New Naturalists / General Questions / General questions and discussion

Set of first 20 new naturalists value

Renegade666 — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:53:19 GMT

Hi

I recently inherited a set of the first 20 new naturalist books. They are all hardbacks with dustwrappers and are in ok condition for their age.

Should I hang onto them or sell them?

What are they worth?

Thanks for your help, and I'm sorry if this question is inappropriate here..

How to identify a rebound paperback?

crystaltips — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:21:17 GMT

I'm a fairly new collector of New Naturalists. I have heard that paperbacks can be rebound as hardbacks. How can you identify such 'rebinds'? Is there any difference in text at the front of the book? Are there tell-tale physical distinguishing signs?

Many thanks

Value of New Naturalists after the Golden 13.

Jackbus — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:40:20 GMT

I see recently that there have been quite a few sales of New Naturalists in that 83-98 range on auction sites.. Books that are no longer for sale from shops new. I haven't seen all. but it is interesting to see the fluctuation in prices.

Bats seem to have come down a bit to around £130, I have seen a lot of these books on sale and it looks like the value has come down from recent highs but has stayed noticably higher than any of its neighbours. Similarly Ireland (85) seems to have plateaued around the £120 mark. Reptiles & Amphibians has crept up in value, and similarly Moths (90) has made a recent charge and is now at the £100 mark.

Of the more recent volumes,Bumblebees seems to stand out as becoming more pricey. I have no idea why. Perhaps a similar reason to that often given to explain Bats' high price. ie. interest as the leading book on the subject. but this is pure guesswork. Perhaps it has spiked because it is no longer available. Can anyone shed light on this?

For sale:

Celle — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:52:14 GMT

I'm selliing an ad hoc collection of NN series (nos 1-72) and monographs. Some are first editions, e.g. 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 [no cover], 13, 15, 16, 17, 19 [no cover], 29; some are second (e.g 1 [no cover], others are of diffent editions. Check out what you seek.

One Reason Why there is not many members posting on the Forum anymore

JOHNBLUEBELL — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:04:32 GMT

POD has knocked the stuffing out of collecting these wonderful books, now there is no longer any mystique in finding an elusive book Freshwater Fishes hit £1300 a few yaers ago now you would be unlucky to pay £300, this is what made the series a talking subject for collectors now there is nothing to say any longer. POD finished the collector

Limiting print runs again

Jackbus — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:06:01 GMT

Wouldn't it be a seriously good idea for everyone if Collins began limiting print runs of upcoming NNs substantially. Limiting a run to 1500 or less would generate the right kind of buzz and kickstart even greater interest again in collectiing the series. Collins wouldn't lose out as they would naturally have the excellent POD service for anyone missing out. (Certainly the stories about remaindered badgers volume is not a good sign recently.) And they could then begin to increase print runs again once demand picks up.
Also , why not choose a subject that grabs the imagination more. Something like Peregrine or Raptors. At least something that generates more interest. Does anyone know why we had Plant Galls and Plant Pests in succession recently? Worthy subjects but surely could have been spaced out better. Mind you I would have thought Badgers would have gained more interest. While on the subject of print runs, does anyone have the numbers of recent editions?

2017 Forum members and nothing to discuss?

Lee3764 — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:10:57 GMT

As at today (18th August 2010) this forum has 2017 members and it seems that no one has anything to talk about? I have tried to strike up discussions but often there is very little follow on or even none at all even from Collins! I'm sure we would all like to hear from many of our quiet members about their interests and expectations from the New Naturalist series.

I'll kick the ball rolling with the following question.........How many New Naturalist titles do you have & which of those is your favourite and why?

My answer is - '53' and my favourite is no1 'Butterflies' by E.B.Ford. It was my 1st book given to me by my father in the early 1970's and it helped forge my lifetime interest in Butterflies. It is still a 'classic' today 65 years later.

Lee (Cornwall).

