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I am an avid collector of signed first edition books mainly from the US. I started with my favourite authors and collected these books and then gradually branched out. I would select an author and then may collect all his books or just a series of his books. Like Tom Clancy I collected all the Jack Ryan series.  With my favourite authors like Clive Cussler I collest evrything I can from all his series.

I have the signed first editions from Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, John Dunning, David Baldacci, Jason Bourne series of books, Dan Brown, John Lescroart, Steven Coonts, Jeff Deaver,Jeff Archer, Allan Folsom,Brad Meltzer, Tom Cain, Robyn Young,Michael Grant,James Patterson, Richard Patterson, Andrew Gross,James Huston, James Rollins,Michael Koryta,John Grisham, W.E.B Griffin. I have numerous single books like Autiobigraphy of Colin Powell and Serpico and a lot of single books I have picked up from various authors to try them.

I also like to collect Aussie authors and they are brilliant at helping out with signed books, I started with Bryce Courtney and now I have Mark Abernethy,Peter Fitzimmons, Tony Park,Matthew reilly and several single ones and autobigraphies.

I have written to a lot of the authors and some of them have respnded directly which was a bit of a thrill and quite a few have sent me signed inscripted photos. I have several personalised photos of various authors and a signed page of the manuscript of a Clive Cussler book which is a great centrepiece of my collection.

It is nearly the same price to purchase a signed US first edition first print from a current author and mailed to me as to buy the hardcover from the local bookshops. Older books cost more are harder to obtain and a lot more money.

With spinal problems, these books have given me a great deal of pleasure to collect, to enjoy and to read.

To assist people starting off I would suggest some of my favourite sites to search for books.

www.vjbooks.com  This is my favourite site where you can get well priced books shipped to Australia from the US and an excellent range of mainly current books from tons of authors. Virginia is owner with John and both are excellent to deal with.

www.flatsigned.com  Tim and Lucy and these offer a huge range of books and a lot of older books and again well priced. These are my 2 main dealers and with VJ and Flatsigned I would have bought 75% of my books.

Others include www.thebookscouts.com Chris Dupree in Canada, Charles Neddo at QQQBooks@yahoo.com email for list of books available,  Ask Howard for list at billnye@bestweb.net . Another is learco@cox.net. and Russell at  rilg_49@yahoo.com

Search engines at www.abebooks.com and www.alibris.com good for both signed and unsigned books.Here are my sites for books which are not signed 

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Enjoy collecting