The Quest to buy a first edition of a Robert Heinlein on eBay for $50 is proving to be quite an interesting challenge. In round three I was bidding on The Menace From Earth I was sitting on the high bid at $35 until earlier today when the bid went up to $250. This is well beyond the budget. However, I suspect foul play. I checked the bid history and it does not reveal the bidding frenzy you would expect it took to get from $35 to $250. There were two bids of $250 placed 26 seconds apart.

Private auction - bidders' identities protected
US $250.00
Feb-17-05 20:36:46 PST

private auction - bidders' identities protected
US $250.00
Feb-17-05 20:36:20 PST

The fist bid of $250 would have pushed the high bid up to the next highest increment, in this case $36. The second bid of $250 would push the published high bid to $250. If you're unfamiliar with bidding on eBay see the explenation here. I suspect the seller may be trying to inflate the perceived value of the item.

So I have moved on to another book - skipping the next offering from the same seller for now. We'll see how eBay responds to my report.

I have the current high bid (and the first bid) on Tomorrow the Stars. $2.99 with 2 days 22 hours to go. The full description is below the fold.

1st EDITION BOOK W/DJ HEINLEIN

FROM 1952, HERE IS THE FIRST EDITION HARDBACK BOOK FIRST PRINTING OF THE ROBERT A. HEINLEIN ANTHOLOGY SERIES, SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURES, “TOMORROW, THE STARS”, FEATURING 14 STORIES FROM THE BEST KNOWN SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS OF THE TIME. THE BOOK COMES WITH THE ORIGINAL DUST JACKET IN NICE CONDITION.

THE BOOK IS IN VERY NICE CONDITION. THE COVER BOARD DOES HAVE MINOR STAINING ALONG THE TOP (see picture). COVER BOARDS, SPINE AND BINDING ARE STILL TIGHT. THERE ARE NO TORN, MISSING, STAINED, LOOSE PAGES, OR WRITING. JUST LIGHT YELLOWING TO THE PAGES DUE TO AGE. THE BOOK HAS 249 PAGES.

PUBLISHED BY THE DOUBLEDAY.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 01:35 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment