Finally found a copy of Rags to Rifleman

[Pushout]

It's been several years ago, probably 8 to 10 years. Any copy that came up on ebay went between 250 and 500 back then.

Used/rare book prices fluctuate like every other thing that people collect. I've been in the book business for about 20 years now. Some books hold their value well, others don't, and some bounce around like a yo-yo.

I was in the used/rare book business myself for over 25 years and I agree about the values. Funny, while my wife and I were in a couple of thrift stores this afternoon I ran into 2 different guys book scouting. Nice to chat with someone who knows the business!

 

[BC21]

I was in the used/rare book business myself for over 25 years and I agree about the values. Funny, while my wife and I were in a couple of thrift stores this afternoon I ran into 2 different guys book scouting. Nice to chat with someone who knows the business!

All one has to do is read John Dunning's "Booked to Die", and if that doesn't hook you nothing will. Lol.

 

[jalapus logan]

Wow. $400 is way over the prices I've seen. Those have been:
$150 Oct 2022 Ebay sale
$220 Oct 2020 Ebay offer
$165 Oct 2020 Ebay sale, both signatures
$85 Jul 2020 Ebay sale
$150 Dec 2019, inscribed, sale

It's been several years ago, probably 8 to 10 years. Any copy that came up on ebay went between 250 and 500 back then.

Used/rare book prices fluctuate like every other thing that people collect. I've been in the book business for about 20 years now. Some books hold their value well, others don't, and some bounce around like a yo-yo.

So, if I wanted to find a copy of this collectible book, should I expect to pay closer to $200 or $500 for a copy in at least good condition?

 

[BC21]

So, if I wanted to find a copy of this collectible book, should I expect to pay closer to $200 or $500 for a copy in at least good condition?

I haven't been keeping up with collectible trends, but I think Bob Jewett mentioned being able to find copies for $200 or less.

 

[Bob Jewett]

So, if I wanted to find a copy of this collectible book, should I expect to pay closer to $200 or $500 for a copy in at least good condition?

The problem is that they don't come up for sale very often. The last sale I saw was for $150 or so, but I haven't seen one since October. You might try asking here and maybe over at onepocket.org or the Facebook groups.

To search for online sales, haunt addall.com. That site searches all other book sales sites, including Amazon and Ebay. If you are really interested in past prices, worthpoint.com seems to be pretty good about recording public sales and has a free trial option.

 

[book collector]

I think all of us who are interested in this book should go in on it, and then have one of us make a pdf of it to share with the world.
[/QUOTE]
Yes and while your at it , go to the graveyard and dig up some corpses and look in their pockets for loose change and hope they had a nice gold ring. or tooth.

 

[WobblyStroke]

Are there no publishers who see an obvious market for this book who would want to run the presses on it again and sell a few thousand copies on day 1? Just doesn't make sense that so many people are looking for this book--and willing to pay $200 for it--and nobody on the publishing end wants to pick up that free money. Or would it be that hard to buy the rights that it wouldn't make sense financially?

<----not in the book business

 

[jasonlaus]

Are there no publishers who see an obvious market for this book who would want to run the presses on it again and sell a few thousand copies on day 1? Just doesn't make sense that so many people are looking for this book--and willing to pay $200 for it--and nobody on the publishing end wants to pick up that free money. Or would it be that hard to buy the rights that it wouldn't make sense financially?

<----not in the book business

Please, for the love of God never go into business

We have 87 posts since 2016 and most of them are the same posters over and over who have either read the book and hate it or have read the book and still have it.

Thousands sold on day 1 Holy clown car Batman

 

[WobblyStroke]

Please, for the love of God never go into business

We have 87 posts since 2016 and most of them are the same posters over and over who have either read the book and hate it or have read the book and still have it.

Thousands sold on day 1 Holy clown car Batman

well i was pretty clear im not in ghe book biz. thank god lol

 

[Bob Jewett]

Please, for the love of God never go into business

We have 87 posts since 2016 and most of them are the same posters over and over who have either read the book and hate it or have read the book and still have it.

Thousands sold on day 1 Holy clown car Batman

I see no reason it couldn't sell 50 to 100 copies in the first year.

 

[bbb]

Fwiw
i have a copy
the print is so small. I only read it on a plane traveling
i have only finished about a third of it over 15 years /maybe more

 

[cjl0s]

As do I. It is an ok book. Agree about the small type. It has been on my shelf for 20 years after buying a copy at Showcase. I think my favorite story books are Grady's book and Playing off the Rail.

Fwiw
i have a copy
the print is so small. I only read it on a plane traveling
i have only finished about a third of it over 15 years /maybe more

 

[jasonlaus]

I see no reason it couldn't sell 50 to 100 copies in the first year.

Well shit, I've got 50k to throw at it then

 

[WobblyStroke]

Well shit, I've got 50k to throw at it then

I'm generally in favor of any statements that start with 'well shit'

 

[jasonlaus]

I'm generally in favor of any statements that start with 'well shit'

I might have to find my copy, read it, and send it on

 

[Black-Balled]

I'm generally in favor of any statements that start with 'well shit'

Second in conviction only to 'fuggit'!

 

[Taxi]

I bought my copy directly from Buddy a few years after it first came out. I love the book and I've re-read many passages. My favorite story involved a match between Buddy and Geese in New Orleans, with an ending I won't repeat here. When I read it to Geese he said he was going to get a lawyer and sue the publisher.

 

[u12armresl]

I bought my copy directly from Buddy a few years after it first came out. I love the book and I've re-read many passages. My favorite story involved a match between Buddy and Geese in New Orleans, with an ending I won't repeat here. When I read it to Geese he said he was going to get a lawyer and sue the publisher.

I did some research and found a company who would take the book apart, scan it and make the text bigger + provide in ebook form, but I do not know the legalities and didn't want to fun afoul. Can't imagine with normal print how many pages that book would be 2000?

 

[Stickman9]

I bought my copy directly from Buddy a few years after it first came out. I love the book and I've re-read many passages. My favorite story involved a match between Buddy and Geese in New Orleans, with an ending I won't repeat here. When I read it to Geese he said he was going to get a lawyer and sue the publisher.

One of my favorite stories from the book is not about Buddy. It's about a time when St. Louie Louie borrowed a gun to raise some money to continue gambling.