Comments on: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 1st edition sells for $29,875 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 23:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Nadreck http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063426 Nadreck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063426 Dust jackets are one thing but the thing that really can inflate the price of a book is an "associative" inscription by the author. For example, I'm peddling a 1st edition of Lawrence of Arabia's memoirs and I'll get a nice chunk of change for it. However, if the front page was signed "To my good friend Winston Churchill - T. E. Lawrence".... Dust jackets are one thing but the thing that really can inflate the price of a book is an “associative” inscription by the author. For example, I’m peddling a 1st edition of Lawrence of Arabia’s memoirs and I’ll get a nice chunk of change for it. However, if the front page was signed “To my good friend Winston Churchill – T. E. Lawrence”….

]]> By: SonOfSamSeaborn http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063430 SonOfSamSeaborn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063430 Riddikulus! Riddikulus!

]]> By: kibbee http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063447 kibbee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063447 I was watching one of those auction reality TV shows, and a first printing of "The Great Gatsby", without the jacket, went for $2000. Apparently with the jacket it would have been worth $200,000. What I realized from watching this show is that it all depends on who's bidding on any particular day. Sometimes, things that are appraised at $10,000 go for only a few hundred, because they have nobody who is interested in the product on that day. Other items go for much more than they are worth, simply because there's 3 or 4 very interested buyers. I for one can't see the logic in paying so much money for something you can go pick up a copy of for $10 at the local bookstore. Sure you can't get a first edition, but you can get a reprint, complete with all the fixed spelling mistakes. It really goes to show just how much money some people have when they will spend $30,000 on a book. Many of us will never buy a $30,000 item in our lives. Many more will never buy something so expensive if you don't count houses. I was watching one of those auction reality TV shows, and a first printing of “The Great Gatsby”, without the jacket, went for $2000. Apparently with the jacket it would have been worth $200,000. What I realized from watching this show is that it all depends on who’s bidding on any particular day. Sometimes, things that are appraised at $10,000 go for only a few hundred, because they have nobody who is interested in the product on that day. Other items go for much more than they are worth, simply because there’s 3 or 4 very interested buyers. I for one can’t see the logic in paying so much money for something you can go pick up a copy of for $10 at the local bookstore. Sure you can’t get a first edition, but you can get a reprint, complete with all the fixed spelling mistakes. It really goes to show just how much money some people have when they will spend $30,000 on a book. Many of us will never buy a $30,000 item in our lives. Many more will never buy something so expensive if you don’t count houses.

]]> By: JonStewartMill http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063464 JonStewartMill Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063464 Sounds like the old joke about a guy who wanted to drive his bibliophile friend nuts, so he told him that he had recently disposed of a Bible printed by a J. Gutenberg." You wouldn't have wanted it, though. Some guy named Martin Luther had scribbled in all the margins." Sounds like the old joke about a guy who wanted to drive his bibliophile friend nuts, so he told him that he had recently disposed of a Bible printed by a J. Gutenberg.” You wouldn’t have wanted it, though. Some guy named Martin Luther had scribbled in all the margins.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063473 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063473 My parents used to own a bookstore. At one time, an Advance Reader's Copy of Harry Potter 1 was in our possession. But as was my mother's custom, she gave review copies of YA books to Ann T. from Sunday School. Ann T. claims that she doesn't know what happened to the review copy after my mom gave it to her. Ann T. is currently driving a Mercedes. My parents used to own a bookstore. At one time, an Advance Reader’s Copy of Harry Potter 1 was in our possession. But as was my mother’s custom, she gave review copies of YA books to Ann T. from Sunday School.

Ann T. claims that she doesn’t know what happened to the review copy after my mom gave it to her. Ann T. is currently driving a Mercedes.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1067058 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1067058 500 copies is considered rare but not at this moment 500 copies is considered rare but not at this moment

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063736 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063736 With the advent of ebooks, I wonder if we aren't entering an era where print books will be primarily decorative. I can imagine wanting to have a bookshelf that is only filled with a smattering of my favorite books. So much the better if they are first editions. With the advent of ebooks, I wonder if we aren’t entering an era where print books will be primarily decorative. I can imagine wanting to have a bookshelf that is only filled with a smattering of my favorite books. So much the better if they are first editions.

