The Robert Collier Letter Book & Marketing Course - should I get it & in what edition & form?

25 replies
Hello everyone,

I was wondering about the Robert Collier Letter Book. I know it is one of the most respected works on direct mailing and copywriting. I know one very well-respected Internet marketer has put it on his recommended book list for 2009, but he also suggests getting the 4th edition or earlier. It is not an easy book to find; I did find the 6th edition online, but I'm not sure whether it is worth getting or not.

Why would one suggest that your best value is via the 4th edition or earlier? Is there that much of an advantage with getting the 4th edition or earlier or is a more current edition just as useful?

Additionally, I've seen digital versions of the Robert Collier Letter Book on eBay - would that be worthwhile to purchase? It is supposedly from "the original 1937 Letter Book," a "reformatted replica of the original 1937 edition."

Also, I've also seen reports of a "Robert Collier Marketing Course" (also known as "How To Make Money At Home In Spare Time By Mail In Seven Lessons"); is this a book/course worth getting or not?

I'd appreciate any and all advice on these topics - thank you.

Please take care and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Joe Chengery III
#book #collier #edition #form #letter #marketing #robert
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    The older editions, including the one currently published by
    Robert Collier's family, include illustrations not in the one
    that came out in the 1950s. The 1950s version has an
    additional chapter or 2 but lacks the illustrations.

    Get the print-edition. It's worth spending $30 on. If you
    are serious at all about the craft you'll read it many times
    and mark it up. By the time you've printed up a PDF you
    won't have saved any money either and you'll just be taking
    money from Collier's heirs by purchasing illegal ebooks of
    his work.

    All I know about "How To Make Money At Home In Spare
    Time By Mail In Seven Lessons" is that it was recently
    republished and there are some reviews on Amazon.

    "The Letter Book" is the highly-regarded classic. The
    mail-order course is not.
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Loren,

    Thank you for the info. - greatly appreciated!

    A few follow-up questions.

    1. When you say "illustrations," are these illustrations of creating sales letters or what exactly are these illustrations?

    2. Where exactly can I find the older editions? I've heard, and found in my limited searching to this point, that the older editions are harder to find (and often cost high amounts, even more than $30). I'd appreciate any info. and/or links to where I can get the older edition of Robert Collier's Letter Book - thank you.

    Again, thanks for thei info. - greatly appreciated!

    Please take care, keep up the great work, and have a good day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
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    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    The reprint of the 1937 edition is available from his
    grandchildren at Robert Collier Publications: Inspirational Books to Change Lives

    The illustrations how the role pictures played in the
    circulars and ads Collier wrote. He sold a lot of history
    books and classics by mail so there are pictures of,
    for example, Salome dancing before Herod, with copy
    laid-out around the image. It's a valuable insight into
    the way Collier created "mind movies" in readers of
    his letters.

    I only have the 1937 reprint so I don't know for sure
    how it's different. I've read other people's comments
    about liking the pictures though, and they do tell more
    than 1000 words in some cases.
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Loren,

    Thanks for clarifying and for the link - greatly appreciated! :-)

    Please take care, keep up the great work, and have a good day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
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    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author mccflo99
    Hi Joe,

    You can get the 37 reprint on Amazon for $24.07 and if you grab annother book to take you over $25, shipping is free...

    Amazon.com: The Robert Collier Letter Book:...Amazon.com: The Robert Collier Letter Book:...

    Here's a great addition to bring you over that $25 mark...

    Amazon.com: How to Write a Good Advertisement:...Amazon.com: How to Write a Good Advertisement:...

    Excellent start to your copywriting education.

    Have fun,
    Chris Elliott
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    I also own the 1937 version as referenced above and it's
    indeed a "must read" for marketers. You will find his strategies
    polished and used by the so called "gurus" today and sold as
    high-priced products. You can get all these for less than $30!

    466 pages of pure marketing education!

    -Ray Edwards
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    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Chris & Ray,

    Thank you for your advice on getting the book (including where to get it) - greatly appreciated!

    Justin - happy to help!

    Please take care, keep up the great work, and have a good day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
    Signature

    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Ryan
    Yeah the version I have is a blue soft cover... I recommend getting an actual version of the book because then you can take notes and highlight and fill with 3M notes!

    A little tip to maximize your copywriting education:
    Use a notebook and write out the pieces of copy from any of your books by hand into it along with an analysis of what happens in the copy, where, and why!

    The RC letter book is one of those books you should probably go through a few times. I know that when I first went through it for a second time there was a lot of "clicking" and "aha" moments that were missed the first time through.

    To Higher Profits,
    Dave Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Dave,

    Could you give the edition number and/or copyright date of your book? That would help me determine whether specific listings online are of the earlier or republished version or of the later version - thank you.

    Thank you for your tip on maximizing my copywriting education - greatly appreciated! I've heard that one should write out sales letters (that really make you stand up and take notice) you see online or in your postal mail and really focus on why certain elements are written into those sales letters - this way, you'd be able to understand the psychology behind using certain elements (such as bulletpoints) and being able to know when and how to use them effectively in your own copy.

    I think books that are "complex" (complex in the sense that it takes a while to truly understand the message or messages behind the words) often require more than one reading - thanks for suggesting that; I'll make sure to read through it a few times. It's one of those types of books where it's good to go through now and again, just to refresh your mind on the main concepts, as well as discover anything new you didn't discover before, as you mentioned.

    Thanks again for the advice - greatly appreciated!

