|
This list has been updated as of March
2009 with 36 new auction listings since the last update of March
2008.
|
From Jan 2007 to March 2008 the high
auction price had been a surprising $129.50. This price has
since been surpassed by three auction sales of $355 [Dec 2008] and $191 [March 2009]
[both by an eBay seller (roga75)], and most recently $405 [by eBay
seller rebel_soldier]. Despite our best efforts to educate
buyers and sellers alike with this webpage and even direct contact
when possible -- it is clear that buyers are overpaying for a rather
common book based on the 1897 copyright date alone. Even when
we reach out and make an effort to contact sellers and advise them
that their book is a reprint, sadly there are always a few that
neglect to change their listings or ignore the attribution
information we provide. This leaves unsuspecting bidders
paying hundreds of dollars for a book that is worth $50 at best
without a dustjacket.
Apparently, bidders are enticed by the
cosmetic appearance of the photos -- no, the photos aren't touched
up -- but this seller's books are. My sense of curiosity
compelled me to inquire, to which the seller graciously responded
with the reply the the books are treated with a
"spray like varnish [that] helps to preserve
the cloth". It's nice to know that you can quadruple
the value of your book (or at least the selling price) with a little
enhancement. The average price would have fallen were it not
for these two "anomalies".
|
It is surprising to see the variation in
prices realized for the orange Dracula edition [issued by Grosset &
Dunlap in 1927 to coincide with the Broadway play starring Bela
Lugosi]. Undoubtedly, novice collectors and booksellers alike
are misled by the ubiquitous copyright date which tells nothing more
than when Bram Stoker originally obtained his copyright.
Online auction prices are perhaps one of
the best venues to observe how false advertising has its effects on
the final price obtained for what is in reality a 30th anniversary
edition.
Even though auction photographs all show
pictures of the same ubiquitous orange book, and despite the fact
that this Dracula edition is clearly from 1927. Unfortunately,
it is inaccurate seller auction listings persuading people they are
bidding on a first edition or a book from 1897 that drie the prices
higher, rather than the condition of the book. The result is
that some of the higher prices noted in the table below are for some
of the books in the worst condition.
Buyers are enticed to bid higher by
questionable and often inaccurate seller sales captions such as:
-
"Dracula 1897 By Bram Stoker -
Hardcover 100+ Years Old"
-
"1897 BRAM STOKER DRACULA GROSSET
DUNLAP FIRST EDITION?"
-
Scarce and Rare Collectible Dracula
by Bram Stoker
Ironically, the knowledgeable sellers who
provide accurate dating and correct attributions and truthful,
precise listings often get prices at or below the average, for
example:
-
c1920 Book 1897 *DRACULA-Country
Life Press-BRAM STOKER
-
Bram Stoker Dracula 1928 Grosset &
Dunlap
-
Count Dracula Bram Stoker Copyright
1897
-
Classic 1897 "Dracula" by Bram
Stoker (1927 Printing?)
The table below shows auction prices
realized on eBay for the orange Dracula Grosset & Dunlap edition in
2007 and 2008. This book appears regularly on eBay and often
multiple copies are available at the same time, as a result we have
not been able to track them all. So, keep in mind, that the
data below does not represent a complete list. All the books
below are hardcovers without a dustjacket -- whether original or
reproduction. This book is worth well over $100 in the
original dustjacket with prices climbing higher for better condition
examples.
|
Num |
eBay Buyer ID |
eBay Seller ID |
Auction |
Auction Date |
Photo |
Price |
Condition Notes |
|
1 |
s***r |
russellv5292 |
150451547802 |
6/10/2010 |
 |
$600.00 |
Even with attribution info to seller
which was posted in the eBay Q&A. |
|
2 |
o***s |
fraus101 |
220610724534 |
5/30/2010 |
|
$10.50 |
Writing on endpages. |
|
3 |
a***t |
johnrocket |
140409932674 |
5/28/2010 |
|
$22.00 |
"This book is dated 1897 but from
what I read this is a later reprint." |
|
4 |
a***n |
mike1123karen |
160421991797 |
4/16/2010 |
|
$48.76 |
As usual, mis-identified as an 1897
first edition. |
|
5 |
o***s |
roga75 |
150330139540 |
3/9/2009 |
|
$191.00 |
Seller used "spray like varnish
[that] helps to preserve the cloth" |
|
6 |
(none) |
pot_o_gold_web_auctions |
200315383861 |
3/7/2009 |
|
$24.95 |
Fraying top/bottom of spine.
