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Non-Fiction Top 10
October 2006

#1 $8,154.08 NORTH AMERICA AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY ATLAS 1794 25 MAPS
#2 $3,301.99 Helmets Of The Deep, Leon Lyons/deep sea diving helmets
#3 $2,914.85 Die Baukunst Konstantinoples by Cornelius Gurlitt,1912
#4 $2,878.04 AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ATLAS OFFICIAL RECORDS 1891-1895 1ST
#5 $2,808.00 1876 A. T. HAWLEY LOS ANGELES CITY PROGRESS & ADVANTAGE
#6 $2,319.34 CARP FISHING LEATHERBOUND: ROB MAYLIN TIGER BAY SUPER!
#7 $2,136.00 L. RON HUBBARD "Scientology 88"
#8 $1,999.00 Easton Press-Long Walk-Nelson Mandela, 1st ed. signed
#9 tie $1,911.99 U2 BY U2 BOOK - SIGNED BY BAND AND DENNIS SHEEHAN
#9 tie $1,911.99 GOAT Mohammad Muhammad Ali Cassius Clay (RRPŁ2000)

#1
The American Geography or a View of the Present Situation of the United States of America Containing Astonomical Geography ...
Jedidiah Morse

Published in 1794, this ex-library quarto size volume has a tight binding, clean pages, and "some foxing and staining." Graded good by the UK seller who listed it in a 10-day auction with 12 photos, the book "contains the first separately printed map of the state of North Carolina ... very scarce." Three bids took it from the GBP 999.99 starting bid to sell for $8,154.08.

#2
Helmets of the Deep
Leon Lyons

The recent publication date didn't keep this 1988 volume from attracting lots of attention. In the end, 55 bids raised its price to $3,301.99. Listed by a US seller in a 7-day auction with 4 photos, the book contains photos of diving helmets. It is signed by the author as "Presentation edition, 850 of 900."

#3
Die Baukunst Konstantinopels
Cornelius Gurlitt

As the UK seller explains, this 1912 set is "two large folio volumes of plates and one large folio volume of text to accompany the plates." It contains photos of "buildings of great importance in Constantinople." Written in German, it is ex-library with some pages bound in the wrong order and some scuffing and tears. The set attracted 22 bids to the 10-day auction with app. 28 photos, taking it from the GBP 1.99 starting bid to sell for $2,914.85.

#4
Atlas to Accompany the Official Records
of the Union and Confederate Armies

Published by the U.S. Government Printing Office between 1891 and 1895, this 2-volume ex-library set is folio size with quarter calf binding. Tight and clean, it has rubbing and a detached front board on volume 2. Five bids took the 10-day auction with 12 photos from the GBP 749.99 starting bid to sell for $2,878.04.

#5
Condition Progress and Advantages Los Angeles City & County
A.T. Hawley

Though tattered, torn, and soiled, this 1876 booklet drew 6 bids to sell for $2,808.00. Listed by a US seller in a 7-day auction with 13 photos, the pamphlet saw better days back when "irrigated land is sold at prices running from $600.00 to $900.00 and [sic] acre. Non irrigated land was going for $80.00 or less per acre." Sold as it, the seller sagely notes, "... the book has to be cleaned."

#6
Tiger Bay
Rob Maylin

Called "one of the very rarest Carp leatherbounds," the 1989 limited edition volume in a slipcase was listed by a seller from the Netherlands in a 7-day auction with 6 photos. The seller is unsure if the binding is leather or artificial. After 14 bids, the book sold for $2,319.34.

#7
Scientology 88
L. Ron Hubbard

A 1st edition in "very fine shape," Hubbard's book has "some ware on the cover and binding." Listed by a US seller with no feedback in a 7-day auction with 2 photos, the book received 2 bids and sold for $2,136.00.

#8
Long Walk to Freedom
Nelson Mandela

Easton's Press limited edition signed "collector's copy" was sold by a US seller in a 10-day auction with 2 photos. A single bid led to the sale at $1,999.

#9 tie
U2 by U2
U2

Carrying the signatures of all members of the band and their tour manager, this is one of 250 books signed at Waterstones Picadilly in London. The UK seller was 27th in line and will supply the wrist band, leaflet, receipt, bag and ticket number to prove it. Listed in a 5-day auction with 4 photos, the book received 7 bids and sold for $1,911.99.

#9 tie
GOAT
A Tribute to Muhammad Ali
Benedikt Taschen and Howard L. Bingham

Tied for #9, the Taschen publication weighs 75 lbs. and is one of 10,000 published. The book was listed by a UK seller, attracted 28 bids and sold for $1,911.99.

By the Numbers

11 of the sellers were from the UK
8 of the sellers were from the USA
1 of the sellers was from the Netherlands
1 books sold to a non-registered buyers
15 books were published during or after 1950
5 were published before 1950
2 books was listed for 5 days
7 books were listed for 7 days
6 books were listed for 10 days
4 sold as BIN
1 sold as Best Offers
1 to 55 is the range of bids
None were private auction
Seller feedback ranged from 0 to 27,636
9 sellers had 100% positive feedback
Feedback ranged from 90% to 100% for sellers who had feedback
The oldest book was published in 1794

*Auctions marked with an asterisk indicate those won by a bidder who is no longer a registered user. The final value should not be interpreted as valid.

Want to read more articles by BookThink's Associate Editor Pamela Palmer? Click here.



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