First-edition Books Novels & Stories

In this rare moment of peace, I’ve chosen a book, turned off the lights, and let the muted light from the cloudy sky illuminate the pages. A soft sigh escapes my lips as I glance down at the book on my lap. My finger traces the letters that read ′Book of Law’—this year’s edition. I’ve learned that a new one is printed annually, and Efrem possesses a copy of every single one, dating back to the very first one.

And then she came back, and reluctantly had said he can go out in the backyard for a while. So I have been sitting here alone with four books laying next to me, all the books that I have read, and finished in the last week. I had pulled Jane Eyre from another fancy glass case not giving a second thought if he had something to say about it when he found out. The binding is so old, and worn making it more beautiful than any other, cheap, paperback copy you would find in a bookstore. I couldn’t resist feeling all the intricate flowery looking designs, on the brown colored cover of the book, and turning the yellow colored pages getting a whiff of that wonderful old book smell. It’s a first editi

CHAPTER 4(THE FIRST ONE)- TITTLE: Zander Mansion Soon, it's morning, and thanks to last night I had a rough sleep, and you know, when people say they woke on the wrong side of the bed, they are just trying to tell you they are mad. Well, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, like literally, I woke up on the floor and not on my bed, and I would like to know why, but unfortunately, you just can’t see in your sleep.

Jay added. " I can't say" Em's eyes widened. " Somebody stole those books? Really?" " Don't be silly," Jacquard said. " Then, what?" Jay said. " The first edition and the only edition of the book known as The Abasia, Our Origin? The first ever king of Abasia Kingdom's draft of the Declaration of Independence? Or top secrets?" " No, it is just some books." " Aha!" Jay said. "So it was a book!"

Inside it is a box, I lift the lid off of the box to reveal a collection of books with titles I instantly recognise. "Jane Austen's books, all first editions" Rhode tells me softly as I pull my hand back away from the covers, just as I was about to touch them. I can't believe it, I can't believe they're just here in front of me, just sitting in my lap. "No way" I gasp quietly and look up at him in disbelief. These must have cost him a fortune, on top of being nearly impossible to track down. Tears are immediately springing to my eyes, a very regular occurrence for me these days.

He shuffled through every book, analysing each one before gently placing it down to examine the next. ‘Ev, if you tell me what book it is you’re looking for, I can help you find it.’ Slowly looking up at me, his head tilted to the side, ‘Amelia darling, it’s a book written by a werewolf hundreds of years ago. Respectfully, I highly doubt you’ll even know it by the name.’ ‘Try me,’ I shrugged. He smiled, looking down into the box, then locked eyes with me again, ‘Well, you may know one. I’m looking for a first edition of The Alpha’s Roar.’

"This is for yours. Open it." Jillian carefully pulled back the dark silk. Resting beneath it was a massive, leather-bound volume. The leather was aged, a deep espresso brown with gold-leaf lettering running down the spine. Jillian tracked the typography, a sudden shock crossing the features as the title registered. It was an extremely rare, first-edition printing of The Wealth of Nations paired with an original collection of industrial-era philosophical essays—the precise texts they had fiercely debated during their very first official night in the penthouse.

Some of the books are in Latin and other foreign languages. I retrieve a copy of The Little Prince from the shelf and smile as I open the book and realize it’s a first edition. A very old book for sure, but one of my favorite books of all time. I learned a lot of life lessons reading that book as I grew up. And I read it at least once a year. It doesn’t really matter how old you are, that’s a must-read.

I whisper. "Of course not. I have so much time on my hand that I had a fake first edition manufactured and smuggled in here." A teary laugh escapes me. "I don't know. That seems like something you would do just to fuck with me." Adrenaline pumps through my vein like nicotine, racing my heartbeat. The book seems real enough. Hardcover. Gilt page fore-edges. The pages are clean and bright, at least from what I can see. This book, if real, is worth more than a hundred thousand dollars.

The same odor that was all over Reed’s office. Maddie burst in an hour later, glanced at my face and groaned. "Oh no. You've got that look again." "What look?" “The look that says you’re in way over your head and you know it but are going to dive deeper anyway.” She dropped onto her bed. "What happened?" I showed her the book. Her eyes went wide. "Holy shit. Is that what I think it is?" "A first edition, yeah." "And he just gave it to you? Out of nowhere?"