The Most Collectable Books GUIDE (Repost)

Here is an attempt to list some of the more collectable titles currently circulating.

These are books that are guaranteed to bring big money depending on the edition and seem to hold their value throughout the years.

Abebooks has a reasonably comprehensive list of such titles however I would argue the value of some of the books listed by them.

Ulysses:

This book is a classic, infamously known as the 'hardest novel to read' in popular literature. Early prints from third edition to first can hold high values with the true first editions selling for thousands.

The Origin of Species

Darwin's most renowned text changed human views for ever from when it was published, back in 1859. Even editions published in the 1920's can hold some value with earlier copies rising in value incrementally. The standard green art deco covered Sixth Edition from 1900 onward sells well for a minimum of £50 whilst pre 1880 copies are guaranteed to make hundreds or many thousands if a second or first edition.

The Hobbit

This novel is one of the most acclaimed children's stories. Although the original audience was the child, some adults may now struggle with the tale of adventure and dragons. Hardback editions dating from 1970-1975 can fetch up to £75 whilst every year earlier adds another few pounds to the value.

The 1966 edition with dust jacket can sell for £100 if in nice condition, the 1957 edition with dust jacket can reach £200 quite easily and so forth up to the 1937 first edition which reaches £7,000 in some cases.

Even 1980's hardbacks can sell well and the vintage paperbacks too - look out for the 1961 Puffin paperback which can be worth over £50 if in very good condition

Andersen's Fairy Tales

A real classic - one of the most notorious writers of short children's tales.

Illustrated editions tend to sell well, especially if dated prior to 1900. 1890's editions with colour illustrations can reach over £40 whilst certain editions such as the 1913 Heath Robinson illustrated edition can reach over £3,000.
A variety of illustrators have dabbled with Andersen's tales including Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackham and Harry Rountree.

Mrs Beeton's Cookery Books

Mrs Beeton is the biggest name in vintage cookery books with a huge range of editions running from 1865.

Nice 1900-1920 copies can hold over £10 whilst the earlier pre 1900 copies often manage £30 to £40.

The larger Household Management books and the First Edition Cookery Books can reach over £100.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

No book of recent times is so collected as the Philosopher's Stone.
Two publishers of fame printed this book - the first being Bloomsbury and the second being Ted Smart. Ted Smart cam a year after Bloomsbury so a first edition/ first impression ted smart can only reach a few hundred pounds whilst a Bloomsbury first edition/ impression rarely sells for less that £800. Hardbacks are rarer too and sell for higher fees. Needless to say signed copies can once more set the price soaring higher.

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Lews Carroll's most famous story and perhaps the most famous child's tale in the world is immensely collectable with in excess of one hundred different editions available to the collector.

Look out for pre 1930's editions as they tend to sell well. With colour plates by famous illustrator's such as Arthur Rackham, copies can quite easily reach £100 whilst the red and gilt backed pre 1900 editions can reach thousands if in true first edition form.

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayim

This classic poem, written many hundreds of year ago some believe, is rather collectable and has many diffeent editions available to buy. Some early illustrated editions (Edmund Dulac once more) sell for at least £100 whilst the rarest will easily sell for thousands.

The Highfield Mole

This low circulation children's story written by Roderick Gordon and Bryan Williams is a nice one to look out for although far less colecetable than Abebooks state. A signed first edition paperback can sell for £50 upwards whilst the hardback can easily treble that.

For Whom The Bell Tolls

This Ernest Hemingway classic is alleged to be one of the most collectible of his works. Even fifth impression can sell for a few pounds whilst first editions with dust jacket can reach hundreds but sometimes fall at the £30 mark.

1984/ Animal Farm

These two most celebrated works of \George Orwell sell very well in first edition form. Secker and Warburg early editions rarely drop below £10 whilst a true first for either books often reaches £300 in excellent condition.

Jules Verne's Works

This French author's most famous works sell well, especially with decorative covers or illustrated plaes. Pre 1920's copies usually reach £10 at least whilst 1880's or earlier copies can inevitably rise above £100 if particularly nice or rare.

Narnia

Books set in C.S Lewis's fictional world of Narnia are increasingly collectable, outselling Tolkien's Middle Earth series according to Abebooks.

Early imprints of his most famous books especially The Lion, he Witch and the Wardrobe can sell between £10 and £30 whilst first editions with dust jacket sell for low hundreds. Sets are worth looking out for.

Ian Fleming's James Bond

Look out for Jonathan Cape editions - these are the true first editions of this world famous spy series. Book Club editions published a year after the original firsts are still collectable, generally reach ing between £5 and £25 with dust jackets.
The Jonathan Cape first editions however, with D/J's can attain up to £300 for the particularly valuable Casino Royale.

Peter Pan

J.M Barrie's famous tale has captivated many children the world over and many collectors too. Early editions feature gilt decoration on the covers and lovely colour illustrations by famous illustrators. One first edition sold recently for far more than pocket money - £320 to be precise.