Thanks for clarifying, David. I had a feeling that the consignee had a lot to do with it.
Thanks for clarifying, David. I had a feeling that the consignee had a lot to do with it.
That doesn't negate the fact the these books seem to be fetching A LOT more lately. One sold on FB for $850 last week with issues and a $1000 dollar one a month ago but it was fine with poster. Would I pay it? No, but I have one... but would not want to be looking for one right now...
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
Values are going up AND you are seeing a lot less of most big titles even for sale. Between the age of us long time fans and how hot King is on tv and film right now we may be seeing a high point in book values.
seeking: ANYTHING DT related #246
Dead Zone 1st Edition F/F or NF/NF
ANYTHING DT Related #246
Dead Zone First Edition F/F or NF/NF
The problem is the market is VERY limited for people willing to pay those prices. My suggestion is if you are ever planning on selling your collection, now is the time. Make hay while the sun shines.
There are defiantly A LOT of new collectors. I mean tons of new ones.... it is shocking how many are popping up and whether it is the new movies, shoes and King exposure who knows? But the market is growing for sure.
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
If this is indeed the case, and as a relatively "new" King collector myself I have no reason to believe it's not, then the increase in prices makes perfect sense! After all, there are never going to be any more Scream Press S/L Skeleton Crew copies than there are now, so the more people that want them, the higher the price they will fetch. Totally logical.
As a new(ish) member of this board, it's been interesting to watch some of this change. So many of the collectors on here have been doing it for 10, 20, or even 30+ years and I'm sure would have had a hard time predicting where the market would go. We've seen this exact conversation play out plenty of times:
Person A: I paid $100 for my copy
Person B: The current market price is $300+
Person A: I would NEVER pay $300 for this book, I don't believe you
Person B: I have seen 3 copies of this book sell recently, all for over $300
Skeleton Crew is a good current example. Another good example is Knowing Darkness. Lots of people here apparently got copies from George Beahm on the cheap way back in the day, and there was some general disbelief that the unsigned version was now a $300-$400 book and the numbered version routinely hits $1000.
I do believe that the wisdom of the crowd (with help from specific sellers) is very often correct in the "how much is it worth?" thread, but I think there are a lot of long-time collectors who are surprised at prices because they purchased their copy years ago and since they're not in the market for a particular book they don't keep up on the prices (which makes sense).
I always enjoy Mr. RT's posts from Betts selling history - that gives some nice historical context. Likewise, it's nice to know the prices Kris has seen on FB, which probably represents a distinctly different set of potential buyers!
Lastly, there is probably some small effect of inflation. Skeleton Crew was $75 when it came out in 1985. Depending on the inflation calculator you use, that's between $180-$200 in 2019 dollars.
What will be interesting to see, is just how much the market will continue to grow and push up prices. And also: what will happen when King inevitably dies? He has had such a massive cultural impact - I don't think there's good precedent for understanding how his death will impact the value of his books. I fully expect his works to be in print and still undergoing movie adaptations and remakes 50 years from now!
^^ What he said+50 more years (100)
There are no coincidences. Only Ka.
~I don't like rep points! ~
Please use only the 'I disapprove' option for me. (If it do ya fine.)
One of these newer collectors here. I hope I am making some people on this forum some money
Went from 0 - 4 signatures in a few months. Fan for decades, collecting has long been something I was interested in (had my account here forever too) and checked up on from time to time but something clicked and I actually got into it. Subconsciously, King being everywhere these days might have helped. Who knows. His books have always been a big part of my life.
And when you first get into collecting, there's tons to catch up on at this point. And lots to learn about sources and prices. But, I do feel like a crazy person still spending so much on certain 'must have' items, so I definitely wish I started collecting much earlier. I don't have space for an enormous collection either, so that+ current costs tempers me a little. But I really love this hobby now. It feels right...
Also a relatively new collector, and I agree, it's exciting to see a whole world of beautiful books just open up to you. What helped me enormously was focus - deciding not just what to collect, but what NOT to collect. It enabled me to pay a bit more for the editions I had actively decided I wanted on my shelves. And reading posts here about what prices should be and how important condition is.
HBJ
“If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
Looking for SubPress Lettered::
Angel's Game and Prisoner of Heaven (Zafon)
Ilium (Simmons)
It is really hard to know when is the moment to sell. I know a few collectors who have cleared their books and deeply regretted it both because prices have continued to go up and because they feel the absence. Unless collecting SK is most a commercial venture for you then I think Marie Kondo has it right - sell when the joy is gone.
Paul-
I think you hit the nail on the head...sell when the joy is gone...however, I recognize that there are some collectors that collect for the "investment." Having been a part of the stock market my whole life, I get the "timing the market" mentality of when to sell. So whatever your "flavor" of collecting, go with what your heart tells you.
Dragline : Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me - with nothin'.
Luke : Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
GOT A NEW SILENT AUCTION COMING....likely Tuesday Afternoon
Dragline : Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me - with nothin'.
Luke : Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Think 1980's King....great movie about story too
Dragline : Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me - with nothin'.
Luke : Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
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CLUB STEPHEN KING (french website about STEPHEN KING, since 1992) : on : Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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yes in a couple more hours
Dragline : Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me - with nothin'.
Luke : Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
.
.
.
And 10 years later.....
Congratulations and thank you for being a fantastic caretaker David.
I bought my first ever signed limited from Calla-Wolf and think he pointed me to Betts as a place to shop. It was a bucket list to visit Betts on my 40th and buy something sweet, but it didn’t happen for various reasons.
But over the last few years I have had the privilege to buy the stand sl, Pet Sematary inscribed to David, and skeleton crew amongst a couple of other smaller items.
Thank you and looking forward to your help in completing my king bucket list over the coming years.