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BookThink's Top 10 on eBay
June 2006

by Pamela Palmer

#74, 7 August 2006

    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. In early January, we'll look back at the year and consider trends and highlights. To learn more about what's in and what's out of the lists, read our Top 10 on eBay Parameters.

Does selling for charity increase an auction's the final value? Probably - especially when the charity is well known, appealing, and celebrities are involved. All these forces came together in June when The Old Bakery in Lincoln, UK auctioned off a copy of The Da Vinci Code signed by the cast, crew, and author. The charity involved was The Mayor's Charity. As the auction states, it helps "purchase neo-natal incubators for premature children at Lincoln County Hospital."

Now this particular book with the same signatures would bring a hefty price on its own, but coupled with the fact the cast, crew, and author autographed and wrote messages in the volume specifically for this auction, it's a unique item of unquestionable authenticity. Even with 0 feedback, The Old Bakery had everything going for it. The auction garnered 37 bids and ended above $5800. Charity auctions may receive skewed returns, so other sellers should factor that in when looking for comparables.

Fiction Top 10
June 2006

#1 $9,050.00 Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Signed, 1st Edition
#2 $5,825.28 Da Vinci Code Book signed by cast, crew and author
#3 $4,692.98 Ian Fleming - Live and let die - James Bond 1st Ed Rare
#4 $4,239.89 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? by PK Dick HC 1st
#5 $4,149.00 Tom Hanks Signed Personal Copy of Da Vinci Code Book
#6 $2,311.38 SIGNED BY TOLKIEN - LORD OF THE RINGS 2ND ED SET
#7 $2,218.92 Shute, Nevil. What Happened to the Corbetts 1st edition
#8 $2,175.92 Ian Fleming - Moonraker - James Bond 1st Ed 1955 Rare
#9 $1,847.25 TOLKIEN : LORD OF RINGS 1ST 1 VOL EDITION SIGNED FINE
#10 $1,625.53 Tolkien.Lord of the Rings.1st editions/1st impressions.

#1
Eragon
Christopher Paolini

A self-published novel tops the fiction chart, selling on 1 bid for $9,050. Three photos and items specifics provide the only information in a minimalist 7-day auction that closed at the starting price. Item specifics shows it to be a 2001 signed first edition in new condition. The novice seller has 1 feedback.

#2
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown

Loads of questions came in for this heavily autographed paperback copy of The Da Vinci Code. On sale to raise money for neo-natal incubators, the "over 50 pages of comments, autographs and messages from the cast and crew" give it added value. Signatures include Tom Hanks and the author. Sold for the charity by the The Old Bakery (a local restaurant with no feedback), the UK seller attracted 37 bids, raising the starting price of GBP 0.99 to $5,825.28 in a 10-day auction. Questions from other eBay members consisted mostly of good wishes, though one reminded the seller of potentially high eBay final value fees.

#3
Live and Let Die
Ian Fleming

James Bond is back on the Top 10 list with this very good + hardcover in a very good dust jacket. Described as having "one of the rare first issue dustjackets without the credit to Keneth Lewis on the front flap." Listed by a UK seller in a 7-day auction with 6 photos, the book started at GBP 4.99, received 31 bids, and sold for $4,692.98.

#4
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
P.K. Dick

A 2-line description sufficed for the P.K. Dick hardcover in a dust jacket. Minor flaws are listed by the US seller who started the 7-day auction with 1 photo at $9.99. After 36 bids, the book sold for $4,239.89.

#5
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown

Yet another copy of The Da Vinci Code comes in at #5. This one is autographed by Tom Hanks, who donated his own signed copy to Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland. Unable to attend a function to which they invited him, "he [Hanks] kindly sent his bodyguard with not only apologies but a signed personal copy of the book!" Sold by the charity (with no feedbacks), the 10-day auction with 3 photos attracted 52 bids, raising the starting price of GBP 0.99 to $4,149.

#6
The Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King

J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien signed The Two Towers in this 3-volume set, and his daughter Pricilla signed above the first signature. Priscilla is described in the auction as having a "close relationship" with James Dyson, and it is from Dyson's estate that the set comes to auction. The 3 volumes are described as in very good condition with very good dust jackets by the UK seller who listed them in a 10-day auction starting at GBP 1,250.00. They sold with 1 bid at the starting price.

#7
What Happened to the Corbetts
Nevil Shute

The 1939 first edition is described as "An excellent copy of an extrememly rare book." Listed by a UK seller in a 7-day auction with 8 photos, the book sold at the starting price.

#8
Moonraker
Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming's Moonraker is described as "an attractive copy of this very scarce title" by the UK seller who listed it in a 7-day auction with 6 photos. Starting at GBP 4.99, it sold for $2,175.92 after 21 bids. The book is described as in very good + condition and the dust jacket in very good condition.

#9
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien

Rebound in full red morocco but originally a paperback, this volume is described as "the first paperback and first single volume edition with the revised text of 1966." Signed but with "some bleeding of the signature" due to humidity, the book was listed in a 10-day auction with 6 photos. The UK seller started bidding at GBP 999.00 and it sold at that price.

#10
The Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King

J.R.R. Tolkien

Another Tolkien listing, this time 1st editions 1st impressions, came in at #10. The UK seller started the 7-day auction at GBP 299, and the auction attracted 6 bids to close at $1,625.53. Twelve photos show the set described as "a sorry set of first editions waiting for somebody to put them back together" and "a set in need of a restorer/rebinder." In addition, the seller listed out flaws in detail, noted that the folding maps are present, and mentioned points.