Binding breaks front & 52-53 |
|
7 |
o***4 |
karenklucken |
290298883628 |
3/7/2009 |
|
$17.48 |
Some pulling of cloth at
the top of the spine |
|
8 |
s***6 |
tr8derphil |
200313098956 |
3/1/2009 |
|
$42.00 |
Very nice condition |
|
9 |
e***k |
rvgypsys |
350168251496 |
2/23/2009 |
|
$27.00 |
Heavy spine and corner wear |
|
10 |
e***a |
flycatcher1 |
310121521624 |
2/15/2009 |
|
$12.50 |
Backstrip torn
along gutters
& taped back |
|
11 |
d*** |
rtantiques |
350160760172 |
2/7/2009 |
|
$20.50 |
Light soiling to covers,
lt foxing, wormholes pp 335-354 |
|
12 |
i***a |
acw1800 |
330305240193 |
2/4/2009 |
|
$34.95 |
|
|
13 |
g***o |
waderose |
200305130442 |
2/5/2009 |
|
$34.77 |
|
|
14 |
l***d |
lynncody |
290291201035 |
1/29/2009 |
|
$43.00 |
Poor spine, nearly
separated from cloth |
|
15 |
6**r |
oboe824 |
130279522122 |
1/11/2009 |
|
$26.00 |
Spine torn at the top edge |
|
16 |
r***0 |
wrencollector |
280296735167 |
12/27/2009 |
|
$69.00 |
|
|
17 |
u***u |
lots_of_things13 |
320326693772 |
12/27/2009 |
|
$41.00 |
Heavy spine cloth damage;
listed as 1897 |
|
18 |
l***a |
roga75 |
150315295507 |
12/16/2008 |
|
$355.00 |
Seller did not note
1928 printing until end |
|
19 |
r***u |
madamvoe |
190268332765 |
11/27/2008 |
|
$49.99 |
Poor binding; spine gutters
worn through |
|
20 |
i***p |
trikesnbikes2 |
270303263425 |
11/19/2009 |
|
$150.00 |
|
|
21 |
jbastian42 |
blackswan.books |
270290114981 |
10/26/2008 |
|
$22.50 |
Spine cloth somewhat faded |
|
22 |
(Private) |
j.r.leigh |
360097763244 |
10/20/2008 |
|
$51.00 |
Cloth separated along spine gutters. |
|
23 |
princetn |
saj0006 |
120303542297 |
9/15/2008 |
|
$19.38 |
|
|
24 |
(none) |
dmbarr |
280262847355 |
9/9/2008 |
|
$49.95 |
|
|
25 |
jaxwookiee |
mth0728 |
110285435200 |
9/6/2008 |
|
$26.90 |
|
|
26 |
wild_billlove |
terriehydorn321 |
170244192790 |
8/2/2008 |
|
$80.00 |
Severe spine & side
edge wear exposing boards |
|
27 |
jtay5377 |
tooclassystuff |
270257709551 |
7/27/2008 |
|
$66.00 |
|
|
28 |
8877ryan |
talvo140 |
170240634448 |
7/23/2008 |
|
$96.00 |
|
|
29 |
(none) |
terriehydorn321 |
170236895585 |
7/13/2008 |
|
$50.00 |
Stains to rt half of board;
heavy edge-wear |
|
30 |
blancacaba |
elderlybooks802 |
320271855118 |
7/10/2008 |
|
$66.00 |
|
|
31 |
boisbenit |
barbarakamkor |
300237695341 |
7/6/2008 |
|
$162.50 |
Heavily waterstained;
very poor binding |
|
32 |
hellyfu |
drywallbybyers |
270243874286 |
6/12/2008 |
|
$68.00 |
|
|
33 |
patrrrick |
godis333 |
380029094305 |
5/25/2008 |
|
$22.50 |
|
|
34 |
ctbookhunter |
pmj1353 |
220234950507 |
5/18/2008 |
|
$50.00 |
|
|
35 |
mth0728 |
chicagoattic |
260235938944 |
5/7/2008 |
|
$35.75 |
|
|
36 |
mdolan001 |
paperboybob |
290225520124 |
5/1/2008 |
|
$31.61 |
|
|
37 |
tntaw |
123rah0 |
120252752631 |
4/27/2008 |
|
$15.81 |
|
|
38 |
oldmanbar |
prairierose29 |
220225735407 |
4/25/2008 |
|
$44.77 |
|
|
39 |
sobeit1975 |
tvenezi |
180232855576 |
4/19/2008 |
|
$75.00 |
|
|
40 |
wild.scrat |
rustichook |
380013568210 |
4/9/2008 |
|
$94.11 |
|
|
41 |
jkoellish |
garpat2001 |
360036545045 |
4/1/2008 |
|
$36.00 |
|
|
42 |
benhull403 |
bidzilla! |
190207857794 |
