How much is my Collector's Edition Collection Worth?

[gabreil]

I'm strongly considering selling my set of collectors books. I would like to purchase a new computer and I have some bills to pay after the birth of our first child but I'm also quite hesitant to part with my collection of books. I grew up on Lone Wolf and my collection has a lot of sentimental value but money is money and I could use some more right now.

I currently have a complete set up to this point of books with Mongoose books 1-17 (Yes I have the extremely rare English version of book 15 and the somewhat rare 16 and 17). I then have the Mantikore Books 18-22 and finally Joe's own printing company Homlgard Press for book 29. I also have Mongoose Novels Glory & Greed and The Dragons of Lencia. I also have a complete set 1-9 of the Lone Wolf Multiplayer Game Books put out by Mongoose. All of the books are completely new. They have never been read or used in any way, they haven't even been opened other than the front of book 29 because I had preordered the book and Joe signed it.

What I would like to know is what is this collection worth? Think of it as if you were selling this collection and what you would want to part with it not how much you would like to pay me to get my collection.
I've already sold part of my collection once, books 1-17 minus book 15 two years ago and made a good amount on it. I was then lucky enough to find someone selling a complete set 1-17 at an estate sale about a month after I sold my collection and I bought it. I won't say what I paid for the complete set but I will say that I was willing to pay that amount alone for book 15 after years of searching for it. This sale would be for obviously more than my original one including Books 18-22, 29, Two Novels, and 9 Multiplayer Books.

Here is a link to pictures of the collection: imgur.com/a/FEO5v I apologize for the glare on the covers I just could not get the lighting to work well.

If you were in my position what would you ask for this collection?

[Black Cat]

There are several factors to take in consideration... You do seem to have the first three books with the round spine, which is a good thing for their value (I myself have the square spines: people are reporting that the pages are falling off more easily with the square spine). You have also to check if you have error-free books: I got two copies of book 8 from Mongoose because the first copy I got only had 150 sections in the bonus adventure (instead of 152). As for the signed book 29, it doesn't add anything to the value since Joe signed every one of these copies (unless they were sold after he died but I'm not sure if his estate are still selling them).

So, with all that being said, and with the current exchange rate, I think you could ask between 500 and 600 US dollars for the whole set.

[gabreil]

I have to say that 500 to 600 is pretty low. I sold my set two years ago for more and as stated that was only 1-17 without book 15. Looking on eBay at recent sold auctions most of the books go for at least $50. Book 17 was sold for $250 less than a month ago. I may just try selling the books one at a time.

[50crowns]

I would agree that $500-600 is too low. I listed a round spine, error free set of 1-13 (my extras) on Ebay for $1000 and sold it for $850 a year ago. I then sold my unused multiplayer set of 1-9 for about $300. If I had to sell my set of 1-22+29, I don't think I'd let it go for less than $1500 (it's just too hard to get #15 and a few others as you noted).

On a related topic - just cause now I'm curious what other collectors/collections are out there and what people think - I've put together a Red Fox set of 1-28 and I would guess that's also over $1000 in resale value. And a Red Fox Legends set of 1-12 has to be north of $600 based on Ebay (realistic) and Amazon (crazy) prices listed and sales made.


Would be curious what others have collected and how they value them. Thanks and good luck gabreil 

[Black Cat]

Meh, I paid $600 when the Mega-Deal came out and I was promised 38 books. I only received 25 of them, so I thought that $600 was enough. But it seems you have already some experience in selling your books and some buyers seem to be ready to pay a freakin' huge amount of money for them. Good for you if you can get enough money to buy a new house by selling those books!

I would advise to try to sell each books individually: you might get even more cash than selling them in a bundle.

[gabreil]

Thanks for posting your experience selling a set 50crowns. I had the thought around 1500 as well for the set. I get where you were coming up with your idea Black Cat but $600 was like base price for the books as they were released. Actually it was a really good deal and one I almost took when it was originally announced. After seeing what happened though I'm so glad I had been buying each book one at a time. We're never going to get Mongoose or Mantikore making new copies of these books so if people want them they have to pay 3rd party prices. I'm also not going to try putting these things up for some outrageous amount though. I looked up book 17 on Amazon for example and they want 675 dollars for it with one seller and 999 from another. Who's going to pay that? I guess someone who has lots of money and wants it but darn that's crazy.

I will say though that I would have paid 600 dollars for book 15. Even after procuring book 15 in the estate sale I've kept on trying to find another copy. In 4 years of looking I have seen one copy posted on eBay and the guy was a seller from Scotland and wanted $1500. I actually messaged him to see where he got such a high number and he basically said if someone wanted it bad enough that would pay that. I don't think it ever did sell but then again after that auction I never saw it put up again so maybe he did get an offer he accepted.

[Nym90]

Hopefully Ben Dever is reading this thread, and will thus realize it would make financial sense to release all of the books again via Holmgard Press.

[gabreil]

Sept 8, 2017 15:33:47 GMT Nym90 said:

Hopefully Ben Dever is reading this thread, and will thus realize it would make financial sense to release all of the books again via Holmgard Press.

I completely agree that they should be released by Holmgard Press. It doesn't take anything away from my collection as they are still unique to who published them at the time but allows those who missed out on getting these collectors editions to do so.

[greg]

And he should start with book 15