CLIVE’S FIRST ARC

A few months ago I was able to obtain what I consider to be the first ARC (Advance Reading Copy or similar moniker) of a Cussler book. Since I don’t believe one was done for his first two books (The Mediterranean Caper and Iceberg), the first (Clive’s third published book) has always been Raise the Titanic!. If you want you can check out the post preceding this one for further explanation on that matter. Many collectors have a copy of this particular ARC of Raise the Titanic!. It has paper wrappers with a blue cover and the title and author are in off-white. Depending on condition, prices for this book range between fifty and three hundred dollars. In 2000, I saw a listing for a galley of Raise the Titanic! that preceded the more common ARC. Bound in orange paper wrappers, it has 290 hand-numbered pages and is specifically labeled as an “Unrevised Proofs.” In September, 2000, that particular one sold for $405. The condition was described as fine/unread and, unfortunately, had a book plate laid in with Clive’s signature. That was the first and only one I ever came across. This year a second one came up for auction. I ended up being the top bidder. The condition was Very Good at best. It cost me $511. I was able to get Clive to sign it and he included his “Get It Up!” inscription/drawing. Of the two or three books I need to “complete” my collection, this was one of them. It’s definitely a book for collectors to try and obtain. Now you have an idea of what to look for so you can find one on your own. Good luck.