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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.
How many signed copies of Pullman's Northern Lights books can one eBayer sell in a month? At least three at top dollar. That's what one U.K. seller did in September. First, he sold #3 on BookThink's Fiction Top 10 for $2,795.43. Then he sold #5, what seems to be a second copy (because the first buyer left feedback), for $2,223.50. And he also sold #7 for $1,983.85. Good month!
#1 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, by Philip K. Dick
This signed first edition sold for $6,351 with 2 bids in early September and held its place in the fiction chart throughout the month. Carefully described as "price clipped, the jacket is better than very good, with about 1/3 missing from a small part of the bottom spine ..." with some rubbing, a few spots/smudges on the dj. The signature is pasted in and inscribed to "Forrey." The U.S. seller included four pictures and started the auction at $5,999 for this "better than very good condition" book.
#2 Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien
Sixteen bids took this U.K. seller's auction from GBP 99 to $6,011.07 for the three volumes in a slipcase. Volumes are "re-bound in soft full red leather with intricate gilt designs to edges, all page edges are gilt...." Recently rebound, the volumes are described as having minimal foxing and no other flaws. The original maps are in fine condition. Eleven pictures illustrate the auction.
#3 Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman
Attracting twenty-eight bids, this auction started at GBP 0.01 and closed at $2,795.43 for a hand signed 1st edition described as "unread, or read once at most...." A photo of Pullman signing the book at the Oxford Literary Festival is included with the book. One of the questions asked was why Pullman signed this in black instead of his usual blue. In reply, the U.K. seller indicated others at the festival would agree that he signed in black that day, as well as mentioning the photograph of Pullman signing the book.
#4 A Laodicean: Or: The Castle of the De Stancys: A Story of To-day
In three volumes, this first English edition 1881 set started at GBP 4.99 and rose to $2,540.35 on 19 bids. The U.K. seller says, "The volumes have been neatly re-cased with the orig. endpapers preserved (only this inside of the hinges are repaired - the outside of the binding has NOT been distrubed)." They have some fading, several minor marks on the binding, and some foxing/browning. This is the English printing "presumably of 1,000 copies, the first week of Dec. 1881." Five pictures were included.
#5 Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman
From the same U.K. seller as #3 and #7, this signed first edition sold as a BIN in 2 hrs. 20 minutes for $2,223.50. The email prearrangement led to a brief auction description with eight pictures.
#6 A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Described by the U.S. seller as "... a very rare signed and numbered copy ... printed in 1929 by Hogarth Press, London." This is #23 or 492 copies "signed in her characteristic purple ink" in good+ condition. Five pictures show the book. It sold at the opening price of $2,000.
#7 Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman
The U.K. seller of #5 and #7 wins again. The signed first edition sold for $1,983.85 BIN in nineteen minutes based on email pre-arrangement. Minimally described, the book is shown in eight pictures.
#8 Northern Lights Trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Yet another Pullman sale, but this time from a different U.K. seller. All are true 1st printings. Northern Lights is described as very good+, a true 1st edition 1st printing, "signed by way of signed raven bookplate (blue ink) stuck on copyright page." The Subtle Knife also is very good+ with "a Handsigned bookplate laid in loosely." The Amber Spyglass is "Flatsigned to the title page." Nine pictures are included in the auction. Eighteen bids took the auction from a starting price of GBP 0.99 to $1,839.57.
#9 Tarzan Lord of the Jungle, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
A "1st printing, 1st state in mcclurg jacket," this 1928 book sold for $1,680.99 with 8 bids and a listing price of $199. The U.S. seller writes, "tarzan lord of the jungle was printed in first edition for a run of 7,500 copies at 4 different times ... [this] is the toughest to find." The condition is very good+ "with a nice restored original mcclurg dustjacket" and all plates present. Six pictures illustrate the book.
#10 The Prince and Betty, by P.G. Wodehouse
Published in 1912, the first U.K. edition was published by Mills and Boon and called "VERY SCARCE INDEED" by the U.K. seller. Described as a "McIlvaine A15B2. First edition.... McIlvaine states this is the same as the first, just with the adds added." The book has heavy wear, is ex-library with two ink stamps, heavy browning, some chipping, and a few tears/ink marks. There is no dj. Starting at GBP 4.99, the book rose on 16 bids to $1,636.48.
