Collector's Edition

I just received the Collector's Edition. It's simply beautiful.

The book was put in the Amazon shipping box with "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" and "ATTENTION MUGGLES - DO NOT DELIVER OR OPEN BEFORE DECEMBER 4!" displayed on it in a font I've never seen used in the Potter series. Inside the shipping box is a huge white slide-on covering with "This Side Up" displayed on it in same font. It is also plastic-wrapped.

The actual "Hogwarts Textbook" is 12.8 x 10.4 x 2.8 inches and has "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" on it along with an etched replica Rowling signature. It opens to reveal "The Tales of Beedle the Bard".

On the left side of the opened textbook is an envelope with "Collector's Edition Prints" typed on it along with a replica of Rowling's signature. Inside the envelope are 10 drawings, presumably copied drawings that Rowling originally drew.

The actual The Tales of Beedle the Bard book lies in the middle of the textbook. It is placed inside a dark maroon bag with Rowling's signature on it in gold lettering. The book is very small but it is amazing. It looks exactly like the hand-made copies. There is a skull on the front with light blue (I don't know the name of the color, sorry) eyes. There are other decorations on the corners of the cover. There's a buckle on the right side that you move so you can open the book.

The Introduction is a copy of Rowling's cursive handwriting. The rest is typed, sadly. There are also illustrations on some pages. There are 179 pages.

This is entire thing is extremely beautiful. It is worth the $100 price tag.

Edit: I will not be reading the Collector's Edition, unless there is exclusive text that doesn't appear in the Standard Edition. Come to think of it, the introduction produced in Rowling replica handwriting may be exclusive. Someone let me know if that is true.

Thanks for telling me this JL- I'm hoping mine will arrive tomorrow but this has me psyched!!! Cheers!

I don't know about the exclusivity though, although I am aware that there are extra illustrations in the collector's edition, so I recommend that you look at each page individually, even if you choose to not read it in its entirety.

On another board, someone got the collector's edition, and it had three obvious errors in it.

Anyone else have that problem?

What are the errors? Can you also give a link to the board's thread about these errors?

I just got mine, and your summarization is simply perfect. It is indeed worth the $100. :tu: I haven't the chancee to read any of it yet, I haven't heard of any errors. I will have to watch for those. I will also be purchasing a regular version too.

I just got mine, and your summarization is simply perfect. It is indeed worth the $100. :tu:
Thanks.

I will also be purchasing a regular version too.
I ordered the Standard Edition on Amazon this morning and it has already shipped. :) I'll be getting it next week. That's the one I'll be reading.

I am sure the Standard Edition is cheaper than the $11.13 I paid at Amazon if I bought the book in stores, but stores tend to put price tag stickers on books and I really, really hate that.

I wanted to get this version so much, in fact, my fiancee was going to get it for me, but he thinks that someone else in the family may be getting it for me for Christmas...I can only hope because I want it so badly. Even more now...

My copy was waiting for me when I got home today! It's so awesome!

I am hoping the Collector's Edition will be worth a decent amount of money in 20 years, but I do not know anything about book value.

I am sure it will be worth something, although I never plan to sell it.

I got my Collector's Edition today as well. Your description is truly perfect. I love it, and am keeping every part of it - including the box :P

I got my Collector's Edition today as well. Your description is truly perfect. I love it, and am keeping every part of it - including the box :P


Me too! I loved the box! It was amazing! :cool:

I am hoping the Collector's Edition will be worth a decent amount of money in 20 years, but I do not know anything about book value.

Probably not. The leather bound collectors' edition has a print run of 100,000 which is twenty times that of the original hardback and more than many best sellers.

And if it were sealed in plastic and the plastic is removed that's about half the resale gone.

There are three principles of collectables: rarity, condition and popularity.

I am sure it will be worth something, although I never plan to sell it.

I wouldn't either.....:whistle:


I really wish I had gotten the standard edition from the bookstore, I don't like having my CE out and about. :(

I really, really want the collector's edition, but I just can't justify spending $100 on myself right now. :sigh: I hope I get it for Christmas, but it's doubtful.

Aw, freelantzer- go mad!! Spend spend spend!! :)

It's totally worth it!