]]> By: solar77 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063747 solar77 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063747 Rarity is half the equation. The other half is obviously demand. There is no demand for the resale of a boinboing comment, therefore they have no monetary worth. There is a ton of demand for this book, hence the price. Rarity is half the equation. The other half is obviously demand. There is no demand for the resale of a boinboing comment, therefore they have no monetary worth. There is a ton of demand for this book, hence the price.

]]> By: arikol http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1065057 arikol Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1065057 I always find this attitude hilarious. Making some arbitrary divide between craft and art. By the same reasoning it is VERY easy to say (and support the statement) that Vonnegut didn't create art, neither did Tolkien nor Tolstoy. I find Tolkien to be a rather mediocre writer in many respects (feelings, relationships, male/female relationships, stilted dialogue, bad pacing) yet I enjoy his work AND consider an expression as artistic as any other. Rowling's writing is not as amazingly fluid as some others, her dialogue is not very smooth (especially in the first books) and her interpretation of male feelings (well, just feelings in general) is weak. What Rowling manages to do, however, is to let the reader get completely absorbed in the fantasy of the story and imagine themselves within the story. Can you really get more artistic than letting the viewer of your art get lost in your art for the short time he or she spends on it? I always find this attitude hilarious. Making some arbitrary divide between craft and art.
By the same reasoning it is VERY easy to say (and support the statement) that Vonnegut didn’t create art, neither did Tolkien nor Tolstoy.
I find Tolkien to be a rather mediocre writer in many respects (feelings, relationships, male/female relationships, stilted dialogue, bad pacing) yet I enjoy his work AND consider an expression as artistic as any other.

Rowling’s writing is not as amazingly fluid as some others, her dialogue is not very smooth (especially in the first books) and her interpretation of male feelings (well, just feelings in general) is weak.
What Rowling manages to do, however, is to let the reader get completely absorbed in the fantasy of the story and imagine themselves within the story.
Can you really get more artistic than letting the viewer of your art get lost in your art for the short time he or she spends on it?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063548 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063548 That's a pretty good price. By way of comparison, a good first edition of The Hobbit usually lists for at least as much, and there were 1,500 of those printed. This Harry Potter edition is probably at least as rare as a surviving copy of The Hobbit, and is probably just as desirable. (A first ed signed by Tolkien is quite a lot more valuable, as there were no book tours in those days so very few were inscribed). If those prices seem crazy, then think of these books as works of art. A limited edition print - the first made by an artist who has subsequently become world famous - would be similarly valuable. An original print by Ansel Adams can sell for upwards of $50,000 for example. That’s a pretty good price.

By way of comparison, a good first edition of The Hobbit usually lists for at least as much, and there were 1,500 of those printed. This Harry Potter edition is probably at least as rare as a surviving copy of The Hobbit, and is probably just as desirable. (A first ed signed by Tolkien is quite a lot more valuable, as there were no book tours in those days so very few were inscribed).

If those prices seem crazy, then think of these books as works of art. A limited edition print – the first made by an artist who has subsequently become world famous – would be similarly valuable. An original print by Ansel Adams can sell for upwards of $50,000 for example.

]]> By: Camp Freddie http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063804 Camp Freddie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063804 I wonder what the 1st Edition Kindle version sells for? Oh, wait... I wonder what the 1st Edition Kindle version sells for?

Oh, wait…

]]> By: burritoflats http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063297 burritoflats Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063297 MArk, I don't think "rare" has anything to do with the final auction price of this book. The worth of an item like this is mostly driven by a kind of instrinsic "star quality" and how much somebody wants and will pay for it. Thousands (10s of thousands!) of rare books remain unpurchased on eBay because frankly no one wants them enough to pay for them MArk, I don’t think “rare” has anything to do with the final auction price of this book. The worth of an item like this is mostly driven by a kind of instrinsic “star quality” and how much somebody wants and will pay for it. Thousands (10s of thousands!) of rare books remain unpurchased on eBay because frankly no one wants them enough to pay for them

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063298 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063298 The Heritage page says that only 500 copies of the first edition were published, so yeah, it's kind of rare. The Heritage page says that only 500 copies of the first edition were published, so yeah, it’s kind of rare.

