by Pamela Palmer

#63, 6 March 2006

BookThink's Top 10 on eBay
January 2006

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Top 10 on eBay
Series

Which fiction and non-fiction books are winners on eBay? Each month this series answers the question and, along the way, looks at the listing strategies sellers use to bring in big bucks. In early January, we'll look back at the year and consider trends and highlights. To learn more about what's in and what's out of the lists, read our Top 10 on eBay Parameters.

During January, sellers grew terse. The briefest listing covered barely more than two lines and detailed description was rare. Three sellers with 1 feedback each made big sales; 2 of them had feedback only as buyers. It was a month of multiples: 3 Flemings, 2 Pullmans, 2 Mandelas, and 2 Narcotics Anonymous made the list. As for extremes, they ranged from Wordsworth to Sinn Féin.

Fiction Top 10
January 2006

#1 $7,999.00 ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE - IAN FLEMING - Signed
#2 $7,601.11 STEPHEN KING Dark Tower 1-4 Limited Signed all #456
#3 $3,705.23 George Orwell Animal Farm 1st Edition HB DW Exc. Cond.
#4 $3,617.23 Ian Fleming Live & Let Die 1954 HB DJ 007 James Bond
#5 $3,437.07 RARE John Le Carre CALL FOR THE DEAD - SIGNED - UK 1/1
#6 $2,205.61 CONAN DOYLE: THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES: 1ST EDITION
#7 $2,185.99 Ian Fleming - Moonraker - James Bond 1st Edition HB DJ
#8 $1,912.52 PHILIP PULLMAN - NORTHERN LIGHTS HAND SIGNED 1/1 1ST
#9 $1,782.15 harry potter goblets of fire signed on hogworts express
#10 $1,648.03 PHILIP PULLMAN - NORTHERN LIGHTS F/F 1/1 HB/DJ

#1
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
by Ian Fleming

Requiring shipping by FedEx, the US seller listed a first edition and "the author's only signed Limited Edition, number 186 out of only 250 copies printed." In fine condition with the original plastic dust jacket, this book is housed in a custom box. Offered in a 10-day auction. It received 1 bid at the starting price off $7,999. One picture shows the book and custom box.

#2
Dark Tower
The Gunslinger
The Drawing of the Three
The Waste Lands
Wizard and Glass

by Stephen King

All 4 volumes are #456 of a limited edition signed by Stephen King. They are all fine in fine dust jackets; volume IV is sealed. The US seller offered this set in a 7-day auction with 8 photographs. The auction received 5 bids, moving it from a starting bid of $5,995 to end at $7,601.11.

#3
Animal Farm
by George Orwell

Illustrated with 8 photographs, this 10-day auction with reserve garnered 10 bids, raising the starting GBP 300 to $3705.23. The UK seller, refined his description to note, "THE REVERSE OF THE DUSTWRAPPER IS PRINTED IN RED AND THE WRITING ON THE BACK PANEL OF THE DUSTWRAPPER IS PRINTED IN GREEN." This 1945 hardback is in "excellent condition." The condition of the dustwrapper is not stated. One person asked if the dustwrapper is a facsimile, and the seller replied, "I understand that the dustjacket is the original one."

#4
Live And Let Die
by Ian Fleming

Listed by UK seller for 7 days, this first edition of the second James Bond novel is described as "a very good plus copy in a nice bright dust jacket." Two photographs illustrate the auction. Twenty-three bids raised the GBP 4.99 starting price to $3617.23.

#5
Call For The Dead
by John le Carre

Stating that he was selling this book "to raise urgently needed funds," the UK seller sold it as a BIN 9 minutes after listing. Calling it "the rarest of all Le Carre books," the seller notes that it is signed twice by the author, once using his pseudonym and once using his real name. Also included in the auction is a typed letter signed by David Cornwell and addressed to the seller. Jacket is in very good condition, is not price clipped, and is missing to very small pieces. The book is in very good condition with a light age tanning. Five photographs are included in the auction which closed at $3437.07.

#6
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Published in 1905, this first edition, first issue is described as in very good condition by the UK seller. Listed in a 10-day auction with 2 photographs, the book sold on 1 bid at $2205.61.

#7
Moonraker
by Ian Fleming

25 bids raised the GBP .99 starting price to $2185.99 in a 1-day auction by UK seller. This first edition, first impression copy is listed as in very good plus condition in the original dust jacket. The dust jacket is unusually bright with a sunned spine; it has been price clipped, and is missing small chips. The seller notes that it "does not have shoo for shoot on page 10." Nine photographs are included in the auction.

#8
Northern Lights
by Philip Pullman

Assuring potential bidders that this first edition, first printing is not ex-library, the UK seller started this 7-day auction at GBP .01. After receiving 21 bids, it sold for $1912.52. Described as seemingly unread, the book contains a Raven bookplate on the copyright page; Pullman hand signed the book at the Dorchester Abbey Arts Festival, and the original ticket is included. The dust jacket has minor shelfwear and is lightly sunned. The same seller sold #10.

#
Goblets of Fire
by J.K.Rowling

In one of the briefest top 10 auctions ever, this UK seller with 1 feedback listed an unread hardback signed aboard the Hogwort's Express. Even with no photograph, the 3-day auction with reserve received 4 bids, taking it from GBP 300 to a selling price of $1782.15.

#10
Northern Lights
by Philip Pullman

The same UK seller as in #8 sold another copy of Northern Lights. The book and dust jacket are described as clean and bright. It is not ex-library, and was listed for 5 days with 9 photographs. The auction started it GBP .01, received 23 bids, and ended at $1648.03.

 

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