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The BookThinker Newsletter


ISSN 1547-9501

130, 6 December 2008

BookThink Update
22 December 2008>>>


Update Announcements

 

 


BookThink's Top 10 on eBay
November 2008

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


QMR Book of the Week
The Art of Terry Redlin
Master of Memories

Question: For eight consecutive years, 1991 through 1998, the same artist was named America's Most Popular Artist in annual gallery surveys conducted by U.S. Art magazine. Who was it? If you guessed Thomas Kinkade, "Painter of Light" - who, by the way, is presently America's most collected artist - you'd be wrong. [Read the complete article here.]

 

 

 

 


Gold Edition Quotation of the Month
Bible Mania
Issue #11

Question: when scouting, what book do you come across more than any other? Easy. The Bible. By far. It can pop up anywhere, especially at thrift shops, church sales and estate sales - in fact, even when there are no other books in sight, there's still a good chance you'll come across a Bible. Somewhere. But - how many booksellers actually sell them? Hard to say, but from what I've observed, it ain't many, despite the fact that it can be a consistently (and sometimes very) profitable niche. [Read the complete article here.]

From the Editor
Many booksellers who have entered bookselling since the ca. 1990s launch of eBay are perhaps experiencing one of the most challenging seasons ever. In response, some are working harder, others are scaling back to pursue more profitable income producing activities; and still others are exiting the business outright, often with no intention of returning. Read the entire article here.

 
What We Need Right Now Is a Billiken!
(Cheerful Optimism in a Tough Economy)

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings and cultivate gratitude for the simple pleasures of life. Criticism is easy. Gratitude is hard. However, those of us who are collectors as well as sellers, appreciate the enjoyment derived from our books and ephemera. Such paper pleasures are often underrated in their ability to keep us smiling, even in the toughest of times. Case in point: The elusive icon of positive thinking known as the Billiken.

Book Smart!
Two Ideas for Sellers of CD-Based Products

If your bookselling business has gone south during these economically challenged times, it might make sense to expand your product line, at least temporarily, to CDs, DVDs, cassettes and VHS tapes to keep your revenue from dropping. These types of items often sell quickly, and those with values over $15 or $20 are surprisingly numerous. What's more, many more of them are showing up at sales these days. If you intend to make this move or have already done so, I have two ideas today to make your life easier.

 

 

 

Tales from the Book Trail
Whether you are stalking books at Friends of the Library sales and book shops or making house calls, scouting for book inventory is an adventure that can bring you to laughter or tears. Whatever the setting, it is the people, and sometimes the circumstances, which make it memorable.

The Accidental Antiquarian
Ten Recommendations for
New Antiquarian Booksellers

January 2009 will mark the beginning of my third year in business as an antiquarian bookseller. By the standards of most people in the trade, I am still a newcomer, a mere rookie when it comes to the knowledge and experience needed to buy and sell antiquarian books. I have, however, learned a few things in my first two years in business that have consistently served me well. I'll share them in hopes of helping those of you just beginning or even just contemplating antiquarian bookselling as a career.

 

BookThink's Quarterly Market Report of Common, Profitable Books
Issue #5
Issue #5 of BookThink's Quarterly Market Report of Common, Profitable Books is now available for purchase. Purchase or subscribe now.

Previous BookThink Update >>>>>>>

BookThink Update
23 November 2008>>>


Update Announcements

 

 


BookThink's Top 10 on eBay
October 2008

Modern fiction dominated its top 10 category with all titles published after 1950. In addition to the usual King, Fleming, and Tolkien, there's Meyer, Wallace, Card, and Tales of Suspense #39. BookThink readers likely will recognize the #11 title: The Highland Mole, by Gordon and Williams and signed by both, sold for $726.25. It was a 1st edition hardback, described as 1 of the 500 printed. The non-fiction list ranged from Hemingway's In Our Time at the #1 position to Jerusalem Windows at #10. Listing a book in the "wrong" category isn't uncommon, especially among high end works. Was it an error or a strategy? Only the U.S. seller knows for sure. For those of you tracking the fortunes of the Top 10 Antiquarian frequent seller, he or she shows up 3 times on the October 2008 list.


QMR Book of the Week
Five Roses
A Guide to Good Cooking

First published in 1913 by Lake of the Woods Milling Co. (Canadian millers of Five Roses flour), the Five Roses Cookbook is a compilation of nearly 600 recipes developed and submitted by customers who appreciated the exceptional quality of Five Roses Flour, especially for bread making. For years after its publication, if you sent a stamp, they sent you a cookbook, and, given the high quality of its recipes, it wasn't long before this became the most widely used cookbook in Canada. Needless to say, there are many copies still out there, even in the US, but very early copies in very good condition have at least some collectible value. In 2003, Whitecap Books republished this cookbook as part of their Classic Canadian Cookbook series, and culinary historian Elizabeth Driver contributed an introduction and numerous historical notes - which apparently were rich enough to drive US prices well into QMR territory. Canadian prices are even higher. [Read the complete article here.

