I'm behind on my blogging, thanks to work.
I'm not, however, behind on my eBay scavenging. I've been a busy little bidder.
It all started with the previously-mentioned redecorating of the living room. Since Heather volunteered to put back all of my Stephen King books into the bookcase, I printed out the chronological list of King titles. Yeah, I'm anal when it comes to my books. Paperbacks go in alphabetical order based on author's last name, then by title. King hardcover books (which takes up way more than one double bookcase) go in chronological order. Which isn't as easy as it sounds, thanks to the rather prolific spewing from Stevie-baby's typewriter. Some years he published two or even three books, so you can't just go by the copyright page.
I printed the list of all of his books and Heather diligently placed them in the proper order. After placing the Green Mile on the shelf, she saw that "Six Stories" was next on the list. Beside that title, I had drawn a little frown face because this was a signed, limited edition book I bought back in 1999 for $135 (original price was $85 the previous year), but after money got really tight, I chose to sell it in order to pay some bills. I made a nice profit because it ended up being sold to some guy in Italy for $600. But still...every time I looked at that bookcase, I knew it was missing something.
After Heather finished putting the books back in their proper home, she came to me and said that she wanted me to take all of the rest of her Christmas money (about $35, I think) and use it to bid on a copy of Six Stories that she had found on eBay.
I smiled at her and said it just wasn't possible to get it. First of all, the copy she found was $800, and secondly, that was just the bidding price, not the final price. It could go way up. She understood.
But, of course, that book just sat there digging at the foggy corner of my brain saying "c'mon, DiAnne! You've been working hard. You deserve this!"
The sensible side of my brain rightfully took one look at the auction online and said emphatically, "NO!!" I'm happy to say I did not buy that book.
I bought a different one instead. :)
Yeah, I kept checking auctions and all of a sudden one came up with a "Buy It Now" price of $550 with free shipping AND it had the special hard traycase that was a $200 special order after the book was published. Hell, that meant that the whole thing cost less than what I had sold it for a few years ago. Most of the time, the book with the traycase sells for about $1,000. I had to buy it, right? Hell yeah!
It arrived a few days ago. Every time I walk by my bookcase, I smile. It's complete, again.
I've taught my kids well. If you don't blow your money on cigarettes, booze, and gambling, you can buy $1,000 books at bargain prices. Woo hoo!!
Here's Beth peering ever so carefully at the signature page.
Her boyfriend, whom I not-so-affectionately call "Captain Hormone" took one look at the book and said, "Why'd you pay that much for a book you can't even read?" And Beth questions why I say that he's totally wrong for her. Hmmph!!
Okay, call me crazy, but I'm with Captian Hormone. I can't see spending that much money on a book just because it's signed by the author! Nope, can't.
ReplyDeleteI'm all about the WORDS.
The STORY.
Not the dang signature.
But I do understand that it can be a good investment since there are so many argen-fargen NUTS out there would give their left boob for a signed book.
(Bwahahahaha!)
Nope, that's not why it's worth so much. The signature makes a King book worth about $100. This is a limited edition. Only 900 were made. That means that nuts like me who want EVERY King book have to pay through the nose to get this one.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the limiteds (and especially the signed limiteds) don't go down in price. That makes it a better investment than burying money in a Mason jar (in this economy, I'm sure not putting money in the bank!)
Dang, how big is your Mason jar?
ReplyDeleteUmmm...big enough for about 3 more blog entries.
ReplyDeleteJust think of it this way, I'm following Obama's advice and boosting the economy.
Or...I could use my Mom's advice and say "hey, I'm just spending my cigarette money." (That's how she justifies frivolous purchases). I guess I'm up to about 4 packs a day at this rate.