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I got distracted yesterday thinking about authors signing many, many copies of their new books.

I think this stems from a belief that signed copies have more value. Which for some authors is true, I suppose (more value in the second-hand and collectors market).

But.

• Collectors skew markets away from normal users, and we should be wary of accepting their valuations.

• If you (an author) sign thousands of copies (I assume you are a famous author) there is no rarity value.

• The non-monetary value of a dedication is very low if you bought a signed copy from a bookshop that had a stack of them; or if you queued at a signing, and had a brief exchange with the author who then scribbled in your newly-bought copy.

• Dedications have value in books given between friends, lovers, family members etc, but the value is an emotional one, memorialising a relationship.

So in conclusion, I think authors should stop flood-signing their books as a sales tactic.

#bookstodon