#1 Alcoholics Anonymous
A first printing, second edition Alcoholics Anonymous, is described as a presentation copy given to an AA insider named Art around 1955. It's particularly interesting for the 98 signatures inside, including Bill and Lois W., Nell Wing, Jim Burwell, and other AA notables; most signatures include the full name. Six pictures including some showing the signatures were included. The dj has normal wear, and the book is in very good condition. Forty-two bids moved it from the $9.95 starting bid to $7,300.
#2 I Me Mine, by George Harrison
Sold "as-is" though said to be in excellent condition, this limited edition leather-bound book is one of the 2000 hand signed by Harrison. Fifteen pictures show details of the volume and signatures. Starting at $2,500, three bids took it to $4,160.
#3 American Country [Time-Life Series]
The seller said s/he is clearing out a personal collection, indicating these are all in near mint
condition, some with a bookplate removed. One picture is included, showing the five book covers.
Nine bids took it from a $19.95 starting bid to the $2,448 selling price. [See
BookThink's comments.]
#4 Redmire Pool, by Kevin Clifford and Len Arbery
One of the 50 copies in a special leather edition, this 1984 book is #45 and signed by the authors. Described as in mint condition, it is show in 4 pictures. The U.K. seller started the auction at GBP 1,3000 and it sold at that price.
#5 Fifty Years Adrift in an Open-Necked Shirt
George Harrison shows up again at #5, a Genesis Publication signed by Harrison, Derek Taylor and Larry Smith. The boxed leather-bound book is #958 of 2000. Sold by Rockstore (Distributors of Genesis Publication) on consignment, the auction started at $1 and received 35 bids to sell for $2,225.99. Five pictures illustrate the auction.
#6 Alcoholics Anonymous
Yet another copy of Alcoholics Anonymous, this 1948 first edition (12th printing) is signed by Bill Wilson using his full name. It is inscribed to Jim True, the uncle of the seller. Described as in very good condition with only minor wear. Three pictures illustrate the auction. Listed for $1,500, nine bids took it to a selling price of $2,213.
#7 Histologie du systeme nerveux: De L'Homme et des vertebras
In a change of pace, #7 is a four-volume medical reference translated from Spanish into French. Published 1909-1911, the set is #247 of a numbered edition. According to the auction, the author shared the 1906 Nobel Prize. This work "sets out the cytological and histological foundations of modern neurology." Volumes have sunned spines, as well as edge and corner wear and a few minor flaws. Four pictures are included in the auction. Questions to the seller focus on the paper (if acid free) and printing date. The auction attracted 31 bids, taking the set from a starting price of $249.99 to a selling price of $2,051.
#8 England Faces Europe, by John Amery
This 1943 softcover is described as "the original book used for recruiting british P.O.W.s into a Corps of the German Army to fight Bolshevism. Complete with Stalag stamp to cover." Flaws include edge wear, chipped cover, sticker stain on back. In a lengthy historical note from Wikipedia, the U.K. seller writes of Amery proposing recruitment efforts to Hitler and traces Amery's efforts and trial for treason after the war. He was hanged in 1945. Four pictures are included. It sold for the starting price of $1,840.
#9 [1st BN. The Cameronians India 1905]
The title of #9 was not stated in the auction. It is a 1905 hardcover published in Rawalpindi; it has 52 pages and 40 photographs with a gilt insignia on the cover. Content include a history of the regiment. Photographs comprise the bulk of the volume, with those pictures ranging from officers to cooks and from sports teams to bagpipers. Many of those pictured are named. Listed by a U.K. seller, the auction contained 5 pictures. The book started at GBP 0.99, received 22 bids, and sold for $1,706.09.
#10 Narcotics Anonymous: It Works
The 1962 hardcover was listed as a second edition, but four "Ask the Seller A Question" entries indicate it is the first edition. In the responses, the seller says s/he now knows it is a first edition but learned that too late to change the auction. Description says the book is in very good condition with light cover wear, occasional light writing and highlighting, and slight mustiness. Sixteen bids took it from a starting price of $6.99 to a selling price of $1,525.
50% of the sellers were from the U.K.
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