Why does this book cost 2k+?

[LittleTennessee]

You guys are not only hilarious but very helpful!! I've been watching the books and one just sold for over $6,000!!! But after some consideration, I am not so helpless financially (thank the Lord for my Big Girl job!) that selling this book is a great need. I honesty may just keep it. This is the first time I ever considered selling a book. I am a book nerd, I only have a few hundred but I love them all dearly and I think this one will add more character to my collection. I may have to put it some place toddler proof, my daughter got ahold of one of my favorite Stephen King novels and painted flowers in it recently....I would die if this book received the same fate. @16thVA , I'm about to check out your link. I still cant understand how a paper bound book like this is so costly and seems to actually sell.

@Eric Wittenberg, are you also a star wars fan haha
My office is covered in Star Wars....Everyone has to comment that it is not historically accurate but I beg to differ!!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

@Eric Wittenberg, are you also a star wars fan haha. My office is covered in Star Wars....Everyone has to comment that it is not historically accurate but I beg to differ!!

You betcha. I was 16 when the first movie came out. And have been a geek ever since.

 

[LittleTennessee]

I was not yet conceived but my dad and I used to watch them when I was a kid. 4, 5, and 6 are the only ones that matter though I am pretty excited to see what J.J. Abrams has in store. Not sure how I feel about having the man who directed Star Trek direct these films. You're either a Treki or a Star Wars fanactic...you can't be both.

 

[LittleTennessee]

My daughters second birthday was star wars themed...

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

You're either a Treki or a Star Wars fanactic...you can't be both.

Beg to differ... plus you can add Whovian to the list. (And the list expands enormously once off the screen and into books...)


ETA: Han shot first.

 

[LittleTennessee]

have you seen fan boys? the battle royale that happens between the fans of star trek and star wars is how I feel it should be in real life! Ahhhh Dr. Who, I have not seen it in its entirety but I have seen a few episodes and was sucked in. I'm afraid if I start it, I will binge watch and lose my mind. That's what happened with Game of Thrones, I watched 3 seasons in 1 week. I questioned my sanity when it was all over with!

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

(I find that the areas of history buff and sci-fi buff often cross... make sense to me, being oriented to different times and societies-- just in the opposite direction!)

 

[LittleTennessee]

I have noticed that as well! I question those who only like one or the other. There's Star Wars and Dr. Who in all of the offices of people who are in the History and Education department at work. And a number of Star Trek VHS to watch on rainy days ha

 

[16thVA]

You guys are not only hilarious but very helpful!! I've been watching the books and one just sold for over $6,000!!! But after some consideration, I am not so helpless financially (thank the Lord for my Big Girl job!) that selling this book is a great need. I honesty may just keep it. This is the first time I ever considered selling a book. I am a book nerd, I only have a few hundred but I love them all dearly and I think this one will add more character to my collection. I may have to put it some place toddler proof, my daughter got ahold of one of my favorite Stephen King novels and painted flowers in it recently....I would die if this book received the same fate. @16thVA , I'm about to check out your link. I still cant understand how a paper bound book like this is so costly and seems to actually sell.

@Eric Wittenberg, are you also a star wars fan haha
My office is covered in Star Wars....Everyone has to comment that it is not historically accurate but I beg to differ!!

You've piqued my curiosity. Where did a copy of this sell for $6000?

 

[LittleTennessee]

I believe it was on the bookfinder site but it may have been another rare book site. My boss and I have been watching them just to see, the one for 6k had shown up a few days ago then disappeared. My boss emailed the contact email and they informed her they had sold it. I'll ask her which site it was and for the email. But it's also hard to believe considering the lower cost ones are still available.

 

[16thVA]

Thanks Little T.

 

[Allie]

I believe it was on the bookfinder site but it may have been another rare book site. My boss and I have been watching them just to see, the one for 6k had shown up a few days ago then disappeared. My boss emailed the contact email and they informed her they had sold it. I'll ask her which site it was and for the email. But it's also hard to believe considering the lower cost ones are still available.

I don't believe they had sold it. Based on reading the article about what causes these high prices, I think they were lying about having it in the first place. When an actual living being called their bluff, they claimed to have "sold" it.

 

[E_just_E]

I'd love to have a list of how many copies of that book sold for that price. Probably zero. This was practically self printed, during a time that self-printing was a pain in the rear. In the time that electronic booksellers can calculate number of copies available and set prices based on perceived demand, you get things like this. There is rarity and there is rarity. If someone prints 30 copies of (lets say) the Charter of the City of New York in the 18th Century, computers calculate it as rare as if someone self prints (lets say) the Family History of Albert Brown and siblings of Podunk county to give to relatives.

Low print runs in books that were printed the last 2-3 decades, usually mean low demand. Unfortunately computers think of it as high demand and adjust prices accordingly. Best bet to finding those kind of esoteric books to read (with ACW subject) is in local libraries and historical society libraries that horde them

I really have bigger issues with book pricing regarding University of whatever press books that are brand new, 250 page hard cover and priced at the $40-60 price point, but that's what inter-library loan is for...

 

[LittleTennessee]

Yes, when I looked again they had another one book added at a lower cost so I'm wondering if perhaps it wasn't sold but had its price lowered to what is still a ridiculous price. I buy my books at thrift stores, a local antique shop or on amazon. I 'accidentally' bought 4 Shelby Foote novels last night. For 24 bucks with shipping. That, I am willing to pay.
This books has wonderful images, maps and information. Not 2 grand worth though but its still a good one for local history of tennessee

 

[KLSDAD]

I have noticed that as well! I question those who only like one or the other. There's Star Wars and Dr. Who in all of the offices of people who are in the History and Education department at work. And a number of Star Trek VHS to watch on rainy days ha

What would you like to know?

The closest thing I have to an interest in Scifi is The Big Bang Theory...and if it weren't for Penny........!!!!

 

[KLSDAD]

Why the ridiculously high prices?

Econ 101, baby: supply and demand. Very, very scarce supply means high prices. But, as I said above, the book is only worth what someone will pay for it. At the current prices, someone would have to be very desperate indeed to pay those prices, just as someone would have had to have been desperate for a copy of my book to pay what they were asking for it.

Bingo!! Now we need to get our fearless leaders to enact some price gouging legislation!!!

 

[John Hartwell]

I have seen people try to photocopy and sell rare books on ebay. Lots of scams out there.

It's not a scam if it's advertised as a photocopy. And in most cases, a good photocopy is just as useful as an original -- if it is the content that you want.

 

[LittleTennessee]

What would you like to know?

The closest thing I have to an interest in Scifi is The Big Bang Theory...and if it weren't for Penny........!!!!

How can you not like SciFi.......how....What do you like!

Penny is pretty cool, I love Sheldon though. He's probably my favorite sitcom character ever.