NN Posters

Jackbus — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:32:15 GMT

question for the Collins staff:

Would Collins consider producing full size posters/prints of the new Naturalist covers for sale. I can think of some covers that would look marvellous in full poster size hanging on a wall. For example 9,28,36,95,102. I would certainly have an interest.
As a side question,Has it ever been done before,for a promotional event for example?

How to spot 1st Edition when still wrapped

Naturallest — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:12:49 GMT

Having just received [url=http://www.newnaturalists.com/titles/43119/art-of-the-new-naturalists-peter-marren-robert-gillmor-9780007284719]‘Art of the New Naturalists[/url]’ courtesy of Amazon, is there any way of telling if this a first edn, or a reprint?

If it is a first edition I don’t really want to remove its plastic wrapper.

Does anybody know if this has been reprinted after the October 2009 run?

I could not find [u]identifying[/u] 1st Editions discussed elsewhere on this board. Any clues will be appreciated.

NEW NATURALIST BOOKS WANTED.

DavidMarriott — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:06:41 GMT

NEW NATURALIST BOOKS WANTED, MAINLY 1ST EDITIONS PLEASE. MUST BE VERY GOOD TO FINE OR MINT CONDITION. ALSO ALL GOOD POYSER BOOKS WANTED.POYSER BOOK, THE BADGER WANTED IN DUST JACKET, MUST BE IN FINE TO MINT CONDITION. ALSO A GOOD COPY OF CROSSBILLS WANTED BY DESMOND NETHERSOLE -THOMPSON WANTED.I HAVE WROTE OTHER TITLES DOWN IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME PLEASE.
NEW NATURALIST SERIES......
THE GREENSHANK, 1ST EDITION DESMOND NETHERSOLE -THOMPSON
THE RABBIT , THE SQUIRREL, THE SALMON, THE TROUT,THE HAWFINCH, THE WREN,
THE YELLOW WAGTAIL, THE HOUSE SPARROW. ALL OTHER NEW NATURALIST BOOKS WANTED IN DUST JACKETS AND MUST BE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, FINE TO MINT. WANTED : THE SPARROWHAWK BY IAN NEWTON, POYSER.ALSO ALL BB, DENYS WATKINS PITCHFORD BOOKS BOUGHT.

YOURS FAITHFULLY. DAVID MARRIOTT.

Our Forum being ruined??!!

Lee3764 — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:43:37 GMT

LUCKY FISH..................Would you stop being so selfish as to spreading all your shopping reviews rubbish all over this New Naturalists forum??

Does anyone know why these postings are ending up on this New Naturalists forum?? Am I missing something? Who is Lucky Fish? If anyone knows who they are will they stop them filling this forum with rubbish? Collins have not been on this forum for a while either & they should be moderating it!

Lee (Cornwall).

The Annual (Bill) Condry Festival

Hengus — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:20:56 GMT

The latest festival in honour of the great Bill Condry (author of Snowdonia & Wales) is held at the very lovely venue Y Tabernacl, in Machynlleth just outside the Southern edge of Snowdonia on Sat 16th Oct 2010.

Full details here. An outstanding programme imho (click on full programme for further details)...

[url=http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=4030][/url]

Collecting the New Naturalists (Tim Bernhard and Timothy Loe)

Hengus — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:26:09 GMT

I'm looking forward to this. A healthy discount available on pre-orders from Amazon...

[url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collecting-New-Naturalists-Tim-Bernhard/dp/0007367155/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304882462&sr=8-1][/url]

I'm looking forward to the launch at the NNCC Symposium in June...

New Nats 1st edition values

PaulMead — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:10:21 GMT

I have attended bookfairs this year & the NN 1st editions seem to increasing in both value & the number of collectors.

The POD issues have got poor reviews in terms of value for money & the amount of time between orders & receipt.

