posted on September 13, 2000 09:27:08 AM
OK here's the situation. I have a bazillion books (for personal use) that I get from used book shops, libraries, etc. Some I sell if I think they look saleable. Some I keep. I don't keep anything just because it is collectible. I prefer to have books I can read, rumple, and dog-ear.
This week, I put up an auction for one of the books. It is a hardback science fiction book from the 60s. I do love the book, but I recently found a paperback edition and I don't want to keep 2 books around. I figured the hardback would go for more. I don't know diddley-squat about collectible books---didn't even know I had one----and put the hardback up for 9.00.
Well----I started getting emails from people asking all these questions about the book. Very detailed questions. Such as markings on certain pages. After the 5th email I got curious and went looking on Bibliofind (which I had never been to before.)
Can you say jaw dropping shock. The book I have is a first edition (according to these cryptic markings on the pages). I did know that but I figured it was no big deal since i see here in AW that the whole "first edition" thing has so many variations. As it turns out, a first edition of this book, in better condition than mine, is being advertised for 900 dollars. Other first editions of the same book in a variety of conditions range from 200 to 700 dollars.
I am confused. Right now, the book is at 10.50. Ends this sunday. I did list it as a first edition, author's name, and part of the title, but I didn't do anything special in the listing. Should I pull it and start over with a reserve? I already know I won't get the big bucks for it (dustjacket is torn up although book itself is in good condition) but I am unemployed and even a hundred dollars would be a godsend right now. Can someone advise me?
posted on September 13, 2000 09:55:58 AM
I can tell you from experience that you probably won't get anywhere near the price you find a book listed for on bibliofind or any of the other online book searches. I had a book that was listed for $350 on addall.com - it went for $20.50 on eBay.
If you don't have a lot invested in the book, I'd just let it go. There's plenty of time left... in the past few months I've gotten very few bids before the last day of an auction.
You could go in and add to your description, including the information about the special markings and anything else that people have been emailing you about.
I wish you the best of luck!!! I'd love to watch how the auction goes, would you email me the item number? [email protected]
posted on September 13, 2000 09:56:43 AM
I will defer to abacaxi who is a real pro with these types of questions.
However, I will mention that I NEVER list anything that I am not already very familiar with, without checking to see what http://www.addall.com/used and http://www.bookfinder.com have to say about the book.
If there are specific questions in alla those emails, I would use the ADD TO YOUR AUCTION DESCRIPTION, and give the additional info.
Also, I advise you to take your dilema to the EBAY BOOK BOARD, as there are a number of professional bookdealers who hang out there, who will be delighted to have the opportunity to answer queries about what sunds to be a genuinely RARE book.
posted on September 13, 2000 12:36:19 PM
this is my first auction for a first edition/collectible type book and boy am I learning. Radh I will never do this again without checking those sites first--I've had a crash course from my potential bidders! total of 10 email inquiries now and the book is up to 40 dollars. Real nice people all of them. I have learned a lot from their explaining why they were asking certain questions. I also checked the book board on eBay and got more good advice there. For what it's worth, I am going to let the auction run and let the market decide. But I changed the category and I added a large description. So now we'll see. If anyone wants to take a look at my goofy description (Hey, I sell vintage clothes and sewing stuff, not collectible books, remember!I don't know the lingo from a hole in the ground!) or has any suggestions, here's the auction #---435003113.
posted on September 13, 2000 01:33:05 PMbrighid868 ~ Since you are getting lots of inquires from people who seem to know exactly what they are looking for you really don't have to worry about how you worded your description or which category you placed this book in.
Your auction will probably do very well. Putting a reasonable reserve on the book would have made you feel a little less anxious about this, but since this book is getting lots of attention I don't think you need to worry.
posted on September 13, 2000 02:03:50 PM
brighid868, how exciting to learn that you have a treasure! Good luck with the auction.
I've recently learned that some books go for more on eBay than they do on sites like bibliofind and abebooks. I unsuccessfully bid on two books on eBay which sold for $16 and $33 respectively, and I ended up finding them through abebooks (sold by different used book sellers) for $5 and $5.50.
Those two weren't rare or collectible, though, as far as I know, so I'm not comparing them to yours -- just noting something I thought was interesting.
I'll be interested to follow your auction and see how it ends up!
posted on September 13, 2000 03:36:25 PM
First editions on eBay rarely do anywhere near the high asking price on Addall or Bibliofind or any of the others. I wouldn't worry - with all those emails, your auction number and ending time is on an awful lot of post-it notes! The bidders will start showing up near the end. I recently listed a first edition Sci-Fi hardcover that went for $200-$300 on Addall. I started it at 49.99 with no reserve and got several emails asking me if I would close the auction down early and sell direct. Nope, I said. Sure enough, it closed at $110.00. I was happy! I got it in a huge lot of books, so one book selling for over $100 was just great. GOOD LUCK! I hope the book does super for you!
posted on September 13, 2000 03:46:22 PM
Yep, as others have stated, don't rely totally on what a book is worth on Bibliofind and what you get for it on eBay. I learned that awhile back.
Since you are getting tons of e-mails with questions, I bet right now your auction is on many bidder's watch feature. I think I will bookmark it and see how you do. Crossing my fingers for you to do well!
posted on September 13, 2000 03:48:57 PM
brighid868: I once sold a piece of china that I knew was highly collectable, and it ended at almost $95 --- and, I'll tellya what I did for the description - I specifically said that I was only familiar with selling & grading books, and then I described it with great detail, as though I were describing the item to a blind individual. I ended up saying that had the piece been a book, it would have merited a NearFine, cuzza alla the defects I'd mentioned, but that even under a magnifying glass there were NO cracks or crazing.
LOL - I could never ever list clothing and have NO idea what to say about it, unless it were a weird ol' antique.
posted on September 13, 2000 03:52:48 PM
This is the most sought after book of a highly collected author and a hugo winner. It would greatly surprise me it it fails to close for a very handsome price. (It's already at 41 with days to go, should show exciting closing minutes).
wait'll abacaxi stops by and learns that this is apparently a FIRST by Phillip K. Dick --- LOL, highly desireable in almost ANY condition, which only very very very werry few books can ever ever ever state.
posted on September 13, 2000 09:03:50 PM
brighid -
ADD to your description, including all those marks and things you have been asked about if they are actually present on the book. They are called "points of issue".
Then sit back and chew your nails until the last half hour, which is when all these people will probably bid. It could go for anywhere from 1/3 to 30 times the Addall listings. I bought a book on Addall for $75 when a substantially similar copy went for $1300+ on eBay. And the reverse can happen. But SF does better on eBay than most books.
If you stop the auction and try to guess about a reserve or opening bid, you will annoy those who have contacted you.
The bidders will start showing up near the end. I recently listed a first edition Sci-Fi hardcover that went for $200-$300 on Addall. I started it at 49.99 with no reserve and got several emails asking me if I would close the auction down early and sell direct. Nope, I said. Sure enough, it closed at $110.00. I was happy! I got it in a huge lot of books, so one book selling for over $100 was just great. GOOD LUCK! I hope the book does super for you!