. The Collector. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1963.
Price: US$275.00 + shipping
Description: First Printing. Octavo; rust-colored paper-covered boards, titled and blocked in gilt and dark brown on spine; yellow topstain; dustjacket; 305pp, [4]. Bookplate signed by the author loosely laid in, with the brief note "a cold day, 1996" below his written name. Rough erasure to contemporary owner's name and date on front endpaper, with light wear to extremities; Near Fine. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $4.95), and a bright, Fine example. Fowles's first book, a thoroughly creepy novel about a socially-awkward kidnapper and killer, one whom many credit with being the inspiration for Hanibal Lecter.
Seller: Lorne Bair Rare Books, ABAA, Winchester, VA, U.S.A.
Fowles, John. THE COLLECTOR. Little, Brown, 1963.
Price: US$319.00 + shipping
Description: ** PREPUBLICATION COPY ** THE COLLECTOR, Little Brown, 1963, first American edition, a sharp vg+ copy in wraps of this advance reading copy of the authors first book! SIGNED by the author on a bookplate laid in.
Seller: THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY / A.B.A.A / 1979, ROCHESTER, MI, U.S.A.
Fowles, John. The Collector. Little Brown, 1963.
Price: US$350.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: SIGNED, without inscription, by John Fowles on the title page. The volume is pushed at the spine ends, has a circular stain on the front board and a small stain on the bottom page edges. The unclipped dust jacket, sleeved in protective cover, has light toning on the flap perimeters.
Seller: Trilby & Co. Books, San Jose, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$490.75 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Rare as hen's teeth, this is the Advance Reading Copy of a great and celebrated first novel. It is not perfect in any conventional sense; the sun has faded the cover and the spine has an area of damage at the top. It looks as if it has been greedily read, without any care being taken. It is undoubtedly well used, and the cover was printed on low quality paper. The text is much better, but because it was 'only a proof' I would guess it was sent to somebody in the publishing business who obviously devoured it. It is that kind of book. An early Fowles that is difficult to put down until you have finished it. But apart from the obvious faults it is also the real thing, a not for sale advance copy, and with a rare signature by way of a pasted in bookplate, and the great man has written 'Lyme Regis' under his name. This seaside town in Devon, England, was where Fowles lived. I remember going there to see him. The book also has a neat former owner's signature. This is a keen price for such an extreme rarity. I doubt there is another US proof that is signed. Consequently this is a much sought after work in its rarest state, and possibly unique. I think of it as a valuable relic of great interest. 0.0 0.0 0.0
Seller: THE BOOKSNIFFER, Lewes, East Sussex, United Kingdom
John Fowler. The Collector. Little Brown, 1963.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Fowles, John. The Collector. Boston/Toronto: Little, Brown & Company, 1963. First American edition, bookplate signed by author. Original brick cloth blind stamped with the "LB" insignia to front board, spine lettered in gilt over maroon background, yellow top stain, pictorial dust jacket. 8vo. Spine of jacket rubbed at ends and at front panel corners, finger soiling to back panel with minor foxing to lower edge and into the back flap, still an attractive copy.
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
Fowles, John. The Collector (SIGNED Plus SIGNED CAST ITEMS). Little Brown and Co., Boston, 1963.
Price: US$550.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 1st American Edition/1st Printing. SIGNED by author on a bookplate on half-title page (signed bookplates by mail shortly before his death in 2005- thus later signature). $4.95 price present on DJ flap; mylar protected. Also laid-in is a cafeteria guest check SIGNED by WILLIAM WYLER, famous director of the 1965 film version of novel--a scarce signature). Also laid-in is a B&W photo SIGNED by TERENCE STAMP (played 'Freddie Clegg'); and another color photo SIGNED by SAMANTHA EGGAR (played 'Miranda Grey'). Author's first novel. (Bonus: Also comes with a unsigned 1st Printing hardcover copy of Fowles novel "Mantissa" --Note: No international orders for this item). Unique copy for the Fowles--Collector fan or collector Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Daniel Montemarano, Newfield, NJ, U.S.A.
John Fowles. The Collector. Little, Brown and Co. Austin Toronto, 1963.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: 1st American edition, signed plate. Book and jacket are in excellent condition.
Seller: A Better, Sunrise Beach, MO, U.S.A.
Fowles, John. The Collector. Little Brown, 1963.
Price: US$1100.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Stated First American Edition/First Printing with no mention of subsequent printings (first state point at the time, number lines included starting in 1988); A Near Fine book in a Near Fine price clipped dust jacket. Flat SIGNED by the author on the title page. A beautiful copy of this extraordinary novel by the award winning and critically acclaimed author of "The Magus"; scarce in this condition, particularly signed. This copy is in near fine condition with only very light shelf wear, else fine; housed in a near fine clean and bright dust jacket that shows only light rubbing to the spine ends and corners, else fine. But for the jacket being price clipped and the light rubbing, a pristine copy indeed. Not remaindered, not ex-library; in archival protection and will ship in a sturdy box.
Seller: Grayshelf Books, ABAA, IOBA, Tomball, TX, U.S.A.
John Fowles. THE COLLECTOR SIGNED. Little, Brown & Company, Boston, 1963.
Price: US$1195.95 + shipping
Description: Very Good+ in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Owner name on FEP. ; Personalized by author on title page. ; Signed by Author.
Seller: Rare Book Cellar, Pomona, NY, U.S.A.
Fowles, John. The Collector.. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1963.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Fowles' debut novel. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed and dated by John Fowles on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, name to the half-title page. Jacket design by Tom Adams. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise clamshell box. Hailed as the first modern psychological thriller, The Collector is the internationally bestselling novel that catapulted John Fowles into the front rank of contemporary novelists. This tale of obsessive love--the story of a lonely clerk who collects butterflies and of the beautiful young art student who is his ultimate quarry--remains unparalleled in its power to startle and mesmerize. It was adapted as a feature film of the same name in 1965.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.