Given the comments over the PODs, i wonder if in the long run they are a viable alternative to the 1st editions.

e.g i bought a copy of NN 1st Reptiles & Amphibians at an auction recently for £90, there are 1st edition bargains out there, try

www.ukauctioneers.com

Merry Christmas to all new naturalists collectors, dealers & publishers

Paul

Distinction between 1st and 2nd state Orkney 1st edition

PaulSal1 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 10:36:07 GMT

Hi All,

How do I tell the difference between the first and second states of the first edition of 'The Natural History of Orkney', nos. 70, a and b?

I fear that I shall have to seek a copy of whichever state I do not possess. An expensive undertaking either way around!!

Sally

Hawfinch Conundrum?????

grandslam — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:48:30 GMT

Hi All

I am looking at 2 copies of the Hawfinch. Both are 1sts however 1 is an ex-library copy and has a better jacket than the other. When I swapped them over the ex-library copy was larger than the other. Putting the 2 jacketless books together shows the ex-library copy to be about 2 mms larger in both height and width. Also the paper in the ex-lib seems slightly thinner and not quite as good quality as the other. The books are otherwise identical in all other aspects.

Anybody any thoughts on this?

Best Wishes

Andy

iswapped them over the jacke tdid not fit

New Naturalist 2nd Symposium

Hengus — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:38:50 GMT

This event takes place on Monday 6th June at 2011 at Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Twigworth, Gloucester from 9am to 5pm

The timetable looks something like this:
09.00 Registration and coffee
09.45 Welcome address MYLES ARCHIBALD
10.00 CLEM FISHER & JOHN GITTINS ‘A. W. Boyd’
10.30 TREVOR BEEBEE ‘Amphibian Conservation’
11.00 Tea and Coffee
11.30 IAN NEWTON ‘Bird Migration’
13.30 Official launch of ‘Collecting the New Naturalists’ with book signing by the authors: TIM BERNHARD and TIM LOE
14.30 TED BENTON ‘Grasshoppers and Crickets’
15.00 TIM ROPER ‘Badgers’
15.30 Tea and Coffee
16.00 DAVID GOODE ‘Nature in Towns and Cities’
16.30 PETER FRIEND ‘Scotland’
17.00 Closing remarks, questions and discussion

***Anyway, due to change of plans, I have a spare ticket (inc lunch et al) which cost £50. Please drop me a line at newnaturalistcollector@googlemail.com if you want this. Payment by paypal or bank transfer or cheque ***

Bad time to buy a collection?

cakemonster — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:38:22 GMT

Hi there,
I'm new to this forum and have have noticed quite a few comments about the drop in prices of first editions over the last few years.
I've recently been given the opportunity to buy a large NN collection and was wondering if this might be a bad time to buy - ie could the prices be set to drop even further.
Any views on this?
Many thanks,
cakemonster

Reprints query

Hengus — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:37:29 GMT

Hi there

A question for Collins (or any knowledgeable others).

How many (if any) of the titles from 2005- (96; Fungi) have been reprinted in hardback?

Many thanks!

appalling packaging...no care or regard for the collector

michael62 — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:55:07 GMT

Alex if you read this..no doubt you will dissmiss this again and put it down to me moaning for what you people at Collins obviously feel that is of no importance to you..once again i have received the now..standard Collins treatment for ordering a signed copy of "Plant Pests" being careless attitude by your packers for a loyal collector of this once treasured by me series. my copy arrived today in a "cardboard envelope sleeve" that was only at a push about 1 mm thick! no packing or protection whatsoever in the envelope..the book just loosely placed inside.

My first thoughts were of anger ( after many complaints about packaging by others and myself over the last few years ).....next thought was is the book damaged in anyway at all, if it wasnt it would be a bonus. So lets open it.....well well what a suprise..dented in one corner!

Obviously nothing will ever change and the "hit or miss " factor is something collectors have come to expect when ordering a book from Collins , but tell me Alex...do you not think that a collector who has just shelled out £65 for a book should be treated better than this????? Once Collins had a good name amonst collectors of this series, but overall as far as sales service from your company go ,we are treated appallingly! I do not enjoy having to complain about anything but i guess after previous highlighting to you over the packaging issues and nothing being resolved..i find it soul destroying. is packaging with a strong protective box really to much to ask for after forking out £65???? obviously it is!

