Home > Our First Editions Club
Real Books, Real Booksellers, and a Real Bookstore.
It doesn't get any more real than a bunch of booksellers reading their hearts out to find the best books for their customers. Each year, a select number of these books are selected for our First Editions Club.
Lemuria opened its doors in 1975, and since 1993 we've been working hard to find the best signed first editions every month for our First Editions Club. Over the years the quality of our book selection and literary experience have been sustained not only because of the efforts of our booksellers but also because of the support from our First Editions Club members.

Get to Know Our Club
Since 1993, we've been picking the best signed first editions for FICTION READERS every month. We're still going strong and serving just over 200 members. We especially look for collectible authors, debut novels, literary memoirs, and books that just blow us away. We will sometimes select a nonfiction book that has a compelling narrative structure. We work hard to select one outstanding signed first edition for this category every month. Occasionally, we select two books when merited.

In 2014, we started selecting two books for YOUNG READERS each month. We work hard to find a wonderful picture book and middle grade book are selected. You can opt for both selections or choose the picture book or middle grade book. It's a great way to start a library for your child or grandchild or a treat for book collector's who are young at heart.

We felt the need to grow once again and in 2017 we began picking selections for NONFICTION READERS. Like our Fiction category, we look for collectible authors and debut books, but above all, we select compelling and eye-opening stories.


How It Works
An Author Experience We want to meet the authors of our favorite books, and we want to give you the chance to meet them, too. You deserve a good book and a great literary experience. (We all know that with COVID gatherings have changed. While we are having very few in-person events, we are having some virtual events with our authors. See our Events page for the latest.)

The Best Books in Hand We select the most pristine copies of the book for the club, and we want them to be delivered to you in the same pristine condition. We first protect the book's dust jacket with an archival mylar cover to help maintain its value. For those books that are shipped, we wrap the book in butcher paper, and pack it carefully in a box ‐ never in an envelope.

Ship-out or Pick-up For all three of our clubs, the cost is just the list price of the book. Each month's book can be picked up in the store, or we can ship to you monthly. Shipping is $7 shipping plus $2 for each additional book.

Some of Our Favorite and Award-Winning First Editions Club Picks

Lincoln in the Bardo Lincoln in the Bardo

by George Saunders

FEC Pick March 2017

Price: $75.00
Sing, Unburied, Sing Sing, Unburied, Sing

by Jesmyn Ward

FEC Pick September 2017

Price: $75.00
Fates and Furies Lauren Groff Fates and Furies

by Lauren Groff

FEC Pick September 2015

Price: $40.00
A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley A Dangerous Business

by Jane Smiley

January 2023

Price: $28.00
Age of Vice by ​Deepti Kapoor Age of Vice

by Deepti Kapoor

Febuary 2023

Price: $30.00
Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor Ozark Dogs

by Eli Cranor

March 2023

Price: $26.95
The Trackers by Charles Frazier The Trackers

by Charles Frazier

April 2023

Price: $30.00
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson The Orphan Master's Son

by Adam Johnson

FEC Pick January 2012

Price: $100.00
Salvage This World by Michael Farris Smith Salvage This World

by Michael Farris Smith

May 2023

Price: $28.00
Be Mine by Richard Ford Be Mine

by Richard Ford

June 2023

Price: $30.00
Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke Flags on the Bayou

by James Lee Burke

July 2023

Price: $28.00
Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo Somebody's Fool

by Richard Russo

August 2023

Price: $29.00
The Oceans and the Stars by Mark Helprin The Oceans and the Stars

by Mark Helprin

October 2023

Price: $30.00
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward Let Us Descend

by Jesmyn Ward

November 2023

Price: $28.00
The Exchange by John Grisham The Exchange: After The Firm - Signed First Edition

by John Grisham

November 2023

Price: $29.95
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht The Tiger's Wife

by Tea Obreht

FEC Pick March 2011

Price: $50.00
What It Is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes What It Is Like to Go to War

by Karl Marlantes

FEC Pick October 2011

Price: $50.00
The Known World by Edward P. Jones The Known World

by Edward P. Jones

FEC Pick September 2003

Price: $150.00
The Forever Witness by Edward Humes The Forever Witness

by Edward Humes

January 2023

Price: $28.00
Waco by Jeff Guinn Waco

by Jeff Guinn

February 2023

Price: $28.00
Follow Me to Hell Follow Me to Hell

by Tom Clavin

March 2023

Price: $29.99
The Wager by David Grann The Wager

by David Grann

April 2023

Price: $30.00
A Brutal Reckoning by Peter Cozzens A Brutal Reckoning

by Peter Cozzens

May 2023

Price: $35.00
Knowing What We Know by Simon Winchester Knowing What We Know

by Simon Winchester

June 2023

Price: $35.00
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel The Art Thief

by Michael Finkel

July 2023

Price: $28.00
Nature's Messenger by Patrick Dean Nature's Messenger

by Patrick Dean

August 2023

Price: $28.95
Going Infinite by Michael Lewis Going Infinite

by Michael Lewis

October 2023

Price: $30.00
The Last Outlaws The Last Outlaws

by Tom Clavin

November 2023

Price: $30.00
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier Cold Mountain

