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Non-Fiction Top 10
December 2006

#1 $5,105.00 1ST ED Signed Alcoholics Anonymous COMES OF AGE Book AA
#2 $5,000.00 Syd Barrett Signed Genesis Publications Pink Floyd LE
#3 $4,950.00 SUMO by Helmut NEWTON, the biggest BOOK in the World!!!
#4 $4,800.00 Collector Bible VERY Rare : BOOK OF MORMON
#5 $3,550.00 OMG! Signed BILL, Alcoholics Anonymous AA 1955 BIG BOOK
#6 $3,233.88 1944 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AA 6th Printing HC/DJ
#7 $2,722.19 New Naturalist - Woodlands - Leather Bound - Signed!
#8 $2,381.00 ALBERT EINSTEIN SIGNED Theory of Relativity,VERY RARE
#9* $2,300.00 BOWS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE VIOLIN FAMLY-RARE
#10 $2,299.48 A Man May Fish T C Kingsmill Moore Special Edition 1979
* Non-registered buyer so sale not completed and final value not validated.

#1
Alcoholic Anonymous Comes of Age: A Brief History of the A.A
Alcoholic Anonymous

Autographed by Bill Wilson, the history of AA was listed by the US seller of #5 in a 5-day auction with 9 photos. Described as "in decent used condition" with a worn dust jacket, the book received 29 bids and sold for $5,105.

#2
Psychedelic Renegades
Mick Rock and Syd Barrett

This Genesis publication usually grabs bidders' attention, but the starting price of $5,000 attracted only 1 bid. Listed by a US seller in a 10-day auction with 4 photos and a minimal description, the book is #229 of 320 and was signed by both authors.

#3
Sumo
Helmut Newton

Sumo is another Top 10 regular. Listed by a Swiss seller with 6 photos, it sold as a BIN. The book is #2804 of 10,000. This copy is new, unopened, and described by the seller as a "MUST have."

#4
The Book of Mormon
1871

Sold in a private auction by a Canadian seller, the 1871 Book of Mormon is described as in very good condition. It was part of the collection of the seller's grandmother. Flaws include a tear in the front flyleaf and "the back flyleaf is asunder." The 7-day auction attracted 19 bids before closing at US$4,800.

#5
Alcoholics Anonymous

Vintage copies of Alcoholics Anonymous big book signed by Bill Wilson often draw bidders in large numbers, and this copy was no exception. Listed by the US seller of #1, this 2nd edition, 1st printing copy received 37 bids, raising the $.50 starting price to $3,550. It was listed in a 5-day auction with 11 photos.

#6
Alcoholics Anonymous

The third AA title in the Top 10 for December was listed by a different US seller in a 7-day auction with 1 photo. A 1944 6th printing, it is described as "in excellent Clean condition." Nineteen bidders took the price to $3,233.88.

#7
Woodlands
Oliver Rackman

Recently reissued by the New Naturalist in deluxe format, Woodlands is leather bound with "gilt edges and raised bands." It is #23 of 100 and was signed by Rackman. Listed by a UK seller in a 7-day auction with 4 photos, it is described as in "excellent/mint condition with no wear whatsoever." The auction received 18 bids and closed at $2,722.19.

#8
Relativity: The Special and General Theory
Albert Einstein

A novice US seller listed the 1921, 1st US edition signed by the Einstein in a 3-day private auction with 5 photos. Described as in good condition and part of the collection of the seller's father, the auction attracted 21 bids to sell for $2,381.

#9*
Bows for Musical Instruments of the Violin Family
Joseph Roda

The high bidder, now "not a registered user," ended this mid-December auction with a BIN. Listed by a US seller with 12 photos, the leather-bound 1959 deluxe edition is #129 of 200.

#10
A Man May Fish
Vol 1.
T.C. Kingsmill Moore

Coming in at #10, the 1979 special edition, leather-bound copy of A Man May Fish was published in Dublin. It was listed by a UK seller in a 10-day auction with 3 photos. Fishing devotees will understand the significance of this note - "Claret Bumble Tied By the Author On Front Cover." Described as "very rare" and in new condition, the book attracted 6 bids and sold for $2,299.48.

By the Numbers

9 sellers were from the UK
9 sellers were from the USA
1 seller was from Canada
1 seller was from Switzerland
14 books were published during or after 1950
6 were published before 1950
1 book was listed for 3 days
2 books was listed for 5 days
5 books were listed for 7 days
5 books were listed for 10 days
6 sold as BIN
0 sold as Best Offers
1 involved a hijacked buyer's ID and eBay/the seller made the auction disappear
1 to 40 is the range of bids
4 were private auctions
Seller feedback ranged from 0 to 21138
9 sellers had 100% positive feedback
Feedback ranged from 97.5 % to 100 % for sellers who had feedback
The oldest book was published in 1871

Want to read more articles by BookThink's Associate Editor Pamela Palmer? Click here.



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