Posted 8 years ago
mikelv85
(1232 items)
Here's another example of patience paying off for a much more affordable price. I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to collecting books but I do know this classic. "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. I've seen a few of these on Ebay and while the are being called first editions I know they're not....well not quite. "Antiques Roadshow" had the brown leather bound and gilt first editions on their show so I know what true first editions look like. There's a lot of conflicting info about these online so maybe at best these are a second printing first edition. I really don't know how to classify this book. It was priced very high so I think Volunteer's of America thought it was valuable. Not in the best of shape but complete. The faded cover is loosening and the first three pages are completely loose. Wonderful illustrations by Frank T. Merrill. A little conserving on the cover is in order which I'll have to check into if it's not too pricey. Otherwise it will stay -as is- and be passed on to a new owner. -Mike-
VOA...tsk tsk tsk.....
Here is a website that offers info about your book >
https://www.baumanrarebooks.com/rare-books/alcott-louisa-may/little-women/83268.aspx
You can send them a message.
Here is info about a first edition of "Little Women" >
http://www.abaa.org/member-articles/louisa-may-alcott-a-checklist-of-first-editions
"LITTLE WOMEN OR, MEG, JO, BETH AND AMY
Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1868.
2,000 printed; 250 sets of sheets shipped to England for issue by Sampson, Low. Issued in purple, green, and terra cotta cloth. In the past, various “points” in the text and binding have been presented as evidence of the “first issue,” but is has now been demonstrated that all of those supposed textual and binding points also exist in several 1869 reprintings. All copies dated 1868 are the first printing. But it should be noted that copies with forged 1868 title-pages exist. Also, copies are sometimes found recased in later bindings, so collectors should exercise extreme caution.
$15,000-$20,000"
This is a prime example of "buyer beware" , as the 1896 copy is not a first edition copy - it was, however, the first copy of 1896...not exactly the same thing!!! From 2011:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1896-LITTLE-WOMEN-Civil-War-Victorian-Antique-Book-1ST-/120767623274?nma=true&si=OcZVqQjXJ%252FHE9m9weE6K5nN1zpE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Thanks Bonnie for all the info and links. I did see a couple of these during my research. My copy is probably worth around fifty bucks if that. There are still people asking hundreds for better condition copies though so who knows. I got it at 75% off and only paid twenty for this one when they originally wanted eighty dollars ! :)
What a wonderful book! And a wonderful post for Louisa May Alcott's 184th birthday today!
OMG !..... seriously Scott I had no idea !! Thanks so much for letting me know. I have to say this is really a surprising coincidence ! :)
80 bucks - they are out of their ever-lovin' minds!!! They have less than no clue about these items they price up at a King's ransom. Shame on them.
Everyplace is internet savvy now Bonnie.....I know for a fact that they just look things up online, mostly Ebay. The one Ebay copy I found sold for $73.00 dollars back in 2013. Slightly better condition then mine though. To their credit VOA does have good prices in general but things like this that they show case.... well you just have to wait them out through the price drops which takes about a month to get to 75% ! :)
hmmmm one of my fav childhood reads besides black beauty and heidi!!
I always liked Heidi too Fleafinder especially with Shirley Temple. I'm ashamed to say I've never actually read the books not even this one but I love the 1949 movie "Little Women" with their "all star" cast ! :)
The thrift shop I go to rarely lowers prices. Either buy it at that price or walk away. There are things there which have been hanging around for MONTHS....luckily, though, with the jewelry there are often big mistakes made...in my favor, lol!
oh oh there's an all star movie on it? wonder if i would be able to find it online:)))
I think so fleafinder ...it's stars Elizabeth Taylor, June Allison, Margaret O'Brian, June Allyson ,Peter Lawford and many more. A great cast ! :)
Such a classic book !
adore old books....
Great work Bonnie! Dang, I can't believe it goes for that much and I was going to tell you I didn't know much either, like you said in the post but I did know that first editions can be valuable! And seeing that price, it might be worth taking the time to study up. What I do know Mike is that many times, folks would take a tattered piece depending on the availability of the item. They'd rather have something than nothing, so although condition does matter, it's a rule meant to be broken!
I just want to know if someone can tell me the book I picked up at the Goodwill the value of it.
It is Little Women and it is a Green Hardback Cover. It has the names Meg,Jo,Beth and Amy embossed on the front along with Louisa M. Alcott.
On the inside it says Boston Little, Brown and Company
The next page says Entered according to Act of Congress in the years 1868 and 1869 by Louisa M Alcott
In the clerks office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts
Copyright, 1880
By Louisa M Alcott
Copyright 1896
By John S P Alcott
Boston
Alfred smudge & Sons Inc Printers
There is a persons name on the inside I think it is Mable B Forbes
Dated February 3 1910