NitrateVille.com

I was browsing at a book fair yesterday (always a dangerous idea) and I ran across an obvious "photoplay edition" of THE IRON HORSE. It was published by Grosset and Dunlap and inside it was dedicated to William Fox. All the usual clues, but what surprised me is there were no stills inside. It didn't look like any pages had been cut out.

Was this normal to issue some versions of a novelization without the stills?

What I really found amusing was the seller had it under "Children's Books". (No, I did not buy it even though it was quite reasonable)

There are 2 good books on photoplay editions. The 1st is called "Photoplay Edition" by Emil Petaja and the 2nd is "Photoplay Editions - A Collectors Guide" by Rick Miller. Both state that the G&D printing of The Iron Horse should have 8 stills. I'd guess that probably someone removed them.

Steve

Thanks Steve
Glad I didn't buy it. I'll pick up the books you recommeded.
Tim

I have a number G&D Photoplay Editions and those that still have a dust jacket usually list all the other Photoplay editions available. Another method I've used is to search abebooks.com and use "photoplay" in the keyword search. I've made a number of discoveries that way from finding editions I didn't know existed (Keaton's THE GENERAL) to tracking down inexpensively priced editions after seeing other copies of the same title sell for big bucks on ebay. The booksellers usually mention how many stills are in the volume or they will be happy to check if you ask. Forget about finding LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT or KING KONG - they can be acquired but for a king's ransom.

Keep an eye on the "The Exchange" section.

During the next week I will be parting with nearly all of my Photoplay Editions at set prices, below what one would normally find on eBay.

(I just have too much stuff I never have looked at in 10 - 15 years. )

For further information on Photoplay Editions, be sure and check out the Wikipedia page on the topic at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoplay_edition

For those interested in Photoplay Editions for cheap check out "The Exchange" section for a long list.