 

 

 

 


Gold Edition Quotation of the Month
A Bookseller's Guide to Book Club Editions
Part III, Book-of-the-Month Club Issue Points
Issue #55

Since issue #55 of the Gold Edition consists almost entirely of lists, I won't offer an excerpt this month but will specify exactly what these lists are. 1. BOMC Firsts (first book offered to members, first book published by the Book-of-the-Month Club, first book of poetry, and so on). 2. BOMC Publications by Nobel Prize Winners. 3. BOMC Publications That Won the Pulitzer Prize. 4. BOMC High Spots (books that will sell for $20 and up in VG/VG condition or better). 5. BOMC Ephemera. 6. BOMC Main Selections, Dividends and Alternates, 1926-1966 (huge list!). [Read the complete article here.]


Gold Edition #55
A Bookseller's Guide to Book Club Editions
Issue #55
Part III: The Book-of-the-Month Club High Spots (and Potential High Spots)

The following lists of important BOMC titles consist of those offered only during the first forty years of the club's existence - and there are two reasons to stop the lists there. Purchase now.

 

First Edition Guides: General

  • 20th Century First Edition Fiction: A Price and Identification Guide
    2008 Edition, Thomas Lee

    Buy it at BookThink

  • American First Editions, Merle Johnson, revised and enlarged by Jacob Blanck (Fourth Edition)
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Author Price Guides, Allen and Patricia Ahearn (4 vols.; also available for individual authors; also issued as complete set on CD; 174 authors to date. Note: Some issued in looseleaf binder so determine contents before buying.)
    Buy it at Amazon - vol. 1, 1990 or Amazon - vol. 2, 1998 or Abebooks

  • A Bibliographical Introduction to Seventy-Five Modern American Authors, Gary M. Lepper
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Bibliography of American Literature, Jacob Blanck (9 Volumes)
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Bibliotheca Americana: Dictionary of Books Relating to America From its Discovery to the Present Time, Joseph Sabin (29 Volumes or 2-Volume Microprint)
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • The Book Collector's Handbook of Values, Van Allen Bradley (1982-1983 Edition)
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Collected Books, Allen and Patricia Ahearn
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • First Editions: A Guide to Identification, Edward N. Zempel and Linda A. Verkler
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • First Printings of American Authors, Matthew J. Bruccoli (5 Volumes)
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Guide to First Edition Prices 2008/9, R.B. Russell
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Modern British Authors, B.D. Cutler and Villa Stiles
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Modern First Editions: Points and Values, Gilbert H. Fabes and William A. Foyle (First, Second and Third Series)
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions, Bill McBride
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Points of Issue: A Compendium of Points of Issue of Books by 19th - 20th Century Authors, Bill McBride
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

  • Wright Howes: The Final Edition (of U.S.iana)
    Buy it at Abebooks or Amazon

Other Books

  • The Performing Arts: A Guide to the Reference Literature
    Buy it at Amazon

  • My Name in Books : A Guide to Character Names in Children's Literature
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Make Mine a Mystery: A Reader's Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Introduction to Bibliography and Reference Work
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • International Bibliography of Discographies
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Index to Black American Writers in Collective Biographies
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Graphic Novels: A Bibliographic Guide to Book-Length Comics
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Literature: A Genre Guide
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Fine Arts: A Bibliographic Guide to Basic Reference Works, Histories, and Handbooks: Second Edition
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Fantasy Authors: A Research Guide
    Buy it at Abebooks

  • Encyclopedic directory of ethnic newspapers and periodicals in the United States
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Applied and Decorative Arts: A Bibliographic Guide to Basic Reference Works, Histories, and Handbooks
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • American Popular Culture: A Guide to the Reference Literature
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Read the High Country: Guide to Western Books and Films
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks b>

  • American Military History: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Murder in Retrospect: A Selective Guide to Historical Mystery Fiction
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Children's Books About Religion
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • A Guide to Field Guides: Identifying the Natural History of North America
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, Fifth Edition
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Children's Authors and Illustrators Too Good to Miss: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Christian Fiction: A Guide to the Genre
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • The Bookmark Book
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Fantasy Literature for Children and Young Adults: An Annotated Bibliography, Fourth Edition
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Reference Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • 100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • The Newbery Companion: Booktalk and Related Materials for Newbery Medal and Honor Books
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Reader's Adviser : Vol.1 The Best Reference Works, British Literature & American Literature
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Children's Book Award Handbook
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • The Entrepreneur's Information Sourcebook: Charting the Path to Small Business Success
    Buy it at
    Amazon or Abebooks

  • 100 Most Popular African American Authors: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga, and More
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Quotation Index to Children's Literature
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Reference and Research Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction Second Edition
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

  • Fluent in Fantasy: A Guide to Reading Interests
    Buy it at Amazon or Abebooks

Above is a sample of the Editor's Hot Picks.
Click here to see all of them.

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