Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: Have you ever bought a more expensive edition of a book, when a cheaper edition was available, just because you preferred the cover of the more expensive one?
I distinctly remember being in Barnes and Noble, looking at two different copies of Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. $6.99 vs. $4.99, exactly identical copies, except the cheaper option had the lowered price printed big and bold right on the cover, I think in a red star or something like it. It’s relevant to note I was young enough that two dollars made more of a difference than it would today. But I just couldn’t stand that printed price messing up the lovely dragon cover, so I bought the more expensive copy. Considering I still have it, 15 or 20 years later, and have read it multiple times, that was a worthwhile extra two dollars!
That may be the only strict example where I went for a higher price because of cover. I have paid more money for nicer editions–particularly old volumes, a hardback copy, or one with illustrations. That feels slightly different, though. The thing is, I buy most of my books unseen (online) or in used bookstores where there’s only one copy on the shelf, so there aren’t a lot of choices!
Do you buy books based on their cover? Would you pay more for good one?
I wonder if we have the same Dragonflight cover? Must check and give you the right Goodreads link… https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1017641.Dragonflight This one.
As I have a different copy of Dragonsong (it’s in your header photo!) we probably have different ones, though.
I’ve bought hardcover books when I could have bought the paperbacks, but wish I’d bought the early HP hardbacks!
I usually just buy the cheapest paperback, because I like to read in the bath and occasionally Poseidon claims a book. But I will stare longingly at the fancy editions that I see in bookstores or on Instagram anyway.
I bought gorgeous illustrated copies of LOTR and The Hobbit, even though I already owned paperback copies and I don’t read them very often…
I have probably 20 different copies of Les Mis. I’ve been trying to get a hardcover copy of every English translation. But when the movie came out in 2012, I got a copy of the book with the movie cover… because I love that image of Cosette… even though it’s the Denny translation, widely regarded as the worst translation.
I’ve not had a decision quite like the one you faced. 🙂
But I can say that I’m one of those people who prefers the covers of a series match. So if I had a choice of keeping the cover design similar or getting something new, I’d go for the one that matches those I have, even if it might set me back a bit more.