^ It sounds totally worth it. But I better wait until after all my Christmas shopping is done before I spend that much on myself. I do plan to buy the standard version, tomorrow though. :D

^ It sounds totally worth it. But I better wait until after all my Christmas shopping is done before I spend that much on myself. I do plan to buy the standard version, tomorrow though. :D
How much money do you spend for Christmas? I do not buy anyone anything.

How much money do you spend for Christmas? I do not buy anyone anything.I have a really big family, so even though I don't spend a ton on each person it gets pretty pricey. Plus I have to get my car worked on this month and take my dogs to the vet for their yearly updates. One of my dogs is on special meds and she has to have all her bloodwork updated; they said that could cost around $100 by itself. So I better wait to buy Beedle. :sad:

I have a really big family, so even though I don't spend a ton on each person it gets pretty pricey. Plus I have to get my car worked on this month and take my dogs to the vet for their yearly updates. One of my dogs is on special meds and she has to have all her bloodwork updated; they said that could cost around $100 by itself. So I better wait to buy Beedle. :sad:

Your dog is most definitely more worth it. Take care of her first, worry about the book later, and I hope she's alright! :) The book will still be available later, I bet.

I can't wait to get my greasy paws on it. I have no idea really how big it is or anything (well, I know because JLTucker told us, but I have spatial problems and that's hard for me to grasp) so I expect surprises galore tomorrow.

I have a really big family, so even though I don't spend a ton on each person it gets pretty pricey. Plus I have to get my car worked on this month and take my dogs to the vet for their yearly updates. One of my dogs is on special meds and she has to have all her bloodwork updated; they said that could cost around $100 by itself. So I better wait to buy Beedle. :sad:
Oh ok. I would hold off on the Collector's Edition as well. The reason I don't buy anyone anything is because I do not make enough money and most of the money I make goes towards repaying my student loan.

Yayz! I got my special edition today and it's bee-you-tee-full.

I've found one obvious errror in the print, it says 'flame flame' instead of just 'flame'. I'll have to read it again and see if I find others. Love the large lithograph-type artworks, I just may have to frame them. My niece is dying for me to read her the Tales and I've told her I'll do that tomorrow, after we're both out of classes.

Yayz! I got my special edition today and it's bee-you-tee-full.

I've found one obvious errror in the print, it says 'flame flame' instead of just 'flame'. I'll have to read it again and see if I find others. Love the large lithograph-type artworks, I just may have to frame them. My niece is dying for me to read her the Tales and I've told her I'll do that tomorrow, after we're both out of classes.
Ohh thats a really good idea to frame the artwork!

My niece is dying for me to read her the Tales and I've told her I'll do that tomorrow, after we're both out of classes.
How old is your niece? If she's under, I'd say 13, I certainly wouldn't read her the tales with violence, especially "The Tale of the Three Brothers". That's a really violent tale. Though if she was allowed to read the Potter series, I suppose it's okay to read her that one.

I just opened my US edition...I'm waiting for the British version...wonderful!!!

Yayz! I got my special edition today and it's bee-you-tee-full.

I've found one obvious errror in the print, it says 'flame flame' instead of just 'flame'. I'll have to read it again and see if I find others. Love the large lithograph-type artworks, I just may have to frame them. My niece is dying for me to read her the Tales and I've told her I'll do that tomorrow, after we're both out of classes.


I thought about framing them too, but I also like them in the little pocket that came inside the cover. :love: I can't decide whether to leave them there or frame them! :hmm:

I just opened my US edition...I'm waiting for the British version...wonderful!!!

I want a British version! :(

What are the differences between the US and British versions?

How old is your niece? If she's under, I'd say 13, I certainly wouldn't read her the tales with violence, especially "The Tale of the Three Brothers". That's a really violent tale. Though if she was allowed to read the Potter series, I suppose it's okay to read her that one.:) No worries, she's 11 but I've read the entire HP series to her, reading is one of the things we get to enjoy during "our" time. Her parents had been trying to get her interested in reading but she has severe ADHD and has difficulty focusing. However with the HP novels, we each had a copy and she'd carry her's to school and actually read it during quiet time in classes--first book she's actually ever wanted to read. She was almost beside herself with excitement when the Tales arrived but had to practice her language arts homework, memorizing and reciting a Maya Angelou poem entitled "Life Doesn't Frighten Me".

Cheeky little monkey asked me if she could take the Tales to school tomorrow and read it there.

