by Pamela Palmer

#156, 13 June 2011

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.

The May 2011 fiction top 10 features Tolkien, Grisham, Trollope, Faulkner, Burroughs, King, Fleming, and Gibson, along with 2 copies of A Game of Thrones. Of these, 3 sold as Best Offers, 1 sold as a BIN, and 6 were auctions. In the non-fiction category, there were 4 Best Offers, 2 BINs, and 4 auctions.

The Antiquarian & Collectible category was diverse with Karl Marx's Capital sitting aside Oscar Wilde's poetry, Theodore Roosevelt's game hunting in Africa, Mirour for Magistrates, and Winnie the Pooh.

eBay
Fiction Top 10
May 2011

#1 $3,000.00 LORD OF THE RINGS - FIRST USA PRINTINGS - HFT SET!
#2 $1,525.00 Game of Thrones signed and limited George R. R. Martin
#3 $1,342.63 GEORGE R,R MARTIN - A GAME OF THRONES - SIGNED LTD ED
#4 $1,300.00 HC ' A TIME TO KILL ' BY JOHN GRISHAM '1ST ED.'
#5 $1,255.00 He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope in RARE PARTS
#6 $1,144.44 *rare* THE CAT INSIDE by WILLIAM BURROUGHS ~SIGNED~
#7 $1,000.00 The Sound and the Fury William Faulkner 1st ediiton!
#8 $999.99 Cyberpunk WILLIAM GIBSON Neuromancer 1st Ed 1st Book
#9 $850.00 Stephen King Dark Tower Signed Limited Edition V,VI,VII
#10 $800.00 IAN FLEMING - CASINO ROYALE - VERY RARE 1ST 1954 W/DJ

#1
Lord of the Rings
Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
Return on the King

J.R.R. Tolkien
120727047907

The 3 1st editions sold for $3,000 after 23 bids. Fellowship of the Ring was listed in fine condition in a 1st edition/later printing dust jacket. The other books were 1st/1st editions in the 1st/1st dust jackets.

#2
A Game of Thrones
George R.R. Martin
250809874309

Listed in like new condition, the signed limited edition volume attracted 3 bids. It is #48 of 500 in the deluxe slipcased edition and was listed by an Irish seller.

#3
A Game of Thrones
George R.R. Martin
320700622930

Another copy of A Game of Thrones was sold by a UK seller. It attracted 14 bids and sold for $1,342.63.

#4
A Time to Kill
John Grisham
230622253419

The 1st edition hardcover in dust jacket sold as a Best Offer.

#5
He Knew He Was Right
Anthony Trollope
170643069761

The Trollope novel dated from 1868-69 and was published in parts. It was listed as "first edition, first printing in the rare original 32 weekly parts .... in a custom-made chemise and box." The listing is detailed and worth a closer look.

#6
The Cat Inside
William Burroughs
160588388407

The 1968 hardcover was signed by the author and the artist, Brion Gysin. Listed in fine condition, #97 of 133 sold after a single bid.

#7
The Sound and the Fury
William Faulkner
130509000045

The 1931 1st UK edition sold as a Best Offer.

#8
Neuromancer
William Gibson
140558351212

Coming in at #8, the 1st UK edition was listed in fine condition in a "bright and clean" dust jacket. It sold as a best offer.

#9
Dark Tower Series
Wolves of the Calla
Song of Susannah
The Dark Tower
Stephen King
290561212598

Volumes V, VI, and VII of the Dark Tower Series limited edition were published in 5 volumes. Each in this set is #378 of the limited edition, which ranged from 1350-1500 copies. They are signed by both the author and the artist. Each volume was published in its own slipcase.

#10
Casino Royale
Ian Fleming
300543104332

A 1st edition in very good+/fine condition with a fine- dust jacket sold as a best offer.

 

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