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The Fool Of Love by Lees-Milne, James FINE. First edition & printing. Looks unread. Perhaps hint of edge tanning. Blue cloth with gilt on spine
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The Land Of Men Unhung by Richardson, Gladwell NEAR FINE. First edition & printing. May be unread. Some tanning, otherwise fine
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Vitalogy. An Encyclopedia Of H ... by Ruddock, EH VERY GOOD. Inside mostly fine. Name on blank front endpaper. 1 written mark seen. Edges dull
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Defeat Into Victory by Slim, William VERY GOOD. Slight edge tanning. Name and date inside front cover. Very minor wear seen to a couple of the fold out maps
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Other Men's Flowers. An Anthol ... by Wavell, AP VERY GOOD. Inside fine with little sign of use. Writing on blank front endpaper. Edges and endpapers tanned
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Big Sur And The Oranges Of Hie ... by Miller, Henry GOOD. First edition & printing. No ISBN. Inside near fine and looks little used. Name and date inside front cover
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Posted on 2010 Jul 22 19:19 (Thursday)
By bookmrow (ID:1646, Standard)
Hello everyone, this site looks very interesting. I'm a bit of a book collector in a very amateurish way, as have been for many years. One thing that intrigues me, which some of you here may be able to answer, is the great discrepancy there is sometimes between books of the same title which are themselves fairly rare and which appear to be the same. For instance, I have just bought a book on Ebay that I have been trying to find for some time (I won't say its title just yet). On the odd occasion when I have spotted it in the past it has always been about £35 - which I considered to be a little expensive. When I saw it on Ebay for £25 I snapped it up. When it arrived it was fine: first-edition hardback in good condition. Just a few days later, I saw two copies of the same book - both first-edition hardback in good condition. They were around £7 and £8, and both being sold by dealers. Needless to say, I wasn't too happy - but am I missing something?
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| Posted on 2010 Jul 23 09:56 (Friday)
By Jimbooks (ID:618, Silver, Web Site)
It's a bit like the problem with buses, you don't see one for ages and then... The answer is difficult to say from what you have posted. Were the other two BIN sales or auction?, Were they book dealers or the 'megalisters' which have taken over much of ebay? If the latter, they are not interested in maximising the sale price, but in volume turn over. It could also be that they are just having a clear out of 'old stock' and want a quick sale, or it could be a mistake! - There are literally loads of reasons, but the main thing is, you appear to have been happy to pay £25.00 for something you had been looking for for a while and which you undoubtedly wanted. You have therefore got 'good value'. If you waited for ever you may never have bought the book, or caught the bus, so to speak, put it down to experience, and remember, only ever pay what you feel comfortable with.
Regards
Jim
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| Posted on 2010 Jul 23 10:55 (Friday)
By bookmrow (ID:1646, Standard)
Thank you for your helpful reply, Jim, it really is appreciated. Can I say first of all that I wasn't too unhappy about paying the £25 for the book, just slightly shocked that a book that I have rarely seen for sale - and always for about £35, when I did - should suddenly be available much cheaper just after I make a move. As you say, a bit like buses! I should have said, that although I bought my book on Ebay, both the other two were on Amazon - all of them were fixed-price sales. I'm not sure if any of the sellers were 'megalisters', because I have no idea what one is!
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| Posted on 2010 Jul 23 12:25 (Friday)
By Jimbooks (ID:618, Silver, Web Site)
Thanks for your reply. There are a number of 'megalisters' on the various bookselling sites. You can spot them by the large number of feedbacks they receive. One of them has an "Awesome" number. As a matter of warning for the future, if you are buying a 'collectable' book I would avoid them like the plague! - Their book descriptions are inadequate and they never upload a photograph. I certainly wouldn't risk £25.00 without seeing the book first, irrespective of their 'return' policy. They are fine for run of the mill paperbacks, but I would personally still try to buy from a small book dealer. (not that I'm biased!!)
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| Posted on 2010 Jul 29 22:57 (Thursday)
By Aardvarkbooks (ID:432, Founder)
I was also wondering what the description and actual condition differences are.
I know a book shop owner who does not differentiate between highly collectable books, but goes for turn over. (Very much like charity shops, but he is not that low priced).
He appears to know his market and is aware of certain highlights, but just feels the time taken identifying and describing, and more importantly a book taking up his precious shelf space longer does not justify the higher price.
Going into his shop, which I have not been able to for a few years, always made me worry about the price I might pay elsewhere. But I understood his thinking, a rare book waiting 2 months for a buyer at £21 was taking up the space of 8 £5 books which would sell in a week. Almost twice the profit.
I think the example which he used to enlighten me, I would have thought was worth £40, but I did not have £21 to spend at that moment. The fact that it was gone within the week seemed to support my valuation more than his theory. But a slight nick and former owners name on the fep, in those days did seriously reduce the chances of selling to hardened collectors.