]]> By: AndyBooth http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063299 AndyBooth Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063299 Book values are funny things. This is likely inflated with the expectation of future rarity. We have a first edition of Casino Royale at home. A few years back, before the film came out, we dug it out with the hope of selling it, only to find that the dust jacket had disappeared. Without it the value of the book was decimated. We kept it, and hope to find the dust jacket some day, although I doubt the book is worth the €75,000 we were quoted at the time... Book values are funny things. This is likely inflated with the expectation of future rarity. We have a first edition of Casino Royale at home. A few years back, before the film came out, we dug it out with the hope of selling it, only to find that the dust jacket had disappeared. Without it the value of the book was decimated. We kept it, and hope to find the dust jacket some day, although I doubt the book is worth the €75,000 we were quoted at the time…

]]> By: millrick http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063303 millrick Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063303 only 500 copies were printed in the first press run, but still seems excessive to my unknowledgeable eyes wonder how much i could get for my first Canadian edition with torn dust jacket and a minimum of peanut butter stains? only 500 copies were printed in the first press run, but still seems excessive to my unknowledgeable eyes

wonder how much i could get for my first Canadian edition with torn dust jacket and a minimum of peanut butter stains?

]]> By: morkl http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063304 morkl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063304 Well, the description does say: "General consensus is that Bloomsbury released about 500 copies of the hardcover in the first printing, most of which went to libraries and schools." I guess that could be called "rare", considering the current popularity of the franchise. Well, the description does say: “General consensus is that Bloomsbury released about 500 copies of the hardcover in the first printing, most of which went to libraries and schools.”

I guess that could be called “rare”, considering the current popularity of the franchise.

]]> By: John Napsterista http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063306 John Napsterista Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063306 This appears to be the first U.K. edition. You can buy a first U.S. edition over at amazon for a mere $2,450.00 (+ $3.99 shipping). This appears to be the first U.K. edition. You can buy a first U.S. edition over at amazon for a mere $2,450.00 (+ $3.99 shipping).

]]> By: xavier http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1068689 xavier Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1068689 How to tell if you Harry Potter's and the Philosopher's Stone it's a first edition: http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/blog/2010/11/is-my-harry-potter-book-valuable-2/ How to tell if you Harry Potter’s and the Philosopher’s Stone it’s a first edition: http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/blog/2010/11/is-my-harry-potter-book-valuable-2/

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063314 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063314 "General consensus is that Bloomsbury released about 500 copies of the hardcover in the first printing, most of which went to libraries and schools." Most of which will have had rather heavy use since then; hence the rarity. This post at the excellent "The Cataloguer's Desk" explains more about why the first print run is so valuable, and how to spot them: http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/blog/2010/11/is-my-harry-potter-book-valuable-2/ “General consensus is that Bloomsbury released about 500 copies of the hardcover in the first printing, most of which went to libraries and schools.”

Most of which will have had rather heavy use since then; hence the rarity. This post at the excellent “The Cataloguer’s Desk” explains more about why the first print run is so valuable, and how to spot them:

http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/blog/2010/11/is-my-harry-potter-book-valuable-2/

]]> By: DaveP http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063570 DaveP Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063570 just write it in there. you owe it to yourself. just write it in there. you owe it to yourself.

]]> By: Hanglyman http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063318 Hanglyman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063318 Ah, yes. The rare first edition, where Harry was run over by a train. I can see why Rowling decided to revise it. Ah, yes. The rare first edition, where Harry was run over by a train. I can see why Rowling decided to revise it.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063319 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063319 The one available manuscript copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard went for $3.98 million in 2007. Not only is this HP:PS a run of 500, but most of those went to libraries and have the sort of markings/damages associated with that, whereas this is a clean copy. The one available manuscript copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard went for $3.98 million in 2007. Not only is this HP:PS a run of 500, but most of those went to libraries and have the sort of markings/damages associated with that, whereas this is a clean copy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063320 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063320 The fact that most of this very small run (500) went to libraries and schools will mean they were marked and labeled by those institutions while this one remains nearly pristine is why it's so rare. The fact that most of this very small run (500) went to libraries and schools will mean they were marked and labeled by those institutions while this one remains nearly pristine is why it’s so rare.