Kindle Versions

SGES — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:07:45 GMT

I have just come across a copy of Lichens available on Amazon for their Kindle device http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lichens-Collins-New-Naturalist-Library/dp/B003Z6QGDG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1292410633&sr=1-3

I had been interested in a digital book reader but had assumed incorrectly that most of the titles would be fiction.

Alex at Collins - can you offer any further details regarding titles etc for eReaders?

Imagine taking a complete library of NN's on your field trips without ever worrying about damaging them!

Cheap copies of "Badger"

DavidGarnett — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:05:48 GMT

Noticed this morning that "The Works" in Barry, South Wales (part of a natiowide chain of remainder book sellers) had half a dozen brand new (still in cellophane packing so could not check that they are first printings though I doubt that there has been any printings after the first) hardback copies of Badger at £9.99 each. Is HarperCollins now selling off excess print runs cheaply?

Which volume marks the boundary between new & old formats?

Brendan — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:02:00 GMT

Just received a POD copy of Bumblebees courtesy of the sale, and it's very impressive indeed, with dozens of colour illustrations and the whole thing printed on the whiter semi-glossy paperstock used in all of the in-print standard editions. This made me think of a question which I hope an "old hand" reading the forum can answer - which volume marks the start of the modern NN layout (with colour pictures in line with text and numerous), vs. the older style of grouping photos on distinct pages of plates?

thanks in advance!

Nature in Towns and Cities

DavidBrear — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:10:51 GMT

Any chance of this showing up soon? My Amazon order's been postponed twice now.

POD DUST WRAPPERS

Fritillary — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:22:20 GMT

Why the delay. I paid by PayPal in October and yet the order isn't due to be shipped until December.

NN 2011 Calendar

Hengus — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:09:48 GMT

It appears Collins announcement threads can't be written to, so I am starting this thread here to ask Collins a question.

Can you guarantee that the packaging for the Calendar will be sufficient for them to arrive undamaged?

Many thanks.

Replacement Dust Jackets

Weeds&Aliens — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:42:31 GMT

It is great that HC is now providing these and offering the full service to collectors. It is great to have these to protect the orginals from the light. A few years back I was mad enough to scan in the original DJ's of the first 98 volumes touch them up with Photoshop and print them off on quality paper and use them to the protect the originals and get what looks like a full set of new DJ's on my shelves. Now at least I don't have to do that anymore. Can you offer the monographs too soon? I never got around to them.

Collins now selling on EBAY !

PhilB — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:12:23 GMT

Had my usual look on ebay and found a large number of print-on-demand copies for sale at £50 each - a new seller - Collins !! - what next ?

Recommended NN-related Books

Hengus — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:09:53 GMT

I'd like to recommend The Running Sky by Tim Dee. Subtitled 'A Birdwatching Life' it is actually a collection of reflections and thoughts on birds and their place in our world. Part philosophical treatise, part biography, part poetry, it really is an extraordinary and highly thought provoking book.

One chapter is particularly relevant to this forum, as it is based around the story of John Buxton's NN monograph - The Redstart and Huxley and Fisher's responses to JB's desire for it not to be too 'scientifically' based. It's fascinating stuff....

Who will be the 2000th member of this forum?

Lee3764 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:11:54 GMT

As at today (14th July, 2010) there are 1989 members of this New Naturalists Forum. Only 11 more to join and the forum will have 2000 members! Who will be that 2000th member to join?

There have been 500 odd postings on this forum but we have just short of 2000 members!!! If all members would just post a short message we could quadrouple the message count!

Cheers all,

Lee (Cornwall).