3/30/2008 |
|
$87.11 |
|
|
43 |
tyrannei_der_boesen_maenner |
sethsstuff |
350038354396 |
3/25/2008 |
|
$44.00 |
|
|
44 |
micki2much7rh8 |
zoeykastledorf |
330215181987 |
3/4/2008 |
|
$68.00 |
|
|
45 |
54midway54 |
metallimirk |
330216115954 |
3/8/2008 |
|
$103.50 |
|
|
46 |
scavengerf |
virginiasgirl |
130201417816 |
3/3/2008 |
|
$46.00 |
|
|
47 |
wsco5454 |
shezarebel |
110224668133 |
2/21/2008 |
|
$76.00 |
|
|
48 |
cula318 |
cam7381 |
130198181236 |
2/20/2008 |
|
$32.00 |
|
|
49 |
tyfaknee |
junkman_j |
120220397387 |
2/15/2008 |
|
$14.50 |
|
|
50 |
Private |
paper-werks |
350022919600 |
2/12/2008 |
|
$38.50 |
|
|
51 |
drm3784 |
leighah12 |
220199614931 |
2/9/2008 |
|
$71.00 |
|
|
52 |
hartnellera |
frogtown |
260204752721 |
1/28/2008 |
|
$26.00 |
|
|
53 |
seahag |
looking4us |
250207623832 |
1/25/2008 |
|
$76.88 |
|
|
54 |
jarodil |
oceanblues |
270202588673 |
1/17/2008 |
|
$15.50 |
|
|
55 |
briant232 |
hammeredonsilver |
220187149870 |
1/3/2008 |
|
$81.00 |
|
|
56 |
floydewhite1qtk |
dickiedoy777u |
320196997505 |
12/22/2007 |
|
$52.00 |
|
|
57 |
teaser1025 |
percypants291 |
170173300356 |
12/2/2007 |
|
$51.00 |
|
|
58 |
lamadu |
856robertc |
220175251071 |
11/28/2007 |
|
$129.50 |
|
|
59 |
lorinievans |
antiquebookcentral |
180182185651 |
11/26/2007 |
|
$73.00 |
|
|
60 |
cvduff |
kittywantstoshred |
200173153218 |
11/18/2007 |
|
$41.00 |
|
|
61 |
dearjon75 |
vintage2antiques2007 |
220163281674 |
10/27/2007 |
|
$52.00 |
|
|
62 |
all_about_lumpster |
shezarebel |
110183085573 |
10/25/2007 |
|
$48.19 |
|
|
63 |
vampirevixengeekgirl |
blackswan.books |
270166921020 |
9/23/2007 |
|
$10.49 |
|
|
64 |
pantysocracy |
voaor |
170149139344 |
9/20/2007 |
|
$43.00 |
|
|
65 |
777smiller |
nw_gailk |
260093026066 |
3/10/2007 |
|
$125.50 |
|
|
66 |
bioniclelover210 |
bigdawg131 |
250089622806 |
3/7/2007 |
|
$62.00 |
|
|
67 |
joeandclaire |
mama_meta |
220081254456 |
2/17/2007 |
|
$59.99 |
|
|
68 |
all_about_lumpster |
luciebear |
150090820677 |
2/17/2007 |
|
$76.50 |
|
|
69 |
jjacobus |
cbowler27 |
120080834009 |
2/4/2007 |
|
$33.00 |
|
|
70 |
aatemplarbooks |
cattom |
250079191609 |
2/3/2007 |
|
$37.53 |
|
|
71 |
karen4231 |
suzyqqq2121 |
320070669913 |
1/18/2007 |
|
$31.00 |
|
|
72 |
ravenbinite |
tina4161 |
130065454742 |
1/13/2007 |
|
$36.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High |
|
$355.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Low |
|
$10.49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
$57.52 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Median |
|
$46.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mode |
|
$43.00 |
|
|
The dustjacket for
this book can be seen in the
horror section of our web store. |
|
For more extensive information, collectors
may wish to refer to the following bibliographies:
Dalby, Richard:
Bram Stoker: A Bibliography of First Editions (London:
Dracula Press, 1983)
Eighteen-Bisang, Robert & J. Gordon
Melton: Dracula: A Century of Editions,
Adaptations and Translations, Part I: English Language Editions
[(TSD Occasional Publication #1) (Santa Barbara, CA: Transylvanian
Society of Dracula, 1998)] |
