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Permalink Reply by crazyrabbits23 on August 21, 2025 at 5:47am

Generally speaking, yes. I have Atwood's The Robber Bride, signed in a similar way (though it had a little more text printed on the page stating it was part of a limited signed edition).

From what I know, Franklin Library worked directly with the authors to get these copies (either signed on the finished book or via tipped-in pages).

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Permalink Reply by eddy on August 21, 2025 at 5:53am

Thanks for prompt reply, crazyrabbits23.  

These look like they may have been tipped-in.  Anything else signed by Baldwin starts getting very expensive.  

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on August 21, 2025 at 6:41am

Mainstream publishers sometimes issue their own signed limited editions - usually small in number and finely bound - and then there are smaller, "private" presses which specialize in Signed editions only - Franklin would fall into that latter category.

They (Franklin Library editions) are not (very) highly regarded amongst collectors, which is why you will often find large numbers of them available where other sources of the autograph are scarce and/or expensive. Why that is I have never fully figured out although I don't like them myself as the bindings are a bit garish i.m.o. and the materials used in their production are not best quality. I think many collectors would prefer to have a tatty copy of a James Baldwin original first edition than a shiny new Franklin because it is a bit of a confection. This is where book collectors and autograph collectors diverge, I guess.

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Permalink Reply by JK on August 21, 2025 at 8:22am

My experience with Franklin Library books is quite different.  

They are leatherbound and, I believe, acid-free.  Most FM books are not signed, although obviously some are, either as a limited edition or afterward. As a collection on a bookshelf they look quite impressive.

There's also the Easton Press.  Those are leatherbound and acid free and many of their books are signed editions, often first editions.

In any case, all things being equal, I would prefer an acid-free edition over a highly acidic book that is slowly self-destructing.  But that's just my preference.  Clearly others have different preferences.

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on August 21, 2025 at 8:37am

As you say, each person has their own preferences.

You can actually buy leather-bound books by the yard these days. Not my scene but each to their own.

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