    Please take care, keep up the great work, and have a good day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
    Signature

    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello again everyone,

    Dave mentioned about the original/republished edition in soft cover being blue; what color is the hard cover of the original/republished edition? Would it happen to be red with a gold rectangle surrounding the words, "The Robert Collier Letter Book," or is this the later version without the illustrations.

    Again, any information would be greatly appreciated - thank you.

    Please take care, keep up the great work, and have a good day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
    Signature

    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author racingip
    Hi everyone,
    I was about to purchase Robert Collier letter physical book when I realized that lots of people complain about the book having lots of typos and bad formatting.

    So I would like to ask to those of you who have bought the right physical edition with illustration, which edition and from where should I buythe book?

    Here is supposedly the original version of this book with lots of negative reviews in that regard:
    The Robert Collier Letter Book: Robert Collier:...The Robert Collier Letter Book: Robert Collier:...
    Thank in advance
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    • Racingip,

      I purchased my hardcover copy from Robert Collier Publications. According to their website, they are the heirs of Robert Collier.

      Here is the link to the hardcover book: The Robert Collier Letter Book (I am not an affiliate)

      With shipping I paid $43.45.

      Originally Posted by racingip View Post

      Hi everyone,
      I was about to purchase Robert Collier letter physical book when I realized that lots of people complain about the book having lots of typos and bad formatting.

      So I would like to ask to those of you who have bought the right physical edition with illustration, which edition and from where should I buythe book?

      Here is supposedly the original version of this book with lots of negative reviews in that regard:
      The Robert Collier Letter Book: Robert Collier: Amazon.com: Books

      Thank in advance
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      • Profile picture of the author racingip
        Thank you for your response ThePromotionalGuy!

        I thought that the edition on amazon was the same as the edition that is sold on the heirs' website.
        Could I ask you if your copy has good formatting? I have a digital version of it and I am looking for a good physical edition to add to my library. When I read most reviews on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk were from people complaining about the crappy format and lots of typos in it I put off the purchase.

        Thanks again
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        • When you say bad formatting what are you referring to?

          Originally Posted by racingip View Post

          Thank you for your response ThePromotionalGuy!

          I thought that the edition on amazon was the same as the edition that is sold on the heirs' website.
          Could I ask you if your copy has good formatting? I have a digital version of it and I am looking for a good physical edition to add to my library. When I read most reviews on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk were from people complaining about the crappy format and lots of typos in it I put off the purchase.

          Thanks again
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          • Profile picture of the author racingip
            Hi ThePromotionalGuy.

            Thanks again for taking the time to get back to me

            According to some reviews on amazon, pages in the book in which there are 1, 2 or 3 sentences on each line. Letters replaced each time with the cent sign, garbled words. Random characters in text. Huge chunks of pages which are simply blank. Text formatted in a single column tight to the right margin.

            Here are pictures from a review on amazon.co.uk in which it is shown pages of the physical book. It is totally a mess!
            http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Robert-C...owViewpoints=0
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            • I just pulled out the book and looked at all 466 pages.

              On page 427, in my book, instead of a word headline, a line of question marks is placed at the top of a direct mail letter to be used to grab the reader's attention.

              But looking at the photo from the amazon site, the question marks and the copy are running together. The book's bad formatting looks like it was put together using scanning software.

              None of the pages in my book shows formatting issues of any kind. Then again, I bought my book from the publisher, not amazon.

              Before you buy email the publisher at Robert Collier Publications and ask them. They are very friendly, not real quick to respond but they do respond. I'm sure they can provide you more information about their book.

              Originally Posted by racingip View Post

              Hi ThePromotionalGuy.

              Thanks again for taking the time to get back to me

              According to some reviews on amazon, pages in the book in which there are 1, 2 or 3 sentences on each line. Letters replaced each time with the cent sign, garbled words. Random characters in text. Huge chunks of pages which are simply blank. Text formatted in a single column tight to the right margin.

              Here are pictures from a review on amazon.co.uk in which it is shown pages of the physical book. It is totally a mess!
              Amazon.co.uk:Customer Reviews: The Robert Collier Letter Book
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    • Originally Posted by racingip View Post

      Hi everyone,
      I was about to purchase Robert Collier letter physical book when I realized that lots of people complain about the book having lots of typos and bad formatting.

      So I would like to ask to those of you who have bought the right physical edition with illustration, which edition and from where should I buythe book?

      Here is supposedly the original version of this book with lots of negative reviews in that regard:
      The Robert Collier Letter Book: Robert Collier: Amazon.com: Books

      Thank in advance
      Racingquip,

      Based on the specific complaints (letters being replaced with the cent symbol, things like that), I'd guess the formatting mistakes are for the digital version. That's the sort of problem that pops up if you don't know what you're doing when converting to the Kindle formatting. (Again, not sure. Just what it sounds like.)
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  • Profile picture of the author Jay White
    One of the first books I got on copywriting after launching my freelance career. That and Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz. Priceless stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
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    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
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  • Profile picture of the author RogozRazvan
    @On Topic: I've read the Kindle edition. I think it is not available anymore right now. There were reviews that it was published without permission. It is a good book. Even if the examples are very old, the principles are highly relevant even today.

    @Off Topic: While I like a full library of beautiful books like everyone else here, I do prefer Kindle versions. Too bad that most copywriting books are not available on Kindle. From the list found on this forum (top copywriting books) which included about 50 books, I've found only 16 on Kindle.
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