Sample from sales rate chart accessible with free membership.
Our next chart looks at pricing by month and for the year. What was the average price for 2004? $2,965. The median price? $413. Why is the median price so much lower? The answer is those occasional million dollar items drive up the average price. The median, the midpoint or typical selling price, more accurately reflects what items are selling for. That's still a healthy price. I do not know what the typical price is on eBay, Abe, Amazon, or in the average store, but I'm quite sure it's nowhere near $413. You may well find some good bargains at the book auctions, but don't expect to find things that are cheap because they generally sell premium material. Most auction houses won't handle material not expected to bring some minimum price, or if they do, they will combine several books into a single lot until they think it will garner an acceptable bid. It just isn't worthwhile to spend the time on a cheap item. So if you are looking to find a thousand dollar book for $5, go to eBay or a yard sale. You probably won't, but it's theoretically possible. Look to the auctions for a $1,000 item that might slip by for $700, or look to the auctions to find a $1,000 item for $1,000 when others want $1,500. Auctions are the place to find fair value when others want more.
Again, if you click "2004 Auction Results" on the left sidebar (and you have signed up for a membership) you will have access to the detailed breakdown of these results, specifically, numbers by individual auction house. We have results both in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars for easier comparison. You will be able to see median and average prices at each auction house and into which price ranges most of their lots fall. It will give you a good heads up on what to expect at each house's auctions. If looking to sell, it will help you discern which is the appropriate auction. If your books are likely to be worth thousands of dollars each, they may be appropriate for houses like Sotheby's or Christie's. If more likely worth $100 or $200 each, they will not be of interest to these houses, but you will find many others who would undoubtedly welcome the opportunity to sell your collection.
For non members wishing to see these charts, sign up for a free membership now. Click here.
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RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing
Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing
Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing
Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
