by Pamela Palmer

#141, 25 January 2010

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. To learn more about what's in and what's out of the lists, read our Top 10 on eBay Parameters.

NOTE: Items numbers are now included in this article. They are in the individual auction comments section below the author and title. Click the links to see the listings.

Twilight, Rand, Tolkien, and King are no surprise in the fiction top 10. But what about Robert Frost and Chaucer? Both made the list in November 2009. The non-fiction list features the familiar (Sumo, Ruscha, and a signed Easton Press title) and the unusual (a Japanese photo book from the Vietnam War, gold mine maps from 1896, and an association copy of Game of Chess: A Poem published in 1736).

On the Antiquarian & Collectible side, #1 is a Picasso book containing both the artist's signature and a drawing; it sold for $30,000. The 1960 book was listed by a Peruvian seller and is followed on the list by two Bibles, A Farewell to Arms signed by Hemingway, and Alcoholics Anonymous.

eBay
Fiction Top 10
November 2009

#1 $5,200.00 Twilight books / signed by / Pattison / Steward/ Myers
#2 $2,088.00 AYN RAND ATLAS SHRUGGED FIRST EDITION 1ST PRINTING 1957
#3 $2,011.26 The Fellowship of the Ring by J R R Tolkien 1954 First
#4 $1,653.89 Stephen King The Stand Signed Limited Black Coffin Box
#5 $1,025.00 The Midnight House -- signed advance reader copy
#6 $1,000.00 HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERER'S STONE SIGNED J.K. ROWLING
#7 tie $999.00 MOUNTAIN INTERVAL by ROBERT FROST 1st *SIGNED in 1917*
#7 tie $999.00 Catch 22 Joseph Heller 1st Printing NF/NF
#9 $938.59 Chaucer-CANTEBURY TALES-W. Russell Flint 3 vols RARE
#10 $900.00 To My Sons By Harold Bell Wright 1st edition

#1
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
Stephenie Meyer
190346875342

Listed by a Canadian seller, the 4 books in the Twilight saga were signed by the author and actors Pattison and Stewart. It sold with a single bid.

#2
Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
130339330667

Another Canadian seller sold this 1st edition, 1st printing of Ayn Rand's 1957 title. It was listed as like new in a "fine original DJ."

#3
The Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien
170404040805

Listed by a UK seller in very good condition, the 1st edition attracted 25 bids to sell for $2,011.26.

#4
The Stand
Stephen King
250527518703

4 bids took the signed limited edition in a black coffin box to $1,653.89. The US seller listed it in very good condition and offered "Free Shipping if you BUT IT NOW."

#5
The Midnight House
Alex Berenson
120491069700

The signed advance reader copy in new condition attracted 40 bids. Listed by alexberenson, the copy was sold to benefit "City Harvest, a charity in New York."

#6
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J.K. Rowling
120492928515

Listed in like new condition, the signed 1st edition Scholastic paperback sold for $1,000.

#7 tie
Mountain Interval
Robert Frost
360209328515

The 1916 1st edition was signed the following year. It was listed in very good condition and sold as a BIN. The US seller notes this was the 1st Frost book to be published in the United States and points to 2 errors in the 1st state that are present in this copy.

#7 tie
Catch 22
Joseph Heller
300369098630

In a tie for the #7 position, a 1st edition, 1st printing of Catch 22 sold with a single bid.

#9
Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
140355262095

20 bids took this 3-volume 1913 limited edition with "original limp vellum boards ... 36 mounted colour plates ... by Sir Russell Flint" to $938.59. It was listed by a UK seller.

#10
To My Sons
Harrold Bell Wright
190348011214

Sold with a single bid, the 1934 1st edition in very good condition brought $900.  

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