Because these books are nearly always reprints, and rarely first editions, collectors often feel tepid toward them. By convention, sellers will identify them as such regardless of their condition.
Book Club Editions, smaller than standard editions, often using cheaper inks and binding materials, and printed for book club members only.
A book usually printed especially for a book club such as "The Book of the Month Club" or "The Literary Guild." These copies will usually have the words "Book Club Edition" printed on the bottom right corner of the front flap of the dustwrapper. Occasionally, if the book club does not wish to do a separate edition they will have a publisher blind stamp the rear board and print a supply of dustwrappers without a price on the front flap and without the bar code data on the rear panel.
an edition manufactured specifically for a book club
Usually cheaply made editions for subscription mail order. A few book club books are of the same materials as their trade and therefore are of a similar quality. Confusion can arise with novice collectors over the recognition of book clubs versus trade editions. As a broad and certainly not definitive rule, book clubs usually do not have a retail price on the inside of their dustjackets and often are distinguished by a blind-stamp, usually a circle or square, on the back of the book near the bottom of the spine.
Editions published by book clubs (i.e.: The Book-of-the-Month Club, Fireside Book Club, History Book Club, The Literary Guild, etc.).
a copy of a book printed by or especially for a book club. Some book clubs (such as The Literary Guild) may produce an edition separate from the trade edition, while others (such as Book of the Month Club) may contract with the publisher to produce a run of the books with a unique, identifying mark.
a reprint, often utilizing poor quality paper and binding, sold by subscription to members of a book club.
Editions published by book clubs such as The Book-of-the-Month Club, Fireside Book Club, History Book Club, The Literary Guild, and so forth.
As a general rule, book club editions are less desirable than regular editions.
