Collectible Books of the Month for 2008It's 2009 now and time to see how our collectible books of the month for 2008 fared. Every month now for the past year, I've been picking a book that I thought would gain in value in the coming years. In addition to the 10 tips for collecting books, I have looked for books that are:
So is it possible to find valuable books using the above guidelines? Well, here are the results of our year of collecting. These are the current values of the books both signed and unsigned (first edition, fine/fine condition) as found on abebooks.com:
As you can see about half of the books have appreciated significantly above the price we paid for them. And obviously a signed book is going to be more valuable than an unsigned book. Nine of these books are less than one year old ... all are less than two years old. A few published this year are still eligible for awards in 2009. So most of these books still have a lot of potential! I plan to continue picking books this year. I look at a great number of books before deciding which to pick. I have devised a rating system to select the books. And I should point out these are books that I am collecting and potientially will read. You should always collect the books that you like. Here are the books of the month and the commentary I had on the the home page:  December 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthGracelingKristin Cashore's book about a teenage girl with special powers came out in October. The book has a gotten number of good reviews. The first printing was 75,000 copies. I found four at Barnes and Noble. Look for an "A" in the letter line. The book is now into its second printing with the "A" missing from the letter line. Her second book, a prequel, will appear in Oct. 2009.
November 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThe EndSalvator Scibona's first book came out in May. The book has gotten great reviews. It was nominated in October for the National Book Award. The book is somewhat difficult to find. We obtained first printings from Powell's. Book collectors should try looking in independent book stores for copies.  October 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyThis book was writtern by two authors ... Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Ms. Shaffer died earlier this year. The book came out in late July. It has gotten good reviews and has been on the top ten bestseller lists for the last few weeks. It is written as a series of letters. 75,000 copies in the first printing. Into multiple printings. Due to late breaking events we're adding a second October Collectible Book of the Month:  October 2008 Collectible Book of The Month No. 2The Jewel of MedinaSherry Jones's first book is controversial as it is about a wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammed. A fire-bombing took place in London in late September at the offices of publisher Gibson Square who was about to distribute the book. US publisher Beaufort Books moved its release date of the book up to Oct. 6th. 50,000 copies in the first printing. Book collectors may find signed copies on ABE.com.  September 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThis is Carolyn D. Wall's first book. It came out in early August to excellent reviews. Only 1,000 copies in the first printing by Poisoned Pen Press. (Book collectors take note.) I obtained two from Murder By the Book before they ran out. It is also available from the Poisoned Pen Book Store. Bantam Books acquired the rights to the book and will come out with a much larger printing next year. (The Poisoned Pen edition is of course the true first edition)  August 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthNetherlandNetherland is Irish author Joseph O'Neill's third book. It was out May 20th. It reportedly has a small first printing. I found only two first edition books at the local Border's and Barnes and Nobles (and bought them both, of course). It's a very highly acclaimed book on 9/11 and cricket! ... longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.  July 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThe Story of Edgar SawtelleDavid Wroblewski's first book. Incredible reviews! Came out June 13th. 26,000 books in the first printing. Into multiple printings so look for a "1" in the number line. An Oprah Book Club pick ... but book collectors should note that books with the Oprah sticker are not true first editions! On the bestseller lists for many weeks!  June 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThe Lazarus ProjectAleksandar Hemon's second book has gotten great reviews. His first book Nowhere Man was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award. On National Book Award Shortlist.  May 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThe WolfmanNicolas Pekearo's first book has been given a starred review by Publisher's Weekly. Sadly, he was killed in the line of duty as a NYC police officer last year. The book was out May 13th.  April 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThe Yiddish Policeman's UnionPulitzer prize winner Michael Chabon has a book that is nominated for three awards this year in two genres! ... Edgar Best Mystery novel, Hugo Award and Nebula Award for Science Fiction. It is an alternate history/detective story. Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award Winner! Book collectors may want consider this one.  March 2008 Collectible Book of The MonthThe Monsters of TempletonLauren Groff's first novel was No. 18 on the hardcover fiction Best Seller List earlier this year. Lemuria Book Store picked it as their February Book of the Month. Ms. Groff signed books there. Also, Stephen King is a fan of the author.  February 2008 Book of The MonthThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar WaoJunot Diaz's first novel has received rave reviews. It was the No. 1 pick of Time for 2007. First's magazine and Bookmarks gave it glowing writeups. Winner of the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction ... and Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction!  January 2008 Book of The MonthThe Name of the WindPatrick Rothfuss's first book is the first of a series of three fantasy novels. The book has already been awarded the Quill Award since it was published in April 2007. It's the story of an orphan who enters a school of magic and becomes a notorious wizard. Return from Collectible Books of the Month to Home Page
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