by Charles Frazier

FEC Pick June 1997

Price: $450.00
Ollie's Odyssey by William Joyce Ollie's Odyssey

by William Joyce

April 2016 | Middle Grade

Price: $17.99
Raymie Nightingale Kate DiCamillo Raymie Nightingale

by Kate DiCamillo

May 2016 | Middle Grade

Price: $25.00
We Found a Hat We Found a Hat

by Jon Klassen

November 2016 | Picture Book

Price: $17.99
Little Elliot Big Family by Mike Curato Little Elliot, Big Family

by Mike Curato

October 2015 | Picture Book

Price: $17.99
Finding Winnie Lindsay Mattick Finding Winnie - First Edition Signed

by Lindsay Mattick & illustrated by Sophie Blackall

December 2015 | Picture Book

Price: $200.00
The Mystery of the Love List by ​Sarah Glenn Marsh The Mystery of the Love List

written by Sarah Glenn Marsh and illustrated by Isha Lobo

January | Picture Book

Price: $18.99
Trashed by ​Martha Freeman Trashed

by Martha Freeman

January | Middle Grade

Price: $17.99
Nell Plants a Tree by ​Anne Wynter illustrated by Daniel Miyares Nell Plants a Tree

by Anne Wynter illustrated by Daniel Miyares

February | Picture Book

Price: $17.99
The Swifts by ​Beth Lincoln The Swifts

by Beth Lincoln

February | Middle Grade

Price: $17.99
Stanleys Secret by John Sullivan illustrated by Zach Manbeck Stanley's Secret

by John Sullivan illustrated by Zach Manbeck

March | Picture Book

Price: $18.99
Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker Leeva at Last

by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Matthew Cordell

March | Middle Grade

Price: $19.99
Manolo & the Unicorn by Jackie Azúa Kramer and Jonah Kramer illustrated by Zach Manbeck Manolo & the Unicorn

by Jackie Azúa Kramer and Jonah Kramer
 illustrated by Zach Manbeck
April | Picture Book

Price: $18.99
Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy

by Angie Thomas

April 2023 | Middle Grade

Price: $19.99
When You Can Swim by Jack Wong When You Can Swim

by Jack Wong
May | Picture Book

Price: $18.99
Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Junyi Wu Elf Dog and Owl Head

by M.T. Anderson
illustrated by Junyi Wu

May 2023 | Middle Grade

Price: $18.99
Just One Little Light by Kat Yeh and Isabelle Arsenault Just One Little Light

by Kat Yeh
illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
June | Picture Book

Price: $19.99
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers The Eyes and the Impossible - Deluxe Wood-bound Edition

written by Dave Eggers | illustrated by Shawn Harris

June 2023 | Middle Grade

Price: $28.00
A Book for Bear by Ellen Ramsey, illustrated by MacKenzie Haley A Book for Bear

by Ellen Ramsey
illustrated by MacKenzie Haley
July | Picture Book

Price: $18.99
The Islands of Elsewhere by Heather Fawcett The Island of Elsewhere

by Heather Fawcett

July 2023 | Middle Grade

Price: $17.99
May's Brave Day, written and illustrated by Lucy Morris May's Brave Day

written and illustrated by Lucy Morris
August | Picture Book

Price: $18.99
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass The Lost Library

by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

August 2023 | Middle Grade

Price: $17.99
Oh Olive Oh, Olive!, written and illustrated by Lian Cho Oh, Olive!

written and illustrated by Lian Cho
September | Picture Book

Price: $19.99
Finch House by Ciera Burch Finch House

by Ciera Burch

September 2023 | Middle Grade

Price: $17.99
The Wishing Machine, written by Jonathan Hillman, illustrated by Nadia Alam The Wishing Machine

written by Jonathan Hillman and illustrated by Nadia Alam
September | Picture Book

Price: $19.99
Treasure Island: Runaway Gold Treasure Island: Runaway Gold

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

October 2023 | Middle Grade

Price: $19.99
You may notice that some of the featured selections below have increased prices. After everyone has received their First Editions Club selections, we may choose to sell the remaining books according to their collectible value. We base our pricing on the collectible book market and the quality and quantity of our holdings.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a first edition?

The term "first edition" refers to the first printing of the earliest edition of a book. First printing copies are unique because they are the first published record of a book. For collectors, the first edition of a book is the most desired edition, especially if it is signed. If a book wins an award or otherwise earns acclaim or popularity and the book's first printing was relatively small, copies of the first edition can become very valuable, and signed copies even more so.

What if I don't like the book that is selected?

No problem. Call the store or email us at fec@lemuriabooks.com and we will happily exchange the book.

What are the other perks of the First Editions Club?

Once a month we send an email to all of our FEC members giving them first dibs on any notable signed first edition that we have in the store. So even if you live in another city or state, you can still have access to signed first editions. If you want to add a book to your FEC shipment, the shipping cost is reduced to two additional dollars per book. We also protect each dust jacket in an archival mylar cover to help maintain its value.

Where can I get more information?

Please give us a call at 800/601 366-7619 or send us an email at fec@lemuriabooks.com.