During my recent reorganizing of my library, I discovered several trade paperback books that are identified on their flyleaves as "Reader's Copy," or "Advanced Copy." On all of them is the phrase: "Not for Resale."

I cross-checked the public library's stacks and identified that they became commercially published hard-bound fiction books.

What is the purpose for these trade paperback versions that were not for sale, but evidently distributed without cost to whomever were their recipients?

Since first editions of most hard-bound fiction have print runs of 12,500 or 25,000, how many of the Reader's or Advanced copies would have been printed and distributed?

Those are sent out to reviewers and journalists and other authors to build buzz and get jacket blurbs.

And to the book stores as well. A friend of mine from boo club who works at my favorite store "Book People" gave me one a few years back that was titled "Sweetie Pies" written by a black woman + was a compilation of pie recipes from her friends. Great recipes;my favourite was 'Peaches + Cream' pie.If you see it you should buy it for that recipe alone.

Worth noting that while "advance" copies are usually not worth much, if there are substantial revisions between the advance copies and the main run on a book that becomes widely successful the advance copies can be quite sought after.

Right. A good case in point is "Sharpe's Skirmish"a short story that was written by Bernard Cornwell + issuded by a London bookseller to be a freeby to anyone who bought "Sharpe's Fortress".Then all the other book stores got pissed because they did'nt get any,ad nauseum. So he had to rewrite it + publish it independantly.Anyway the 1st originals now command a premium.