Here we have eBay's top ten selling books from the last few years, starting with number 10.
10. Wizard of OZ $8,243
1st edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. (Sold January 21, 2010).
9. 1st Alchoholics
Anonymous $8,351
First Edition, Alchoholics Anonymous book, dated 1939. (Sold March 11, 2010).
First Edition, Alchoholics Anonymous book, dated 1939. (Sold March 11, 2010).
8. Ulysses 1935 Edition $12,900
"Ulysses" 1935 Limited Edition signed by James Joyce and Henri Matisse. (Sold February 23, 2010).
"Ulysses" 1935 Limited Edition signed by James Joyce and Henri Matisse. (Sold February 23, 2010).
7. Astronomy Book $15,202
1617 Astronomy Book. Sold (February 3, 2010).
1617 Astronomy Book. Sold (February 3, 2010).
6. Antique Homann Atlas $16,100
Homann Atlas (1728-50) with 97 engraved, hand colored maps. (Sold September 25, 2010).
Homann Atlas (1728-50) with 97 engraved, hand colored maps. (Sold September 25, 2010).
5. Medieval Book of Hours $17,799
Medieval Book of Hours written in Rouen, France, circa 1470. (Sold June 1, 2010).
Medieval Book of Hours written in Rouen, France, circa 1470. (Sold June 1, 2010).
4. National Geographic $20,155
National Geographic Magazine set (1888 - 1990) includes issue #1. (Sold January 18th, 2010).
National Geographic Magazine set (1888 - 1990) includes issue #1. (Sold January 18th, 2010).
3. Vintage Playboy Magazine $39,900
1953 Playboy Magazine featuring Marilyn Monroe. (Sold April 13, 2011).
1953 Playboy Magazine featuring Marilyn Monroe. (Sold April 13, 2011).
2. Antique Golf Poem/Pamphlet $50,400
1751 pamphlet featured an early Golf poem. (Sold January 19, 2011).
1751 pamphlet featured an early Golf poem. (Sold January 19, 2011).
1. Spider-Man Comic Book $107,300
1962 Amazing Fantasy #15 / Spider-Man Comic Book. (Sold October 19, 2011).
1962 Amazing Fantasy #15 / Spider-Man Comic Book. (Sold October 19, 2011).
I find this
interesting for several reasons. Firstly every home has books, and usually many,
many books, and the old needle in a haystack expression comes to mind when
thinking about ones that are valuable. So it’s always a question people have
when clearing an estate or downsizing.
Secondly, it is a
category that is rather hard to navigate when determining value because of
things like condition, edition number, hardcover vs. soft cover, autographed or
not, Canadian edition vs. US edition not to mention weeding out those ‘Book
Club’ versions which seem to carry no value except decorative.
I pre-warn my clients
that there will be books that won’t sell and in fact that certain charities won’t
even want for free. It’s a case of supply and demand and changing lifestyles
again. With so many books in every single house there simply aren’t enough
collectors or book enthusiast to pick them up. And if you think about it people
aren’t even reading paper bound books so much anymore, they’ll purchase the
e-book version for their Kindle or buy the audio version for the car or iPod.
Let’s talk about the top
five. At number 5 we have what sounds like an incredibly valuable and
interesting book, a circa 1470 Book of Hours. To me, I
would think a medieval book should be number one. It’s not however, it’s number
five.
Number 4 is definitely
interesting, a complete set of National Geographic magazines. Now before you go
running downstairs to inventory your own collection of NG, the key word here is
complete. National Geographic began in 1888 and there were 165 subscribers
(versus 10 million by 1980) so to say that these early editions are rare is a
big understatement. The first eight years of publication are called the ‘red
brick’ editions and are the most highly sought after. But by 1896 they were
printing more than 1200 magazines a month which makes anything past this date,
relatively speaking more common. So the value is in these first 8 years of
publication.
Number 3 is the Holy
Grail of Playboy magazine, edition #1 with Marilyn Monroe on the cover. Let’s
face it, sex sells (just ask Hef) and with the most famous sexy symbol of all
time on the cover how could they go wrong.
Number 2. Ah yes, an
incredibly early and rare golf pamphlet. Not surprised on this one, there
always seems to be good money for sports collectibles and or ones related to ‘rich
men’s’ hobbies; golf, horses, sailing come to mind. And in my experience good golf
collectibles have always commanded a premium.
Number 1. I want to be
surprised, but I’m not totally. But let’s face it, the #15 Spider Man comic
book is the top selling book of the past few years on eBay??? And by more than
double selling for a whopping $107,000! Well it must be an incredibly rare one
with a very low printing, and comic collectors are an incredibly passionate
group when it comes to their field. We have to keep in mind also that this is a
top ten EBAY list, which is a ‘collectibles’ marketplace where collectibles
sell best. However it still shocks me. Does whatever a spider can…and then
some!