Ed McGivern's Book

[DARE]

I have a copy of "Ed McGivern's Book on Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting".
Actually on the title page it says "Ed McGivern's Book on Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting and Police Training".
1938 The King-Richardson Co., Springfield, Mass.
Copyright, 1938, by Ed McGivern.
Is my copy a 1st Edition? Doesn't say anything about edition. Maybe there was only one edition?
Any info appreciated.

 

[AJ]

I have a copy of "Ed McGivern's Book on Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting".
Actually on the title page it says "Ed McGivern's Book on Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting and Police Training".
1938 The King-Richardson Co., Springfield, Mass.
Copyright, 1938, by Ed McGivern.
Is my copy a 1st Edition? Doesn't say anything about edition. Maybe there was only one edition?
Any info appreciated.

There are more than one edition. Will get mine out later and see how many it lists.

 

[444 Magnum]

Internet says first published in 1938. Looks like a first ed.

 

[AJ]

There is an Anniversary Edition also. It is dated 1975, that is the copy that I have. Congrats on your copy.

 

[Jellybean]

There are several editions before the Anniversary edition, and through several publishers, but it looks like yours is a first edition.

One of my favorite books of all time, by the way. A little hard to read his writing but well worth the effort.

 

[Onomea]

I have the 1938 edition, too. I don't know that much about book publishing, but what is considered a first edition can be pretty complicated to the layman.

Honestly, I found McGivern's prose close to unreadable. Turgid and verbose. Never say in five words what you can say in twenty-five...

Of course, he was a shooter not a writer, so I, for one, don't hold his writing against him!

 

[Jellybean]

Onomea is correct. Flip the page from your picture to see what you want to look at, it should give you the first year of publication along with subsequent editions and also printings. If it was a hot seller it could have several printings of the same edition.

What a "first edition" is worth will vary with the book, and prices for books now are all over the place as a lot of dealers don't know much about books either. I'm not a dealer nor a collector and couldn't care less if a book is a first edition or not, in fact I prefer if they weren't as the price is usually lower and it may contain information that was added in later edition. Of course if your selling you want an edition that will make you filthy stinking rich overnight.

 

[2152hq]

I believe I have that 1st edition on the shelf as well.
Bought it a local library book sell off for 50cents.
At least they didn't stamp it 'Discard' like a lot of them.

So..... I probably can't sell it for enough to retire to Belize and live in a Tiki Hut on the beach.
I had it all figured except where the lathe would go.

 

[DARE]

Thanks

Thanks for the info. I think I have a 1st edition. Looked some up for sale on the internet and found several between $60 and $100 that said they were 1st editions, so a 1st edition is no big deal.
Not interested in selling, just wanted to know what I had.
Here are the next pages, still don't see anything about what edition.

 

[AJ]

Thanks for the info. I think I have a 1st edition. Looked some up for sale on the internet and found several between $60 and $100 that said they were 1st editions, so a 1st edition is no big deal.
Not interested in selling, just wanted to know what I had.
Here are the next pages, still don't see anything about what edition.

Try here, much cheaper.

Ed Mcgivern's Book on Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting and Police Training - AbeBooks

 

[handejector]

Yes, you have a 1st Ed.
Correct, they don't bring a lot of money. I think Ed printed it once and sold them for the rest of his life.

 

[AJ]

My copy cost me $0.50 at the local library "Friends of the Library" book sale. One of the best buys that I have ever had for $0.50.

 

[DARE]

I Win

Got mine for free AJ, since my dad gave it to me. I beat you by 50 cents, lol.

 

[AJ]

Got mine for free AJ, since my dad gave it to me. I beat you by 50 cents, lol.

Better yet for it to be a gift from your Father.

 

[Jellybean]

Thanks for the info. I think I have a 1st edition. Looked some up for sale on the internet and found several between $60 and $100 that said they were 1st editions, so a 1st edition is no big deal.
Not interested in selling, just wanted to know what I had.
Here are the next pages, still don't see anything about what edition.

That's the page. If there were previous editions or printings of a publication it should be noted there.

I looked at some on Bookfinder.com, there were unsold copies of a 2007 paperback version that are being offered for $600...you can tell folks yours is worth more than that.

 

[Onomea]

Yes, you have a 1st Ed.
Correct, they don't bring a lot of money. I think Ed printed it once and sold them for the rest of his life.

This makes sense. I don't have my 1938 copy with me, but like JADARE's photo, I don't think there is any info printed on the page after the title page as to additional printings/editions.

 

[glowe]

After I recently found out a 38 M&P Target I bought was actually ordered by and delivered to Ed McGivern, I quickly ordered a first edition of his book. $30 plus shipping got me a good condition book with an intact dust cover, so unless you need one in new condition, the prices on Abe's are mostly below $50.

It is common practice to list all printings inside the first page, so you could have a 1938 date with additional notes of 1st, 2nd, etc printing on the page you are looking at. Without any, you are looking at a 1st Edition as stated by others. I found a 1945, 1946, 1957, 1959, 1984, 2007, and 2011 editions and probably more. Amazon has a new 2007 paperback available for $18.00 as well.

 

[Onomea]

After I recently found out a 38 M&P Target I bought was actually ordered by and delivered to Ed McGivern...

Wow! Talk about a pleasant surprise! That's terrific!

 

[AzShooter]

Wow, a first addition is a great book to have.

Mine was published in 2007. I paid $17.50 for it.

Great read. It really helped my speed shooting. At one time I was able to fire 6 shots in under a second. Not near Ed McGivern's times but pretty fast.

 

[DARE]

Wow

A gun owned by McGivern is about as good as it gets for me.
Congrats, Gary.