Hardback/Paperback...book questions

[DLBDS]

I'm a little confused about a few things....why is a book published in paperback and not hardback? Are hardback titles only available when a book is new (1st printing) and then second printings? and later are always paperback?

I want to start a book collection but can't find most titles in the hardcover format...even though I know for a fact that they were made. B&N only has the newest books available in the hardcover format. Earlier titles in a series are only sold in the paperback format. I only want hardcover books for my collection and preferrably first printings. Can anyone recommend a reliable and honest online seller of first edition/first printing books? I would like to have a few copies signed by authors. I've gotten 3 signed copies from eBay but I'm not completely-positively-without-a-doubt sure that they are the real deal as far as the signatures go. The sellers had great feedback though and at least one of them has a brick-and-mortar store in NY, I think it was.

Does anyone here share my newest obsession and have advice to share?

 

[bicker]

I'm a little confused about a few things....why is a book published in paperback and not hardback?

Books that are published initially in paperback are generally formula book, like romance novels. I recently read a bunch of books by Rachel Caine. They were fun books to read, but I suppose her publisher didn't think them worthy of being published first in hard cover.

Are hardback titles only available when a book is new (1st printing) and then second printings? and later are always paperback?

No. I've purchased hard covers of books I enjoyed reading in paperback, years after the book was first published. Actually, I suspect at least 10% of my hard covers are books I initially read in paperback.

Can anyone recommend a reliable and honest online seller of first edition/first printing books?

Sorry, I typically just live with what's readily available, and haven't researched that idea much.

 

[DLBDS]

Books that are published initially in paperback are generally formula book, like romance novels. I recently read a bunch of books by Rachel Caine. They were fun books to read, but I suppose her publisher didn't think them worthy of being published first in hard cover.

I reserved a couple of titles at the library after reading good reviews at Amazon. Turned out they were romance novels. Now, I'm not a romance novel type but these two books by J.R. Ward were really pretty good. Of course, they're only available in paperback. The next title in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (#3) will be coming out next month.