Wed
Mar 23 2011 9:04am

For The Love Of . . . Paying Outrageous Sums For Books?

Yesterday, Team H & H announced the formation of the Harry Potter Virgin Club, where redline_ and lizmaverick have agreed to read the Harry Potter series—all of it—for the first time in advance of the next Harry Potter film releasing.

Today, we see news of a first edition of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone selling at auction for $29,875. That's right—nearly $30,000 of first edition Harry Potter goodness.

And, coincidentally, one Team H & H staff member confessed to spending $50 on a Jo Beverley first edition (which then got reissued!). Another one of us dropped over $10 on a out-of-print Mary Balogh, which is a vast sum for the cheapskate in question.

What book and author have you paid the most for?

Morning Coffee: ‹ previous | index | next ›

paranormal

Harry Potter Virgin Club Announcement

Miranda Kenneally on When Friends Fall in Love

Harry Potter Trailer!

Homosexual Characters in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

Harry Potter Virgin Club Roundtable: <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</i>

Harry Potter Virgin Club Roundtable: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

13 comments

1. SuzanneJohnson

Wednesday March 23, 2011 09:30am EDT

I once paid $35 for a limited-editing Jim Butcher Dresden novella from Subterranean Press...which later got reprinted in his recent mass-market story collection. But my version is nicer, or at least I tell myself that.

2. Laine

Wednesday March 23, 2011 09:49am EDT

I just paid over $40 to get a rather yellowed, second hand copy of Red Adam's Lady by Grace Ingram sent to me. It was printed in the late 70s and is one of my 3 favourite romances. I had a copy, but have no idea where it went.
Totally worth it, to me.

3. reginathorn

view all by reginathorn | Wednesday March 23, 2011 09:52am EDT

I think I paid about $100 for a three volume set of Stephen Runciman's history of the crusades (they're those really fancy "folio" editions.) It was some kind of madness because the books are themselves so beautiful that I've never actually read them because I'm afraid I'll spill something on them (I read while I'm eating!)

4. Myretta

view all by Myretta | Wednesday March 23, 2011 10:07am EDT

I hate to think what I've paid for some of the books in my research library. The one I use the most is an 1824 edition of Paterson's Roads for which I paid a pretty penny and then had it rebound, probably reducing the resale value but making perfectly usable.

Other than that, I'd have to say the numbered Manydown Edition set of Jane Austen's novels, published in 1907 is probably my priciest purchase.

I don't regret any book that I've bought, regardless of price.

5. Jen X

view all by Jen X | Wednesday March 23, 2011 11:24am EDT

I paid $29 for a used copy of Judith Ivory/Judy Cuevas', DANCE. That was a splurge for me but it was worth it. It's a gem of a romance.

6. lizmaverick

view all by lizmaverick | Wednesday March 23, 2011 11:27am EDT

I was the one who paid $50 for a copy of My Lady Notorious. I think I also paid up for some Carla Kelly regencies and some Suzanne Brockmann TDD books, but I can't remember what prices. I always enjoyed completing collections so I didn't mind the prices so much.

7. Phyl

Wednesday March 23, 2011 12:07pm EDT

I know I paid well over $30 for more than one of my Mary Balogh trads some 7-8 years ago when I first discovered her. Now I own a complete set of her books in paper and I've never regretted the $$, even though her trads are finally being reprinted.

8. KeiraSoleore

view all by KeiraSoleore | Wednesday March 23, 2011 12:38pm EDT

I've paid $47 for "The Regency Companion" by Sharon Laudermilk and Teresa Hamlin. This was my most expensive book buy. The most I've paid for a rom novel is $14.99 for "Shadowheart" by Laura Kinsale.

@LizMaverick: I adore JoBev novels, so it thrills me to find someone else who does.

9. Kfraca

view all by Kfraca | Wednesday March 23, 2011 03:47pm EDT

I am a huge paranormal and suspense romance novel fan. I love Kenyon, Leigh and Roberts. And the most that I have ever spent on a book was close to $35 for a paperback. I think that it was Feehan and one of the Carpathian series.

10. EvangelineHolland

view all by EvangelineHolland | Wednesday March 23, 2011 04:10pm EDT

I can't recall paying more than $10 for a HTF/OOP romance, but the most expensive book I've purchased thus far is $75 for a very rare and very pristine 1914 edition of Baedeker's Egypt (and that was a bargain!).

11. Kinsey

Wednesday March 23, 2011 05:18pm EDT

I recently found a copy of The Windflower on Amazon for 20 bucks - hardcover, large print. That's a steal - I regularly see the paperback going for over $30 and over. Amazon's currently listing a new hardback copy at 138.00

It's a classic and it's no longer in print and I was thrilled to spend the money.

12. AllysonB.

Wednesday March 23, 2011 09:20pm EDT

I also paid around $20 for a copy of The Windflower--mine was paperback, though. That's the most I've ever paid for a book I haven't read/ haven't read anything by the author. The recommendations were so strong, though, and I was tired of scouring used bookstores.

In case you're wondering? Worth every penny.

I paid closer to $30 for a pristine copy of Yankee Stranger by Elswyth Thane. I already had 2 copies of it...but this copy looked brand new; lovely intact cover, bright tight pages...sigh.

I love Elswyth Thane. I have at least one copy of each of the books in the Williamsburg series--and multiple copies of a few...

13. O.Waite

view all by O.Waite | Sunday March 27, 2011 03:32pm EDT

I used to work in a great indie bookstore with a rare/collectible section, and at times I couldn't resist -- like that hardback signed first edition of Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, which took out a solid $300. Or there's the fancy history textbook -- oh, textbook prices! -- that hit $250. So I have a skewed idea of "expensive" where some books are concerned. :)

And @Evangeline, that Baedeker sounds awesome.

The most I've ever paid for a romance novel is $30 for an out-of-print Loretta Chase paperback, when I'd just discovered Chase and couldn't find anything of hers in any of the local brick and mortars. Didn't regret a penny of it.