Harry Potter First Edition Ebay Scam
People seem to be enjoying the outing of scam and rip-off ebay auctions. Well, we can be swayed by popularity. To that end here is another peach
I have highlighted the points of interest
The auction is headed Rare Harry Potter 1st Edition, despite not only being a reprint but not even a publishers edition! The price comparisons are hilarious - enjoy!
You are bidding on an extremely RARE UK Hardback FIRST EDITION, THIRD PRINT copy of Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone published by TED SMART (ONLY THE EARLIEST, MORE VALUABLE BOOKS WERE PRINTED BY TED SMART). The book is in excellent mint condition and has never been read! It also comes with a DUSTJACKET which is in mint condition as well and is not price clipped.
It contains the all important 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 numberline signifying first edition, third print status. The book is printed and bound by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc. The ISBN is 1 85613 403 2. This copy also shows JOANNE ROWLING on the copyright page. Apparently removed from all later editions so Children would not be aware a woman had written the books!! The book also has the young Dumbledore on back and spine, only early prints have this, making them more valuable. The book is not an Ex- library book and does not contain any marking or inscriptions. It has TED SMART on the bottom of the spine and has WINNER OF THE 1997 SMARTIES GOLD AWARD on the bottom of the front cover.
This is a very rare book indeed infact I have seen similar copies advertised for thousands of pounds. I think the first editions first print is now valued in excess of £20,000, so this is a bargain. I have found this book currently listed on ABEBOOKS with an asking price of over £935.00. I have been informed that these books were produced in much smaller numbers than the more common Deluxe versions and are set to emulate their soaring prices! With movie number five, The Order of the Phoenix due for release in 2007 and the seventh book in the series due within months, this book will make not only a fine addition to any serious collection but also a worthwhile investment opportunity! Just a couple of years ago I turned down a Deluxe Azkaban 1st/1st on the advice that at £350.00 it was TOO EXPENSIVE! …. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED……
! Bid Now !
! A MUST HAVE FOR ANY COLLECTOR
Craig Knighton said,
April 8, 2006 @ 2:54 pm
I found the most amusing part to be the picture of the publishing information page;
First published in Great Britain in 1997
This edition produced for The Book People Limited 1998
So it’s not even a Book People Limited first edition (the Book People are those who go to large workplaces with a box of common books)
However abebooks does have listings for Ted Smart 1st Editions which is still crazy.
Rod said,
April 9, 2006 @ 12:10 am
Absolutely Craig!
Whilst those of us who knnow these things find it amusing some people do get suckered in. They do buy and believe that a 37th edition is collectable simply because it is listed as a
1st edition 37th impression
Rod said,
April 9, 2006 @ 8:57 am
With 5 hours to go, the bidding is up to £55 !
Perhaps we should not be laughing at these people but joining in?
There’s gold in them there hills
Kathy Herbst said,
February 12, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
I am not a collector of 1st editions, but I did catch the ‘ebay scam’. From your message above, who is Ted Smart? Doesn’t the 1st edition, 1st impression go to the author? Does the number below the ‘print code’ indicate the impression number in that run? How many impressions can there be in a ‘run’? Thank you so much for the learning experience. Kathy
Rod said,
February 12, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Hi Kathy
welcome to the site and thanks fo rthe comment.
To take your points.
Ted Smart is the name of a publisher who issues reprints which are almost identical to the original publishers first editions. As ythey are reprints their value is minimal.
The 1st edition, 1st impression is simply the first time the book was printed, all copies in that print run are so named.
Subsequent printings are all reprints in reality though on eBay they do like to suggest 37th impressions are of value by adding 1st edition in front of it. In fact the book has been reprinted 37 times and has no value beyong it’s readability.
The number of copies printed in a run can be anything, depends entirely on the publisher and how many they expect to sell.
Hope this helps Kathy
Regards
Rod