I just opened my US edition...I'm waiting for the British version...wonderful!!!
There's a difference?

There's a difference?
Probably just the cover and word spellings. You know, the "ou".

Here's a list of errors in the collector's edition.

Pg. 40 - Dumbledore's Commentary on Hopping Pot - The word "flames" is repeated (ie. 'flames flames') for no apparent reason.

Pg. 78 - Dumbledore's Commentary on Fountain - Armando Dippet is misspelled, spelled ?rmando Dippet. (Not sure what the first letter is, its definitely not a capital A, see the beginning of Malfoy's letter on the opposite page to see what a capital A should look like.)

Pg. 156 - Tale of the Three Brothers - "Tnd so Death took the second brother for his own." They misspelled "and"?

These errors are not in the standard edition.

No excuse for this in such a short book especially one so pricey. Scholastic needs to replace these.

Here's a list of errors in the collector's edition.

Pg. 40 - Dumbledore's Commentary on Hopping Pot - The word "flames" is repeated (ie. 'flames flames') for no apparent reason.

Pg. 78 - Dumbledore's Commentary on Fountain - Armando Dippet is misspelled, spelled ?rmando Dippet. (Not sure what the first letter is, its definitely not a capital A, see the beginning of Malfoy's letter on the opposite page to see what a capital A should look like.)

Pg. 156 - Tale of the Three Brothers - "Tnd so Death took the second brother for his own." They misspelled "and"?

These errors are not in the standard edition.

No excuse for this in such a short book especially one so pricey. Scholastic needs to replace these.
Do you honestly think books this expensive or even priced higher do not have spelling errors? I had a $200 textbook for university and it had spelling errors. It happens. It's not that big of a deal.

Do you honestly think books this expensive or even priced higher do not have spelling errors? I had a $200 textbook for university and it had spelling errors. It happens. It's not that big of a deal.

If I'm going to shell out $100 for a book, it's a big deal.

ahh but typos and stuff make it worth more when the company does fix the errors.

ahh but typos and stuff make it worth more when the company does fix the errors.

In 50 years and then if there are only a few left. Don't count on it.

If I'm going to shell out $100 for a book, it's a big deal.
Answer my question. Do you honestly think books this expensive or even priced higher do not have spelling errors?

In 50 years and then if there are only a few left. Don't count on it.
My point is that it is an original book, and because of that there are going to be errors. The originals of all books have errors.

Easy friends. You can't demand anything from your fellow members.

I want it so badly but my mom rarely buys me regular paperback books :(

V8- are you saying that, given that your mom rarely buys you regular paperbacks, that she would never get you this? What about for a Christmas Present? :)

I got the regular edition this morning in the mail. It was hardback, which I had not known, and that was a nice surprise! However, I missed a second delivery, so hopefully when I go to pick that up (on Monday.. :grumble:), it will be the collector's edition, although there are other things it could be! :lol:!

the most my mom's spent for me on a christmas present is $50 :p, and i'm waiting, because if she gets me a puppy, i'd prefer that over a book :p

ahh but typos and stuff make it worth more when the company does fix the errors.

Only if it is in part of the run or is fixed in subsequent printings.

However, there will be no further impressions of the CE and it seems to have been pretty widespread.

The actual resale of the CE will be pretty limited because of the large run. (The books that appreciate quickly are printed in runs in the low hundreds (if that) not one hundred thousand.)

V8- are you saying that, given that your mom rarely buys you regular paperbacks, that she would never get you this? What about for a Christmas Present? :)

I got the regular edition this morning in the mail. It was hardback, which I had not known, and that was a nice surprise! However, I missed a second delivery, so hopefully when I go to pick that up (on Monday.. :grumble:), it will be the collector's edition, although there are other things it could be! :lol:!

Aw....:huggles: I hope you get it soon! I just got the standard edition from Borders. :D I was surprised also to see it hardback, and the guy did not give me the discount they promised if we bought it the first week. However, I guess its my fault too, I was too interested in his tattoos and not paying attention......:rolleyes: :blush: :eyebrows:

Yes, I didn't know it was going to be hardback at all! I simply assumed that it would be paperback! Clearly I did not read my receipts properly..

So now it's just the long wait for the collector's edition. If the drawings in the regular are anything to go by, the extras in the collector's must be really beautiful.

