Posted: March 24, 1998 at 00:02:02: by Ed McLuckie
Thought I'd share a short collecting story. I'm sure there are lots more and better out there we'd all like to hear. About 8 years ago I got a quote on a first edition of Star Man's Son at a give away price and after racing off money got a later printing just like the one already on my shelf. The seller had no phone number so I wrote this nastygram back and demanded a refund which I got. Later, I found the original quote card which OOOPs, didn't say anything about FIRST EDITION. I was very embarassed and wrote a profusely apologetic letter. That's not the story.Several years go by, I'm sitting in my front yard when the mail-man hands me a package, obviously a book. The seller had a very unusual name and I immediately recognized it, started telling my wife the old story of how rude I had been and could'nt wait to see what unsolicited book by Norton I was holding.
There was water damage and unfortunately no dust jacket but here was a very cordial note saying pay whatever you think is fair. Space Police is so much scarcer than Space Service or Space Pioneers. I sent a note saying that in that condition if I had insulted him I was sorry but it was the most I felt it worth and if it was more than he had expected, to consider it a token of my appreciation for thinking of me after all those years. He got my twenty dollars and I never heard from him again. Still the only copy I have, at least now it's signed.
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