What are these books worth?

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MichelB
Posts: 1689
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:26 am
Location: The Netherlands

What are these books worth?

Post by MichelB »

I just finished the biggest ship-related spending spree in my history, and now I would like to know how much each book would be worth? They just sat next to each other on a shelf in a used-book store in the Netherlands, and let's just say: I payed less then I would have on Amazon.

British Battleships by Dr. Oscar Parks (at amazon for $ 244 minimal?)
Battleships of World War 1 by Anthony Preston (unavailable, no price found)
American Battleships 1889-1926 by Reilly and Scheina (amazon $67 minimal)
and a faulty reprint of Jane's 1905-1906, including pages on WWI aircraft :big_grin:

The question is: should I feel lucky? Well, do I, pals?
If all else fails, a complete pig-headed refusal to see facts in the face will see us through. - General Melchett
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RickF
Posts: 128
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:52 pm
Location: Norfolk, UK

Post by RickF »

What are they worth to you? That should be the only criterion. To me they are worth nothing.

Parks's book is available through my local library, so on the odd occaision that I need to refer to it, it costs me nothing - I certainly would not pay $200+ for it. WW1 and American Battleships do not interest me. I bought the reprints of Janes years ago when they were remaindered and being sold off at very low prices.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking you or the books, and I'm sure you got a bargain. I hope you enjoy them and find them useful. But worth is related to need and how much one is prepared to pay to satisfy it.

Rick
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Laurence Batchelor
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Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:20 am
Location: Warwickshire, England

Post by Laurence Batchelor »

The parkes book if mint with dustcover is usally �80-�150 in the UK. I've seen ones without dustcovers for around the �40-�50 mark.

Battleships by Anthony Preston is usually around �50-�80 mark in mint condition.

not sure about the others
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RNfanDan
Posts: 862
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:17 pm
Location: EN83

Post by RNfanDan »

Parkes book: I found more than two dozen available, ranging from USD $100 to over $200. Expensive, but not that rare...

Preston book: Found five copies ranging from USD $71-90...

Reilly/Scheina book--could not locate, Amazon or otherwise....

I think only original copies of Jane's Fighting Ships carry great value, mostly because of what they are, not the information within. I will say that the best part of those classic volumes, for me at least, were the pages and pages of adverts in front. Those ads for Parsons, Tannoy, Callender's, Harland & Wolff, and countless others, I enjoyed more than the sketchy and inaccurate data.

Jane's Reprints? I haven't found a decent reprint--at least none I would want to buy...they're just not the same as the genuine article!

On the whole, it would depend on how much you paid for all the books you listed, but I should think you have something to gain---especially if the market for these books opens up.

:thumbs_up_1:
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MichelB
Posts: 1689
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:26 am
Location: The Netherlands

Post by MichelB »

This is what I payed:
Parkes: 75 euros
Reilly/Scheina: 29.50 euros
Preston: 22.50 euros
Jane's: 7.50 euros
Not too bad, I suppose.
You're right about Jane's: the ads are the best part.
If all else fails, a complete pig-headed refusal to see facts in the face will see us through. - General Melchett
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