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| Posted on 2010 Jul 30 10:19 (Friday)
By bookmrow (ID:1646, Standard)
An update on this book of mine - which, BTW, is called 'Seven Years with Samantha'. This was part of a list that I made over many years from books that I had borrowed from libraries and had found very interesting or informative, and had therefore decided that I would like to buy. I read SYWS in the 70s, so I have been looking for it for a long time - there is nothing particularly special about it (although it does appear to be quite rare), but I thought it very interesting. The book I bought on Ebay for £25 was as described in the listing - it was a good clean first edition with the original dustjacket (although the price had been clipped off this - why is this done?).
The two books on Amazon for £7 and £8 respectively - which I did decide to buy, incidentally, reasoning that I could probably sell them at a profit and possibly get back the £44 or so that I spent in total, and therefore end up getting my original book for free - were pretty much as described. The £8 one was particularly good: a very clean and tightly bound first edition, with an original dj - that hadn't been clipped. The second one was similar, except that the price had been clipped off the dj and there were some birthday greetings written in biro inside.
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| Posted on 2010 Jul 31 14:27 (Saturday)
By Jimbooks (ID:618, Silver, Web Site)
Hi,
This book seems familiar, has it been discussed elsewhere? - Given the subject matter my view is that the £20 - £30 price should be the norm and would hazard a gues that the two lower value ones you bought were sold either to clear stock or without research.
Jackets are sometimes price clipped if given as a gift, the clipping of the price does affect the value of collectable books and should always be mentioned in the item description as should any inscription to the front pages. If these were not mentioned you have every right to ask for a refund if you are not happy. A quick ook on Abe shows two 1st editions on offer one in New Zealand and one in South Africa. You would expect these to be a higher price (irrespective of postage) particularly New Zealand and Australia where second hand books in general are more expensive than here, just as UK books are more expensive than in the US, this is because of supply and demand.
Anyway good luck in recovering your outlay, and remember, if in a couple of years they are still collecting dust, you can discount the price to achieve a quick sale!!.
Regards
Jim
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| Posted on 2010 Jul 31 20:35 (Saturday)
By Aardvarkbooks (ID:432, Founder)
I have known rare items to be purchased in multiples, and then go back on the internet with profit making prices.
It appears to be a policy of 'get rid of the opposition', and sell it as a rarer item. (I do not suggest this is your reasoning), but feel you should not lose on this deal.
I just point out that the downside is that if it is more than two or three items, a rare item at bespoke prices could out-supply the demand of those willing to pay bespoke prices.
And I also agree with Jimbooks in all he has stated above, especially any differences, no matter how minor to you, (the price cut dust wrapper) could indicate a major drop in desirability to some collectors.
Once the hardened collectors have been satisfied, you would have to price at general interest buyers, then if only other dealers want an item they would look to buy at one third of expected prices.
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| Posted on 2010 Aug 02 16:54 (Monday)
By Aardvarkbooks (ID:432, Founder)
Sorry I kept getting interupted with each post here. I even surprised myself by writing one of these posts from another computer whilst I was away.
All I wish to say is that in the old days, there was an awful lot of shoe leather and petrol used up to find a find. So it was even more annoying to suddenly discover a cheaper option.
And if buying the other items, I meant to say, do not therefore advertise them all at the same time, competing against each other. Some do advertise (possibly even the same item more expensively), elsewhere!! Making it possible to refer to and make the second item look more of a bargain. This should be frowned upon, unless the two items are different.
I saw a stall holder produce about twenty copies of a modern book, and waited for some of them to sell. He did not seem to pick up on most saying they would be back as he had so many.
I would have kept one out only and asked if any one was interested in the author as they passed, and then replace the sold item.
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| Posted on 2010 Aug 02 21:32 (Monday)
By bookmrow (ID:1646, Standard)
As I now have three copies of this book, I shall obviously keep the best one for myself and sell the other two. Because I only have the two copies to sell that is all I can put on the market - but I will take your advice and only sell one at a time. My total outlay has been £44, so if I get around £22 per book I shall be more than happy - because, obviously, that will mean that I have got my book for nothing.
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| Posted on 2010 Aug 12 17:43 (Thursday)
By Aardvarkbooks (ID:432, Founder)
I had an e-mail from the contact form, entitled Ive Just Joined, and the person said they needed advice. I am now uncertain if you are that same enquirer, as I do not get membership details. So I apologise if I got it wrong and you did not need so much advice.
I do enjoy talking about all aspects of books, collecting and book sales. I quite easily get carried away.
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| Posted on 2010 Aug 12 18:39 (Thursday)
By bookmrow (ID:1646, Standard)
It wasn't me, Aardvark, sorry.
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| Posted on 2010 Aug 12 21:38 (Thursday)
By Aardvarkbooks (ID:432, Founder)
As I feared, hope some of what I spouted was of use, feel free to ask any other questions in other areas.
It is just that I get e-mails passed to me, and also recommend the site to book lovers, collectors and dealers I meet. I do not have full access to peoples passwords and membership names, (quite rightly), so do not know if contacts have joined. With you I wrongly assumed same email title same forum title you were the same person.
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