]]> By: burritoflats http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063325 burritoflats Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063325 I still find it fascinating that quite a few of my grown up (ie; adult) friends have read not only one, but multiple books in the Potter series - even some of my men friends, which I find rather incredible. I'm not a reader of fiction, so have no interest in cracking open any Harry Potter in the near future. Have also only seen the first film and found it more geared toward children than mature adults. I will however keep an eye open at used books shops for this particular first edition I still find it fascinating that quite a few of my grown up (ie; adult) friends have read not only one, but multiple books in the Potter series – even some of my men friends, which I find rather incredible. I’m not a reader of fiction, so have no interest in cracking open any Harry Potter in the near future. Have also only seen the first film and found it more geared toward children than mature adults. I will however keep an eye open at used books shops for this particular first edition

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063341 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063341 I am one of those male 30+ people who has read each of those books at least twice. I loathe the films and read very little fantasy or sci-fi. I read the first on the recommendation of my 63yo mother- who also turned me on to Salinger, Vonnegut and Carver, not to mention Bergman and Truffault. I feel strongly that if you took all the magic and monsters out of the series I would still find them gripping. I've never found another young adult series that so perfectly captured what it felt like to be young, and that's what hooked me and kept me coming back. Long after the movies fade away and the hype wears off, those 7 books will still be true classics of children's lit. I am one of those male 30+ people who has read each of those books at least twice. I loathe the films and read very little fantasy or sci-fi. I read the first on the recommendation of my 63yo mother- who also turned me on to Salinger, Vonnegut and Carver, not to mention Bergman and Truffault.

I feel strongly that if you took all the magic and monsters out of the series I would still find them gripping. I’ve never found another young adult series that so perfectly captured what it felt like to be young, and that’s what hooked me and kept me coming back.

Long after the movies fade away and the hype wears off, those 7 books will still be true classics of children’s lit.

]]> By: scopeyPDX http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063342 scopeyPDX Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063342 Someone had the other six in the series, British first editions, and was going to pay whatever it took. I'd bet this book will land in front of J.K. Rowling in the next couple of months, with request "Just signature, no date, no personalization." Book collectors are nuts. Someone had the other six in the series, British first editions, and was going to pay whatever it took. I’d bet this book will land in front of J.K. Rowling in the next couple of months, with request “Just signature, no date, no personalization.”

Book collectors are nuts.

]]> By: PeerB http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063350 PeerB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063350 How can it be a first edition with that quote on the cover? How can it be a first edition with that quote on the cover?

]]> By: lux_aurumque http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063351 lux_aurumque Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063351 Yup, it is that rare. The 500 first print run was: 1) divided between paperback and hardback and 2) distributed to libraries and schools to promote the book. That's a darn near perfect storm for the rare book world. A pristine 1st ed (1st ptg) children's book that doesn't have any library markings and is hardcover in its original binding? Not. Very. Many. Looking on abe.com.... The top priced Harry Potter book is $54,588.33...but of course ABE isn't an auction house, it's just an outright sales outlet. Yup, it is that rare. The 500 first print run was:
1) divided between paperback and hardback and
2) distributed to libraries and schools to promote the book.

That’s a darn near perfect storm for the rare book world. A pristine 1st ed (1st ptg) children’s book that doesn’t have any library markings and is hardcover in its original binding? Not. Very. Many.

Looking on abe.com….
The top priced Harry Potter book is $54,588.33…but of course ABE isn’t an auction house, it’s just an outright sales outlet.

]]> By: lux_aurumque http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063359 lux_aurumque Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063359 @PeerB The first print run was used in the libraries and schools as a promotion for the book. Bloomsbury never thought it would do that well and so issued it in a small print run with as much promotion as possible. Wendy Cooling's stamp-of-approval was added to try and entice people into giving the story a chance. @PeerB The first print run was used in the libraries and schools as a promotion for the book. Bloomsbury never thought it would do that well and so issued it in a small print run with as much promotion as possible. Wendy Cooling’s stamp-of-approval was added to try and entice people into giving the story a chance.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/22/harry-potter-and-the-2.html#comment-1063362 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063362 I recall wondering whether to tell the librarians at the local public library that the copy of "The Big Kerplop" by Bertrand Brinley that they had sitting on the shelf was probably worth a few hundred dollars.* I decided not to do so. *It's been reprinted since, so not worth nearly as much now. I recall wondering whether to tell the librarians at the local public library that the copy of “The Big Kerplop” by Bertrand Brinley that they had sitting on the shelf was probably worth a few hundred dollars.* I decided not to do so.

*It’s been reprinted since, so not worth nearly as much now.

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