"Go on, mortgage the kids, sell the cat into kitty slavery - you know it's worth it!" That's how the confident UK seller hyped this book. It sold for a hefty $8,226,78 with 27 bids from a starting price of GBP 1.00. Described as a hardback first edition, first printing, the book was signed by the author on the title page, has a mint jacket, and is not price clipped. It was listed for 10 days and 6 pictures illustrated the auction. The seller originally claimed it was one of 5,000 printed but later corrected that to one of 500. He cites "a true test of the original cover" as "reviews on the front cover pasted over."

Two 1st edition 1st printings of Shadowmancer started as GBP 4,000 and sold at the starting price after a 10 day auction. The UK seller describes the one as, "...Number One Mount 1st Edition 1st Printing 2002 which is hand signed and numbered ONE by the author and contains a hand painted Watercolor by the Illustrator Percy Hope." It is bound in full leather with leather inlays. The second is described as "... Faber & Faber 1st Edition 1st Printing 2003 which also has the number ONE and hand signed by the author ... with a hand painted Watercolour by the Illustrator...." Noting that each design was limited to 10 copies, the seller included 4 pictures.

The UK seller sums the auction up by writing, "This auction is for the complete set of True Worldwide First Printing paperbacks from the UK." Calling book 1 the rarest of the group, the seller provides details of printing errors, print line, use of Joanna instead of JK for the author and more to describe the paperback. Similar details are used to describe the other 4 books; 4 pictures illustrate the auction. The first book has minor flaws - a slight crease and yellowed pages; the others are rated as fine. Started at GBP 2,500, the auction ended at that price with a BIN.

All three titles are 1st/1st "... in fantastic condition ... all flat signed to the title page and onto offical book plates as well - ALL Double Signed!!!" This UK seller who appears frequently on BookThink's Top Ten apparently doesn't proofread his auctions. Despite typos, this trio garnered 29 bids to sell for $3,519.80 from a starting bid of GBP 0.99. The seller used 11 pictures to illustrate the auction, listed for 7 days, and used a reserve. The seller also sold #6 below.

Another UK seller takes the #5 position with an 1878 3-vol. set of The Return of the Native. The set sold at the starting price of GBP 1,399.99 after a 10-day auction that included 4 pictures. Described as "FIRST EDITION IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH," the set has been re-cased and the inner hinges strengthened. Flaws include a small indentation in one fore-edge, occasional foxing/browning, and a bit of cloth replaced. The set is in a later cloth clip-case, is first edition, and is graded as very scarce. It was among the 1000 copies published on November 4, 1878.

A BIN ended this UK seller's auction at the starting bid of GBP 1,400. Hound of the Baskervilles is described as "FINE/FINE MINT CONDITION." It's the 1st edition, 1st printing published in 1902 by George Newnes, London. It appears unread, not faded/sunned, with slight foxing to end papers with all other pages clean, crisp and unmarked. Three pictures show the book. This seller also sold #4 above.

Described as a "FIRST EDITION - and in the scarce original d/w," the 1923 book sold for $2,385.92, rising on 16 bids from a starting price of GBP 4.99. The UK seller notes that it is in "excellent/near fine condition" externally and internally with a "clean and bright" dw that has some chips and loss. Condition is clearly illustrated in 7 pictures.

An exact facsimile of the 1896 Kelmscott Press Chaucer, the 2-book set sold for the starting bid of GBP 1,195 with a BIN. Published in 1975 by The Basilisk Press in London in a limited edition of 515 copies, this is copy 211 of the 500 that were sold by special subscription. Graded in very fine condition, it was opened only to make the 12 auction pictures. The second volume in the set is "a Companion Volume ... (with Burne-Jones pencil drawings ...)." The two volumes are in a wooden slipcase which is in fair condition.

Twenty-one bids took this 1955 first edition, first printing James Bond book from a GBP 4.99 starting bid to $1,822.45. Described as having a tight binding and sharp corners, the book is "clean and bright" with light rubbing and some white marks on the exterior (the UK seller indicates this may be dust). The dw is original; it's chipped and rubbed with some soiling and a faded spine.

J.K. Rowling appears again as #10 with a "1st Edition UK Hardback 1st Edition ... with dustjacket." It was "hand signed directly to the page." A crew member's t-shirt is included in the auction, along with a used AAA pass. The auction started a GBP 1.00 and rose to $1,804.58 on 19 bids during the 7-day auction. Two pictures illustrate the auction. The UK seller opens the auction with this admonition, "Before you look at our items, PLEASE educate yourself." He can only hope.