 

Non-Fiction Top 10
June 2006

#1 $2,247.22 Narcotics Anonymous 1st Edition red book!
#2 $2,125.00 Taschen G.O.A.T GOAT Muhammad Ali Biography Art Book
#3 $1,906.85 New Naturalist No 70 Orkney
#4 $1,599.47 Rare AUTOCOURSE 1965 - Very Good Condition ANNUAL Book
#5 $1,510.93 SOUTH AMERICA BRAZIL KOSTER 1816 FINE COLOUR PLATES
#6 $1,476.50 Narcotics Anonymous 1983 1st Edition RED Basic Text
#7 $1,325.00 This Very Place the Lotus Paradise - Rajneesh Osho
#8 $1,256.08 Keith Haring Brion Gysin. HAND SIGNED. Very rare.
#9 $1,225.00 The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses by Tom Doak
#10 $1,128.65 Signed L Ron Hubbard Scientology Book Autograph

#1
It Works
Narcotics Anonymous

BookThink turns up in the best places. In this case, BT appeared, along with a reference to the April Top 10, in seller-added information. Describing this copy of It Works as "in Perfect condition" and #1314 of the first edition red book. The only flaws are a sticker inside the front cover and a name. The US seller started the 5-day auction with 6 photos at $100. After 12 bids, it sold for $2,247.22.

#2
G.O.A.T.: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali

One of a limited edition of 10,000, this is a collector's edition copy signed by Muhammad Ali and Jeff Koons, the artist. A true heavyweight, the volume weighs 75 lbs and is bound in pink leather. Still in the opened original shipping box, the book is accompanied by a signed Koons' print. The 10-day auction with 5 photos started at $499.99, received 13 bids, and sold for $2,125.

#3
New Naturalist No 70: Orkney
R.J. Berry

The UK seller attracted 29 bids with a "mint condition, except for very slightest foxing to page tops" copy of New Naturalist No 70: Orkney. The 1985 hardcover is a first edition. Listed in a 10-day auction with 1 photo, the book started a GBP 100.00 and sold for $1,906.85. Questions included height (related to 1st or 2nd state) and condition of the dust jacket.

#4
Autocourse: The Review of International Motor Sport 1965

Selling for $1,599.47 on 14 bids, the 1965 Autocourse was listed in a 10-day auction by a UK seller. The starting bid was GBP 99.99 for the hardcover book in a dust jacket. Condition is described in detail, from the small tears and scuffing to a small blemish.

#5
Travels in Brazil
Henry Koster

Moving back in time, the 1816 book is an ex-library first edition with rubbing, some foxing, and a replaced spine. The UK seller calls it, "a good, ex-library copy" and showed it in 12 photos. The color plates are "fine aquatints." After a 7-day auction with 10 bids, the price went from GBP 99.99 to $1,510.93.

#6
It Works
Narcotics Anonymous

"All I can say is WOW," wrote the US seller in the auction of a first edition red copy of It Works, numbered 2604. Flaws include wear along with some writing and highlighting. In the 7-day auction with 9 photos, 10 bids were received, taking it from the opening bid of $9.99 to a selling price of $1,476.50.

#7
This Very Place: The Lotus Paradise

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

A first edition photobiography of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, this is #450 of 1500. The US seller described the book as in good condition and the dust jacket in fair condition. Listed in a 7-day auction with 1 photo and links to 5 others, the auction started at $1200, received 2 bids, and sold for $1,325.

#8
Fault Lines
Brion Gysin and Keith Haring

It took close peering past drawings of naked bodies to decipher the title in a photo. Somehow, the UK seller didn't mention it. Are we just supposed to know? The seller did mention it is #106 of 200 and was hand signed by both Gysin and Haring. This is unusual because Gysin's name was usually hand-stamped after his death. Described as in mint condition, the book sold as a BIN for $1,256.08.

#9
The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses
Tom Doak

A minimalist auction, this 10-day listing by a US seller attracted 31 bids, taking it from a $49.99 starting price to the $1,225 selling price. In this case, minimalist means title, author, publisher, date, number of pages, and a 25-word condition statement. The summary would be used, hardcover, very good, clean. One photo accompanied the auction.

#10
Scientology 8-8008
L. Ron Hubbard

Hubbard's 1956 signed hardcover, 3d edition also was signed by a second person, identified in added information as M. Nicholls. The UK seller describes it as "in very good condition for its age" with the original dust jacket. The auction started at GBP 9.99, received 42 bids, and the book sold for $1,128.65.

By the Numbers

13 of the sellers were from the UK
7 of the sellers were from the USA
1 seller sold 2 books
18 books were published during or after 1950
2 were published before 1950
1 book was listed for 5 days
9 books were listed for 7 days
9 books were listed for 10 days
1 sold as BIN
1 - 52 is the range of bids
0 were private auctions
Seller feedback ranged from 0 - 22622
13 sellers had 100% positive feedback
Feedback ranged from 99.6% - 100% for sellers with feedback
2 sellers had no feedback; both were charity auctions
The oldest book was published in 1816

Questions or comments?
Contact the editor, Craig Stark
editor@bookthink.com

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