Yes, I didn't know it was going to be hardback at all! I simply assumed that it would be paperback! Clearly I did not read my receipts properly..

So now it's just the long wait for the collector's edition. If the drawings in the regular are anything to go by, the extras in the collector's must be really beautiful.

Hmm.....now that you mention that, I must bring out my CE and compare pictures.

I got the standard edition today, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a lot nicer than it appeared in the pictures on Amazon. I really hope I get a CE for Christmas. *fingers crossed*

I've got both editions, and I can see that of the 10 prints that come with the CE the majority do not appear in the regular edition. Those 10 images appear in miniature in the CE and then in the larger lithograph-type print.

The first image is the 'hopping pot' cauldron minus it's brass foot, with a slipper in front of it and the note from the father: 'In the fond hope, my son, that you will never need this." -- actually the book text says "it" rather than "this" as the image shows.

The next image is for the same story, of the son standing at the door with arms crossed, facing a woman with an infant in her arms.

The third image is of the "Fountain" tale; it is an image of Asha, Altheda, Amata, and Sir Luckless walking through the enchanted garden, this appears in the regular edition, too.

The fourth is an image of Altheda's hand adding herbs to gourd being held in the gauntleted hand of the knight.

The fifth image is of the "Fountain", which also appears in the regular edition.

The sixth image is of the Warlock and the maiden, walking and talking together.

The seventh image is of the key that unlocked the dungeon where he kept his shriveled, hairy heart.

The eight image is of the king and the muggle "sorcerer" out in the garden practicing with their wands.

The ninth image is of Babbity Rabbity in her house with the king's wash magically cleaning itself behind her.

The tenth image is of the "Three Brothers"; it's an image of the second brother {Cadmus?} lying apparently dead, the woman he'd recalled "separated from him as by a veil" standing behind him, a bottle with the universal symbol for poisen sitting before him on one side and the Resurrection Stone opposite the poisen. It's the same stone that is pictured in the chapter art picture with the skull, the invisibility cloak, and the elder wand.


That being said, there are also other images, but most of those are single versions of the Book Title art...there's a page with just the maiden's bloody heart, the worm entwined around the rose, the elder wand with it's magic sparkles, the rose entwined with the wand, the skull and some roses.

The one bonus image that appears in the CE is of the first brother {Antioch?} where he'd gone to bed to sleep off his over-indulgence...except he's lying on his side with blood pooling under him because he's had his throat slit and you can see his attacker standing in shadow just outside the room's window, with the elder wand in his left hand.

The fonts are different as well. One font style to tell the tale, another for Dumbledore's footnotes, and a third for JKR's explanations.

I have to say I'm extremely impressed with the collectors edition. The presentation is wonderful, from the velvetbag, the prints, the text in the book to the large book shaped holder - it's a gorgeous piece.

I'm practically dying right now because my collector's edition is going to be sitting at home, waiting for me for a few days before I get back. I'm thinking of just running to the bookstore tomorrow and getting the regular copy to read the stories and then fully enjoy the CE when I get home, because I can't wait 11 days! I'm impatient when it comes to HP, apparently...

I got my CE today. The bag is a little scuffed up, but i don't mind tbh.
No plans to sell it. It was worth the £52 i paid for it, even though it didn't arrive until today.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3086195755_6c84a52ab0.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3086222293_3baa70204c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/3087059166_d4cef8c51f.jpg

Mine was placed not on the bookshelf, but in a place of honor.

Mine was placed not on the bookshelf, but in a place of honor.
I put mine back in the Amazon shipping box.

I put mine back in the Amazon shipping box.

So did I. :rolleyes:

So did I. :rolleyes:Haha, as was mine.

Oooooh, Kevin, thank you for posting those pics! They are much clearer and I can see so much more detail than I can on Amazon. Oh, now I really want it! Wonder if I can somehow fit it into my budget . . .

I got my CE today. The bag is a little scuffed up, but i don't mind tbh.
No plans to sell it. It was worth the £52 i paid for it, even though it didn't arrive until today.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3086195755_6c84a52ab0.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3086222293_3baa70204c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/3087059166_d4cef8c51f.jpg

Wait, what is the bag? And is the skull the back cover or something?

