Buying, Culling, Re-buying

[redbrain]

At one time or another, I've owned a lot of volumes in the Pan Book of Horror Stories series. I've found myself, repeatedly, thinking "I really don't want to own that" and getting rid of them. Then I buy another copy.

I was wondering whether other people did the same thing - and, if so, where their collections are now. Here's mine:

• Vol 1 is the weirdest. The copy I have is my original one, bought in 1962. But, in the early 70s, I decided it was one of the books I didn't want - and sold it. Then, in 1976, I found my original copy (with my name inside) on a market bookstall. I re-bought it, and have kept it ever since.
  Vols 2 and 3 are the only 2 in the series with which I never lost faith. I have kept my original copies ever since 1962.
  Vol 4 I bought when it first appeared, then sold it, then bought another copy, and sold that... My current copy (with the superb blue ghosts cover, of course) is one I bought from an Amazon marketplace seller earlier this year.
  Vol 8 is the only other one I currently own. I have bought and sold copies repeatedly, over the years. Like vol 4, I bought my current copy from an Amazon marketplace seller earlier this year. Why did I re-buy it this year? For Martin Waddell's "Old Feet", that's why.
  
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[weirdmonger]

I'm going through the stage of gradually culling all my books at the moment in a sort of a Life's closing-down sale - leading eventually to owning no books at all when I am dumb, blind and legless at the age of 90 in 30 years' time.

Slopping out Horror's Pan...

[redbrain]

Yes - Des - and, back in the 70s, you gave me your copies of a couple of the Pan Horror volumes (which you were culling at the time). One of them was volume 8, because you inscribed it for me with "EPB - Eighth Pan Book - Equivalent Pension Benefit".

I wonder whether you ever replaced the Pan books you gave to me.

[dem bones]

Going back to your first post, I've done that so many times it's driving me mad! There are so many I've got rid of over the years and all I can think is "what was I thinking?" I'm onto my third copy of Lord Halifax's Ghost Book (the Fontana paperback with the ace cover of the skeleton in the top hat) - I've no idea why I ever got rid of it: twice - and over the past few years I've re-bought or otherwise obtained through the generosity of certain board members: John Burke's Tales Of Unease, Nigel Kneale's Quatermass, Pan Horror #15 and Ian Watson's Salvage Rites.

Those I ditched in the charity shop during some kind of mental meltdown and have yet to relocate include Van Thal's Lie Ten Nights Awake, John Burke's More Tales Of Unease (I repeat "what was I thinking?"), Denys Val Baker's Haunted Cornwall (the bloody NEL edition. In near immaculate nick), Peter Saxon's Corruption (dreadful condition but better than no copy at all), Richard Lewis's Spiders ("I'll never read that ...") .....

I'm going to cry now.

[PeterC]

I can certainly identify with this thread. I once owned all the Pan Horror Books up to no. 20, and then gave all but 1-6 away. I also had the complete set of 'Year's Best Horror Stories' (mostly ordered from America at notable cost) and got rid of those too.

Ach! The follies of youth.

[lukemorningstar]

I can hardly bring myself to post this................ I did have a full set, up until about a year ago when it was 'new school uniform time' (for the kids of course - my own school uniform is still in pristine condition) and I was extremely skint, so loads of stuff went on e-bay, including volumes 26 - 30, which I had spent the previous 10 years tracking down.

I do intend to track them all down again though, and I must admit that it once again puts the fun and anticipation back into second hand shops, book fairs etc. I remember feeling a bit of an anti climax when I finally got the whole set, and had nothing more to aim for...........

I still have 1 - 25, with most of the early covers. And I have lost count of the number of spare copies of some of the early ones that I have picked up and sold, swapped or given away over the years.

I do have a nice 'Spectre' volume 4 though!

I just hope my daughter gets a good few years use out of that blazer and unecessarily substantial PE kit!

[allthingshorror]

I'm finding with the Pan books is that I just had to stop refining the collection after a certain point - always trying to get a better copy was just becoming more and more of a hassle. Saying that though - I stumbled over a unread, mint condition of #1 only three months ago - so when these books present themselves to you, just take them!

As for spares - I have another complete set which are shoddy reference copies (my 2nd number 30 is held together with cellotape - charity shop 10p!!) and any others I normally just give away.

Though the idea for setting up a VSPCPBoH (Vault Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Pan Book of Horrors) is very appealing...