tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21648932.post5012805060563576127..comments2023-12-20T10:23:43.539-08:00Comments on Nancy Drew Sleuth: Is this Nancy Drew book Rare? Sleuthing at eBay #17Jenn Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009283572472491086noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21648932.post-27450398889546552912011-10-26T12:29:49.308-07:002011-10-26T12:29:49.308-07:00JR--Yes I agree, Lilac Inn does show up fairly oft...JR--Yes I agree, Lilac Inn does show up fairly often, though sometimes it's because the same sellers keep relisting their copies, they aren't selling for their prices. 2nd art Hollow Oak wrap dj is very hard to find in comparison.Jenn Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04009283572472491086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21648932.post-4589767489147704942011-10-26T11:34:49.916-07:002011-10-26T11:34:49.916-07:00I like having anomolies---I admit, I sought out so...I like having anomolies---I admit, I sought out some interesting printings of Nancy Drew, and when I found some cheap, early (possibles firsts) of the Danas from their wartime years, I bought them. I bought some early NDs at a somewhat knowledgable bookseller in Nebraska and ended up with two first printings and a second printing for a great price. I was hoodwinked back when eBay was new and remembered those professional series book dealers telling me how hard to find some of these books are. I think 1961 Lilac Inn and Fire Dragon both must have had HUGE print runs. They are NOT hard to find. (I think FG has them overpriced).KsMadMan (Junior)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21648932.post-73700490439607219402011-03-07T18:31:58.887-08:002011-03-07T18:31:58.887-08:00I saw the exact same listing at Ebay myself, Jenn!...I saw the exact same listing at Ebay myself, Jenn! Laughable? You bet! Had to do a double-take.<br />:)<br />RichAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21648932.post-21159440792676769392011-01-11T08:28:54.639-08:002011-01-11T08:28:54.639-08:00The store in this photo has so many "rare boo...The store in this photo has so many "rare books" that it bought a neon sign to announce it to evening passers by.<br /><br /><a href="http://bookshelfporn.com/#/post/2696123771" rel="nofollow">Rare Books Neon Sign</a><br /><br />Jameskeelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16006640946874012637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21648932.post-1142685524832770082011-01-10T08:08:07.678-08:002011-01-10T08:08:07.678-08:00Standard Webster definitions of "rare" a...Standard Webster definitions of "rare" and "scarce" do not address the nuance of how these terms are used in the book trade.<br /><br />One excellent resource is John Carter's ABC for Book Collectors (Oak Knoll Press) which is currently in its 8th edition. This book is available as a free PDF from the ILAB web site.<br /><br />http://www.ilab.org/download.php?object=documentation&id=29<br /><br />I highly recommend this book. No matter how many times one looks at this, there's always something new to learn from it.<br /><br />During my time as the manager of an antiquarian bookstore specializing in children's books like these series (1988-2000) we had occasion to speak with many dozens of booksellers about this topic. What is a "rare" book and what is merely "scarce". It is not merely a case of degree.<br /><br />A "scarce" book is one where there is a greater demand than the available supply in collectible condition. Hence, if a book is common but always seen in "good" or worse condition, those lesser copies may not inspire demand though a "very good" or better copy, especially with a dust jacket, may indeed be in demand. Ratios of supply and demand can push a perceived value for a book up.<br /><br />A "rare" book is one very seldomly seen. To qualify, several sellers said that it would be a book that a full-time dealer that specializes in that field of the book in question might see once in a lifetime career in the business. A scarce book might be seen once a year or more by that seller.<br /><br />Of course, eBay changes the dynamics of things and many items that were exceedingly scarce before eBay show up with regularity. Part of this is timing and another part is a factor of a high-priced item attracting other similar copies to be sold.<br /><br />For example, I have an 1870 Raven, supposedly the first separate edition of this poem. I paid a low 3-figure sum for it, perhaps even less. However, when I saw a copy offered in the mid 4-figures last February, I have to ask myself, how much do I want that book vs. the income it might realize, especially when finances are tight.<br /><br />Books can become more common as the people who remember and held them either pass on or move into smaller places. With children's books it is often people of a certain age group who are interested in a given book because it is remembered from their childhoods. Only when a book or author transcends this time frame to have demand well after the period when the books would normally be remembered.<br /><br />Jameskeelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16006640946874012637noreply@blogger.com