posted
The other day I decided that it was time for me to reread David Brin's The Postman, and dug my copy out of the box it'd been sitting in ever since I moved a year or so ago. Looking at the cover, I was surprised to notice that what I'd assumed was just an old trade paperback had the words
quote: Advance Reading Copy Hardcover Publication Novermber 1985 Not For Sale
on the front cover.
Is this worth anything? I bought it from a used bookstore or a library book sale or something back in the very late 80s or early 90s. It isn't in wonderful shape--the corners of the cover are slightly dog eared, and it looks like something, at some point, pressed against the center of the front cover hard enough to begin to tear it. Also, the pages are a bit yellowed with age. The binding is in good shape, though.
Anybody have any idea whether this is worth anything more than the 2 dollars or so I probably paid for it?
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with the owner of the local used place. He does book appraisals on the side, and I wanted some pricing info. Unfortunately, he’s $50/hour even if you bat your eyes at him. He told me that in general, it’s good to approximate it from what other dealers are listing it as on abe.
Looking up your book, $15-20 seems to be the going price for a little wear and closer to $50 for a fine condition one, even without the author’s signature.
Posts: 318 | Registered: Apr 2002
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An advanced proof copy of the original Ender's Game would be worth an extroardinary amount, due to the amount of people willing to pay such a high price for it.
An advanced proof copy of Spot Goes to School (if one even exists), would probably not be worth so much.
But since you've piqued my curiosity, I'm gonna try and see if there are other advanced proofs of this book selling, and for how much.
Posts: 1934 | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Calvin, that's so true. I can only assume there is a huge demand for the uncorrected proofs of Hart's Hope.
Posts: 318 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I usually check abebooks.com. Their search engine allows you to search by editions and hardback/paperback so it is a good way to gauge demand.
Posts: 1592 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Yeah, I've looked there, but I didn't see anything that was exactly like what I've got. Since my copy is an advance reading copy, it almost certainly had a very limited print run, which would increase its value somewhat.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
not that this is any help to you but I really enjoyed that book. Been thinking about rereading for some time now too. But there are alot of books above it in the Queue at the moment. Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
It is a good one, isn't it Strider? I'm always a sucker for a good "Humanity pulling itself up out of the ashes" type story, and Brin's is better than most.
PTB--really? On Abebooks.com? I must be doing something wrong in my search. How are you specifying that it's an advance reading copy in your search?
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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While you're at abe's check out Dara Horn's "In the Image." It is her first novel, and a signed first edition hard cover can be bought for $26!
"Richly imagined ... Leora never loses her tourist's eye, and her slightly skewed point of view gives In the Image both its poignancy and its wonderfully deadpan humor ... [An] intricate web of miracles, coincidences and accidents of fate." - New York Times
Posts: 1592 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Dropping the 'd' yeilds 18 copies for me. Apparently the signed version runs for $75. Didn't think to do that until after I'd already messaged you, though. Not that it matters since I think you'd have mentioned if it were signed.
Posts: 318 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Yeah, it's not signed. The short answer to my question is "Nope, not much". I'd thought about buying a new copy to read, and leaving this one on the shelf, but when I'd only get about $15 out of it I don't really see the point.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
interesting. i saw the movie before the book, and it's what got me interested. I liked the movie. But i liked the book a lot better. and it's probably a good thing i saw the movie first, or i probably would've been mad.
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