A Thomas Pynchon/ Gravity's Rainbow dilemma, sort of...

[Hennessy]

Sort of an easy dilemma, considering.

A couple of years ago, I picked up a dirt cheap used copy of Gravity's Rainbow that at the time, unbeknown to me was a soft cover first edition of Gravity's Rainbow (http://www.hyperarts.com/pynchon/covers/gr_cvr.html#1). It's the US one, which I've since learned was published along side the hardback at the time of it's publication.

So. Now, I'm actually looking to stop procrastinating and start reading Gravity's Rainbow. The book is in really nice shape, minus the name--Boo Radley (?) written in blue ink on the first blank page.

Since I'm going to dive in and read the book--which may see some wear-- am I better off picking up another copy and letting this nice find sit unmolested or do I not give into the preserver/collector mentality?
I can't say that I'm a book collector of any sort, but I'd hate to see myself messing up something that fell into my lap.

Thoughts?

[Andreas]

Check AbeBooks (http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchEntry). Depends on the overall condition and the name written in may reduce the value a bit, but you're looking at $30 upwards.

Andreas

[PeteL]

Yeah, I'd check the condition and then utilize abebooks as Andreas mentioned. There are plenty of other softcover editions of Gravity's Rainbow available (even a recent one with a Frank Miller cover), so if you're willing to drop $15, you're set.

Oh, whenever you do begin reading it, you're in for a treat. Make sure you have lots of bananas at hand.

[Ryan_ZOOM_Turner]

I am getting the Miller copy from Amazon.

[Hennessy]

Thanks for the ideas and the link. I do really like the most recent edition, didn't know that Frank Miller did the cover. There really can never be enough great book covers.