Current Market Value-Experts assess yours, or other's collectible King item

[turtlex]

Hey Friends -

Not sure if this is the proper place to post this or not, but I need some advice for insurance purposes.

I've made my first significant DT purchase ( and am so very excited!! ) - I will post pictures once the books arrive, for sure - but in the interim, I'm looking to contact my insurance agent to get the books properly covered.

Here's what I got from a Private Collector :

All First Editions :

Gunslinger - Signed by Michael Whelan. Never read.
Drawning of the Three - Signed by Phil Hale. Never read.
Waste Lands - Never read ( not signed ). Kept in slipcase.
Wizards and Glass - Never read ( not signed ). Kept in slipcase.
Wolves of the Calla - Signed Artists Edition. Still in shrink wrap.
Song of Susannah - Signed Artists Edition. Still in shrink wrap.
Dark Tower - Signed Artists Edition. Still in shrink wrap.

Slipcases included and all in mint condition.

What do you feel the honest insurance value is for these?

As always, I thank you for all your advice and insights.

Regards, turtlex

I'd say in terms of insurance value, not current market value...

DTI - $800
DTII - $100
DTIII - $75
DTIV - $175
DTV - $175
DTVI - $150
DTVII - $100

So $1575...ish

That said, you may not need extra insurance, it would obviously depend on the policy, but the last time I called my insurance company they said everything in the house is covered by the basic home owner's insurance. It is important however to make a catalouge and take lots of pictures in order to prove what you have.

Excellent advice about checking with my agent, I was just assuming extra insurance would be required. I will be taking tons of pictures, for sure.

What is the difference between insurance value and market value?

[e_taylor]

Hey Friends -

Not sure if this is the proper place to post this or not, but I need some advice for insurance purposes.

I've made my first significant DT purchase ( and am so very excited!! ) - I will post pictures once the books arrive, for sure - but in the interim, I'm looking to contact my insurance agent to get the books properly covered.

Here's what I got from a Private Collector :

All First Editions :

Gunslinger - Signed by Michael Whelan. Never read.
Drawning of the Three - Signed by Phil Hale. Never read.
Waste Lands - Never read ( not signed ). Kept in slipcase.
Wizards and Glass - Never read ( not signed ). Kept in slipcase.
Wolves of the Calla - Signed Artists Edition. Still in shrink wrap.
Song of Susannah - Signed Artists Edition. Still in shrink wrap.
Dark Tower - Signed Artists Edition. Still in shrink wrap.

Slipcases included and all in mint condition.

What do you feel the honest insurance value is for these?

As always, I thank you for all your advice and insights.

Regards, turtlex

I'd say in terms of insurance value, not current market value...

DTI - $800
DTII - $100
DTIII - $75
DTIV - $175
DTV - $175
DTVI - $150
DTVII - $100

So $1575...ish

That said, you may not need extra insurance, it would obviously depend on the policy, but the last time I called my insurance company they said everything in the house is covered by the basic home owner's insurance. It is important however to make a catalouge and take lots of pictures in order to prove what you have.

Excellent advice about checking with my agent, I was just assuming extra insurance would be required. I will be taking tons of pictures, for sure.

What is the difference between insurance value and market value?

I assumed the same thing, put hours of work into cataloging my whole collection and then found out it wasn't entirely necessary.

Market value fluctuates, for instance right now prices are very low, the Gunslinger might go as low as $600. So you wouldn't want to insure it based on current prices, then have to make a claim (god forbid!) in a few years when prices have gone back up. Hell, signed by Whelan in fine/fine condition in a good market could go for $1000.

Once again however, the policy I have just replaces them at the time of the claim, whatever their value may be, so it'll be good to call the insurance company.

[turtlex]

Awesome advice, thanks so much.

I plan to call for sure, just need to know the lingo, etc. fine/fine is what they are, so besides being so incredibly excited about getting the set - I want to do the right thing insurance wise.

[e_taylor]

Awesome advice, thanks so much.

I plan to call for sure, just need to know the lingo, etc. fine/fine is what they are, so besides being so incredibly excited about getting the set - I want to do the right thing insurance wise.

Its definitely best to cross all the t's and dot all the i's!

Also, if the slipcases are the ones from the Collector, that adds another $200. They don't add much to the value of the books, but it terms of replacement costs...

I believe congratulations are in store on your new purchases! Can't wait to see the pictures!

[turtlex]

To say I am very excited, that would be an understatement!

I cannot wait.

I'm more pleased than I can possibly convey.

I will be sharing the photos, proudly.

Thank you for all your notes.

[Ricky]

Thanks. I look forward to hearing additional opinions.
I am hoping for estimates from Collectors that have bought and sold rare (expensive) King items.

That hurts.



Congratulations to everyone who have recently gotten some cool items!

[Patrick]

Congrats, Turtlex. Just remember to keep all those photos of your books somewhere other than your home computer. You don't want the same event to destroy the items and also your record of the items.

[plug]

A great place for that off-premises photo record would be to start a Collections thread right here on TDT.com!

[/plug]

[Rahfa]

A simpler way to do this is just to add the value of the books to your overall household goods replacement cost.

You would only be covered in the event of a total loss, but that's probably the only thing that could happen anyway. Theft is unlikely, and having an insurance rider for specific items can get unneccesarily expensive.