Paperbacks

PaulMead — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:58:03 GMT

Now that so many paperbacks are being 'made up' into hardback editions for the rarer h/b books, i wonder if these papervacks will become the new collectibles in the series.

myles ..packaging why no feedback

michael62 — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:13:50 GMT

Myles can you answer me on here why i had no feedback to my concerns about the packaging on the signed copys . i recieved Bager today..it was sent in what is nothing more than a thin cardboard sleeve , with a sheet of brown paper over the book inside..no padding whatsoever. dont you think as i and others asked before, we deserve some kind of decent packaging? yes you heard me complain before..yes you must be thinking oh no not him again..but why is it tell me that when ever some one voices a valid complaint nothing ever changes? and please dont say the forum is not the place to voice a complaint , because i tried the other way and heard nothing. Miles at the end of the day.. a £65 collectors book should be boxed, not a cheap alternative such as a thin cardboard sleeve. if you had got back to me and others when we voiced our concerns over the way these are sent to us now, i would not have to have brought it up in the forum. all we ever heard from you was..you would have a word to the packaging dept..well i guess whatever you said has changed nothing. and before anyone says "well the book arrived undamaged didnt it??"..yes it did thankfully ..but i kind of believe only by luck.

Peregrine

PaulMead — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:32:04 GMT

Always wondered why the classic Peregrine book published by Collins in the 70s was not a new naturalist.

New Naturalist no:114 'Badger'

Lee3764 — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:44:45 GMT

I just received my confirmation of order today from NHBS books in Totnes, Devon for my standing order with them for the next title out in the N/N series on 27th May, 2010 for 'Badger', title no:114 in the series.

I wonder who will receive their copy first and on what date & from whom? Just interested, but also not long to wait now (20 days @ 7/5/2010)!

Cheers,

Lee.

New Naturalist 'in the papers'

Hengus — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:02:29 GMT

Nice article in today's Independent (mainly about the Collector's Club Symposium which took place yesterday)

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/michael-mccarthy-going-cuckoo-over-new-nats-books-1801806.html

Book & Magazine Collector

Paul1960 — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:13:41 GMT

Major article on New Naturalist - nice one Tim

Cellophane wrappers for newly published titles

Hengus — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:40:40 GMT

A simple question for Collins...why?!

In my opinion, they actually damage the books, certainly the Dust Jackets of the books (which if they overhang even slightly, which they normally do on one edge, are always curled), rather than protect them.

I genuinely can't understand what purpose they serve (or you think they serve)?

Didn't publishers used to wrap titles (say 5 or 10 depending on the size of the book) in paper? I suppose this is progress (oh dear, I've just turned into my father).

They are also a pain in the rear end because you can never tell what you are buying (or wanting to sell)!

Don't like 'em. There, I feel better now :-)

Major New Naturalist article plus full valuations

Hengus — Sat, 01 May 2010 14:39:31 GMT

There's a major 14 page article in the new issue of Book and Magazine Collector (June 2010, No 321, £3.50) on the series including full valuations.

Some, in my opinion, very strange valuations in there (£400 for a leatherbound Dragonflies anybody. Yes please....!!). Pleasing to see they mention the first state blue band on the Art of the New Naturalists, mind!

I also look forward to reading No 99, 'Cower' :-)

Despite these minor gripes, it's an essential article. Plenty of input (in an interview) from Tim Bernhard of the NN Collector's Club and should be a good recruiting tool for him.

It's anonymously written by 'betweenthelines'.

Forthcoming titles

Gill — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:53:49 GMT

Hi everyone, have visited a few times before but never before made a post.

I look forward to each and every NN with great anticipation and as recommended order my copy in advance from NHBS.

However, I think the title I am most looking forward to being published is 'Ponds, Pools and Puddles' (2011) - I just love the title and can't wait to see the cover design.

Which titles are you all most looking forward to being published?

Also does anyone know why the delay with publication of 'Vegetation of Britain and Ireland'? Supposed to be published this year but is now numbered as NN 123 on NHBS site.

wanted

michael5 — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:54:12 GMT

Is there anyone who has a nice clean unfoxed copy of The Greenshank ( with or without dust wrapper ) who wishes to either sell to me or even maybe swap it for something you need? please email me mickyways@fsmail.net