Subscription/Invitation Varieties on all Special Publications and probably most hardbacks after 1974

[Paul Crist]

From 1975ish through at least 1999 for special publications, and a
small range for the bigger books published in the 1980s through mid-
1990s, those who pre-order before publication date received book that
had no "blurb" near the rear endpaper, usually right below the LoC data

Those who bought at Explorer's Hall or ordered after publication date,
receive an identical book but for some blurb roughly of the form "You
are invited to join the National Geographic Society and receive its
world-(something) or award-winning magazine...."

There seem to be language variations even within the same publishing
year so it probably would not have been much more helpful even I could
verbatim quote any one exemplar (had I thought to have one at the
office when I decided to play hookie and do something NG).

I had an exhaustive list on an old office hard drive that unfortunately
died, so Bill Cole's inventory may be the best one available, as I lack
a hardcopy of mine even.

My contention on the relevance of this question is for most titles one
has to assume, especially if htere were subsequeent printings of the
title in question, that Subscription copies would be fewerr (possibly
greatly fewer). Value-wise probably absolutely no difference in same
condition as too few of us OCD collectors, even among the few of us hwo
hide assets to buy with (me) or have wives tolerant of the hobby (Cole
and Gannon alone so far as I have encountered).

OCDs can also go the blog thread on Mastheads differing in the same
binding & edition/printing date of a title

[Scott T. Shier]

Haha, I guess I qualify as an "OCD" too, Paul : )


I tend to prefer the editions of NGS books which lacked the bar code, reviews, etc. as you mention. The editions which had "Members Edition" printed somewhere on the cover or interior credits page are what I like; I don't know, they just "feel" more personal, and inclusive.

Now, the NGS is too much like a brand and consumer product. I think this detracts from the spirit and integrity of their published works.

Anyway, we'll be bumping into each other anytime. Have a good week.

- Scott