^The book comes inside another book. The first shot is the bigger book--the box, really. The second shot is that bigger book, opened. The skull book is the actual book, if that makes sense. :D

^The book comes inside another book. The first shot is the bigger book--the box, really. The second shot is that bigger book, opened. The skull book is the actual book, if that makes sense. :DHey, nice pics. Looks like a news outlet decided to do the same thing and everyone can follow the link (http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/12/inside-amazons.html) to see some more great images of the CE of Tales.

^ Thanks for that link, Kat Suki! Those are even more amazing! Now I'm really jealous . . .

Er....I never thought to look at the back. I didn't know there was another skull. :rolleyes:

Just got my standard edition when it came out. I really want to get my hands on a collectors edition. I'm very jealous of all you guys who got one. But... I'm a poor, college student so I can't afford one. Maybe I'll get one for Christmas though. :)

:drool: I drove out to the Sorting Office today to get it. And wow. It's simply fabulous. I can barely touch it because I'm scared I'll hurt it in some way!! Every member of my family (none of them Potter nuts) agreed that it's simply beautiful. I'm so impressed! :D

:drool: I drove out to the Sorting Office today to get it. And wow. It's simply fabulous. I can barely touch it because I'm scared I'll hurt it in some way!! Every member of my family (none of them Potter nuts) agreed that it's simply beautiful. I'm so impressed! :D

They didn't deliver it to you? :grumble: I haven't shown it to my sister-in-law yet. I know she'll probably be gushing over it. My mother thought it was beautiful too. :D

They didn't deliver it to you? :grumble: I haven't shown it to my sister-in-law yet. I know she'll probably be gushing over it. My mother thought it was beautiful too. :D

Well that's a particularly odd story. They did deliver it, but I missed the delivery and it was only made available to me today at the office, which is just silliness. But it was worth the wait, because it is only gorgeous! :D I'm so glad that I forked out for it! The quality is excellent! I'm in love! :love:!

Well that's a particularly odd story. They did deliver it, but I missed the delivery and it was only made available to me today at the office, which is just silliness. But it was worth the wait, because it is only gorgeous! :D I'm so glad that I forked out for it! The quality is excellent! I'm in love! :love:!

It is lovely isn't it. I was showing it off to my family the other day alright and they were impressed, although I think they still think I'm a tad on the craaaazy side :yuhup:

I got my copy of the CE last night. I wasn't supposed to get it until today so I was really happy. :D It's gorgeous! The description in the opening post is dead on. I love the prints they included - which were done by Jo for whoever brought it up. You have to look for it because she's very good at blending it into the drawing, but she signed all of them. It has a built in ribbon for a book mark as well - very nice. I will read the whole book, but then I will probably put it in a place of honor on my bookshelf and threaten anyone who goes near it. :lol:

The introduction in the collector's edition is also in the cheap standard versions too. With the only difference being that the intro in the collector's looks like her handwriting (which I find extremely hard to decipher) and the standard book is just typed text.

I love both my editions, especially the collector's edition. It was worth the money!

I feel kind of bad, I still have mine sitting in the box that it was delivered in. I haven't taken it out again. :sigh:

I am hoping the Collector's Edition will be worth a decent amount of money in 20 years, but I do not know anything about book value.

Even if it is, I don't think I'd sell mine. I'd rather pass it on in the family to one of my nieces and nephews if they're HP fans. :)

I feel kind of bad, I still have mine sitting in the box that it was delivered in. I haven't taken it out again. :sigh:I have mine in the box as well. I don't feel bad about it, for one - the box itself is something I want to keep, and two - its the best protection I can offer such an amazing book.

I have mine in the box as well. I don't feel bad about it, for one - the box itself is something I want to keep, and two - its the best protection I can offer such an amazing book.

True, the box itself is pretty awesome. But how do you show off your book to someone who doesn't know what it is or hasn't even seen it? I guess they'd have to go buy they're own, huh? :evil:

Well I have taken it out before, I just put it back in there. If I wanted to show someone I would just take it out.

Well I have taken it out before, I just put it back in there. If I wanted to show someone I would just take it out.

Well, I've taken mine out too, but that was only when I had first gotten it. Since then the box has been sitting on my bookshelf. I don't think I'd be able to gather up the courage to take it out again. :blush:

I'm so jealous! I want the collectors addition!