by Pamela Palmer

#130, 21 December 2008

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. To learn more about what's in and what's out of the lists, read our Top 10 on eBay Parameters.

NOTE: Items numbers are now included in this article. They are in the individual auction comments section below the author and title. Click the links to see the listings.

Barack Obama vied with Audubon, Helmut Newton, and Alcoholics Anonymous in the non-fiction category and came in at #4, #5, #6 and #7 for Dreams from My Father and #4 for a signed ARC of The Audacity of Hope. Some were signed; others were mint. But even an unsigned good condition Dreams .... fetched $3,200.00. The fiction list was mainly populated by the usual suspects. There were 2 Flemings, 3 Tolkiens, 1 King and 1 Meyer listings.

The usual super seller from Hamburg, Germany took positions 2, 3, and 4 on the Antiquarian and Collectible list, losing out to an 1830 copy of The Book of Mormon in 1st place and Barack Obama's signed Dreams From My Father accompanied by his sophomore high school yearbooks in 5th position. The latter attracted 64 bids

eBay
Fiction Top 10
November 2008

#1 $3,679.67 Live and Let Die Ian Fleming FIRST Edition Orig DJ
#2 $3,651.49 Ian Fleming James Bond RARE First edition CASINO ROYALE
#3 $3,650.00 Entire Twilight Saga Series 1st/1st Signed by Stephenie Meyer!
#4 $1,599.99 True 1st 1963 Deluxe Edition UK Lord of the Rings 3 Vol
#5 $1,506.35 J R R Tolkien-1st Ed-LORD OF THE RINGS-First ed Tolkien
#6 $1,456.00 NEW! The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
#7 $1,300.00 stephen king's from a buick 8 lettered limited edition.
#8 $1,047.00 vintage BEOWULF hardcover Signed by J.R.R. Tolkien
#9 $912.88 THE FLOATING ADMIRAL - H & D /WRAPPERS - DETECTION CLUB
#10 $899.00 Stephen King signed/limited Dark Tower VII #649

#1
Live and Let Die
Ian Fleming
320315801961

After 31 bids, the UK seller saw the bids reach $3,769.67 for this UK 1st edition/1st impression. The book is described as "clean and fresh with virtually no signs of age" and "internally ... in very nice condition." The dust jacket is a later one in very good condition.

#2
Casino Royale
Ian Fleming
270304945524

Denmark is home base for the seller of Casino Royale. The 1st edition/2nd impression "is beautiful" and was signed by Kenneth Lewis, dust jacket artist. The dust jacket is described as in "near fine condition."

#3
Twilight Saga
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
Stephenie Meyer
160300204464

The 4 volumes in the Twilight Saga sold as a best offer. Each is a 1st edition/1st printing and in "very good to excellent condition." Two "have full author's signature."

#4
Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien
110319624296

Sold as a BIN by a UK seller, the 1964 3-volume 1st deluxe edition is "in a reproduction slipcase."

#5
Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
Return of the King
J.R.R. Tolkien
140283349346

The Fellowship of the Ring is a 1st edition, 2nd impression and the other two volumes are 1st edition, 1st impression. The set sold after 22 bids.

#6
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
David Wroblewski
230309620150

A brand new copy of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle caught the attention of 17 bidders

#7
From a Buick 8
Stephen King
250333487877

The signed 1st lettered limited edition "has not been read .... its in pristine condition."

#8
Beowulf
J.R.R. Tolkien
250316506063

A "near mint" 1950 Tolkien title was signed by the author and attracted 18 bids.

#9
The Floating Admiral
Agatha Christie
270294379580

Sold by a seller in the Netherlands, the auction of the 1931 1st edition ended with 16 bids.

#10
Dark Tower VII
Stephen King
140282551976

Ending with a BIN, the signed limited edition is #649 of 1500 copies.

 

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