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Phantagraph, v. 4, issue 2, November-December 1935
5
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THE SCIENCE FICTION RACKETEER H. Koenig During the past few years the selling of science fiction and fantasy stories has become another racket. This is particularly true since the event of the various "fan" magazine. I don't mean this statement to be a reflection on the fan magazine. But unfortunately, the magazines have unwittingly aided and abetted the racket by carrying the advertisements offering science fiction [songs?] for sale. In the case of magazines the racket is worked in two way. First, in the selling of back issues of complete magazines and second, in the selling of individual stories from old issues. Old magazines which were never more than 10 cents per copy are now being advertised and sold by racketeers for from 25 cents to $1.00 per copy and occasionally as high as $2.00 per copy. And yet, it is still possible to find "old magazine" stories where copies of Argosies, etc. may be purchased for not more than 10 cents per copy. The dealer makes no distinction between a copy containing a science fiction or fan any story and one which does not. The second phase of the science-fiction racket is found in the telling of stories. Hence, my advice to collectors of science fiction magazines is to be wary and extremely critical of the bargain offers. They should not be in a hurry to take advantage of the bargains (?) offered by the various advertisers who are disposing of their science fiction collections. They should also ignore the advertiser who ask for bids on his magazines unless the collector is extremely anxious to obtain a particular magazine or story. If the advertiser has a story to tell he should place his own price n it just as anybook store would do.
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THE SCIENCE FICTION RACKETEER H. Koenig During the past few years the selling of science fiction and fantasy stories has become another racket. This is particularly true since the event of the various "fan" magazine. I don't mean this statement to be a reflection on the fan magazine. But unfortunately, the magazines have unwittingly aided and abetted the racket by carrying the advertisements offering science fiction [songs?] for sale. In the case of magazines the racket is worked in two way. First, in the selling of back issues of complete magazines and second, in the selling of individual stories from old issues. Old magazines which were never more than 10 cents per copy are now being advertised and sold by racketeers for from 25 cents to $1.00 per copy and occasionally as high as $2.00 per copy. And yet, it is still possible to find "old magazine" stories where copies of Argosies, etc. may be purchased for not more than 10 cents per copy. The dealer makes no distinction between a copy containing a science fiction or fan any story and one which does not. The second phase of the science-fiction racket is found in the telling of stories. Hence, my advice to collectors of science fiction magazines is to be wary and extremely critical of the bargain offers. They should not be in a hurry to take advantage of the bargains (?) offered by the various advertisers who are disposing of their science fiction collections. They should also ignore the advertiser who ask for bids on his magazines unless the collector is extremely anxious to obtain a particular magazine or story. If the advertiser has a story to tell he should place his own price n it just as anybook store would do.
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