I think for fine art it would be different, because a framed painting can get damaged in a variety of ways, but for books on a bookcase, I think adding it to the overall HH goods would be cheaper and easier.

Even $3 or $4K is the same as a computer or a big flat screen tv...I doubt anyone would go to the trouble of specifically insuring those items, and they're much likelier to be damaged than a book.

Once you get into the $30K range, then it might be worth itemizing.

[The Lady of Shadows]

turtlex - wow! i am in awe of your recent acquisitions. congrats and enjoy. i know i would.

here, let me wipe that off of your screen for you.

[Randall Flagg]

Thanks. I look forward to hearing additional opinions.
I am hoping for estimates from Collectors that have bought and sold rare (expensive) King items.

That hurts.



Congratulations to everyone who have recently gotten some cool items!

No offense intended, I just wanted a few more opinions.
It does seem as though the general consensus is $750-$900.

[turtlex]

All - Thanks so much for the advice. It is all well heeded and I will take it all.

turtlesong - Yeah, had to get a personal loan, but you have to jump when you get the chance and this was a great opportunity. Once in a lifetime, kind of thing.

For sure I will start a collector catagory for my stuff. I cannot wait for it to arrive. The anticipation ( insert Carly Simon here ) is killing me !!

[gsvec]

I cannot wait for it to arrive. The anticipation ( insert Carly Simon here ) is killing me !!

Boy can I relate to that! I'm the same way waiting for my 64s!!

[carlosdetweiller]

No offense intended, I just wanted a few more opinions.

My opinion is that it is one of the uglier items in my collection. I just never liked that turquoise (or whatever color it is) tint to the whole thing. I have never given a moments thought to framing and actually hanging that thing.

[Fsmdr]

No offense intended, I just wanted a few more opinions.

My opinion is that it is one of the uglier items in my collection. I just never liked that turquoise (or whatever color it is) tint to the whole thing. I have never given a moments thought to framing and actually hanging that thing.

Mine came framed. But I don't think that it will be hung. I think to have a super large image of Stephen King looking down on me is rather creepy, IMO.

[carlosdetweiller]

No offense intended, I just wanted a few more opinions.

My opinion is that it is one of the uglier items in my collection. I just never liked that turquoise (or whatever color it is) tint to the whole thing. I have never given a moments thought to framing and actually hanging that thing.

Mine came framed. But I don't think that it will be hung. I think to have a super large image of Stephen King looking down on me is rather creepy, IMO.

A super large TURQUOISE image of Stephen King!!

[Ricky]

No offense intended, I just wanted a few more opinions.
It does seem as though the general consensus is $750-$900.

Oh, I know. I was just making a joke.

That price is lower than I initially thought. Are you planning on buying one?

[NeedfulKings]

Anyone know what a First Edition of Night Shift is worth these days. In VG+ condition, in a VG+ unclipped jacket ($8.95). I haven't verified the gutter code, but the words First Edition are present on the CP.

Edit to add: S52 is in the gutter. This is not an ex-library copy.

Thanks!

[carlosdetweiller]

Anyone know what a First Edition of Night Shift is worth these days. In VG+ condition, in a VG+ unclipped jacket ($8.95). I haven't verified the gutter code, but the words First Edition are present on the CP.

Thanks!

Here is a listing on ABE that sort of matches the condition for $650.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Book...%3D31%26y%3D11

Unclipped dj's are premium as so many otherwise nice copies are price-clipped. A couple of months ago I got a beautiful VF/VF copy for about $700 on eBay and I am VERY pleased with it.

[NeedfulKings]

Wow! I knew that this was a rare title, but not that rare! I don't know why a bookstore would have this one sitting on a shelf, priced under $20. I don't know if I should feel lucky or feel like a thief.

I'll have pictures when I get home Monday.

[jhanic]

You should feel lucky.

John

[Room 217 Caretaker]

Wow! I knew that this was a rare title, but not that rare! I don't know why a bookstore would have this one sitting on a shelf, priced under $20. I don't know if I should feel lucky or feel like a thief.

I'll have pictures when I get home Monday.

That's an awesome find NeedfulKings. No, let me change that to an INCREDIBLE find for $20.

I'm getting ready to sell an old beat up x library First Edition of Night Shift in price clipped jacket for $45-$50 on Ebay. I paid $300 for my fine copy a year ago.

Maybe that will help you have an idea of what you found, you lucky devil.

Mulleins
Cumberland VA

[gsvec]

Congrats on a GREAT find!!

[NeedfulKings]

Thanks guys!

It's a personal triumph as well, since NS is one of the few 1st Editions I was missing. I'm left with the "tough three" now. Carrie, 'Salem's Lot, and The Shining. I do own early trade editions though, so I'm not too far off.

[Rahfa]

If you are consistently and aggressively searching you might find a lucky strike like that...but I don't think a passive browser would be so lucky, so you should definitley give yourself a lot of credit!

I paid $425 for mine some time ago...it's in good shape and all, but I overpaid by a bit...

I've gotten lucky on a few buys, but I've never put the energy into really scouring a used book store. If you have patience, like you did, you can get a nice score like this.

This reminds me about people complaining about auction listing prices being "too high." The flip side is those people would be the first to warn a seller they have something listed too low, right? Doubt it! Haha...

[tippy4]

I too do not not have Night Shift in a 1st edition....and I consider myself a pretty avid collector. Congrats on an excellent find. I hate you!