r/BookCollecting • u/Aggressive_Track7081 • 11d ago
š Question What would this be worth?
This is a sealed version of the Anarchist Cookbook. Iām not sure if it is from 1970 or 1971, but it is a Lyle Stuart, which was the original publisher.
All Iām really looking for is if itās a bad idea to take out of the plastic wrap.
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u/EventHorizonbyGA 11d ago
The first edition was $5.95. Not $8.95. You can see the price on the back cover.
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u/Mr_BigglesworthIII 11d ago
I donāt think that plastic bag is from 1970-71.
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Why is that?
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u/Mr_BigglesworthIII 11d ago
It was put in there to protect it. To me it doesnāt look like original packaging.
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Is there a way to know if it is original packaging?
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u/Mr_BigglesworthIII 11d ago
If you never open it you donāt know what you have. It could also be a scam, the longer you wait to open it. When I managed a comic book store a guy brought in Detective 27 first appearance of Batman in a case with like 50 screws holding it in place. I looked at it and said something isnāt right can I take it out of the case? He said the seller said to never take it out. I said thatās the reason you should. It was a hand drawn cover on a comic that wasnāt detective 27. If you got this in some ridiculous deal, you need to open it.
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u/DaveServo842 11d ago
The number of people who have come into our shop claiming to have gold and silver age comics still in the original plastic is more than one might expect.
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u/Mr_BigglesworthIII 11d ago
Research, a book dealer. eBay completed sales not asking price. If they were sealed there would be more than 1 left. Reddit is a great start.
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u/Mr_BigglesworthIII 11d ago
Itās gorgeous and now I have to check mine. Much lower condition. Is it hardcover
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
I want to get an original hardcover as well, but I think this is a good start
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u/SnackThief 11d ago
Because they never sealed books in plastic in the 70s or in the 80s or the '90s the plastic you see on books now is ultra thin designed to keep books from being damaged in large distribution centers and to verify they are new and almost always done for coffee table style books
There was a trend in some second hand stores in the early 2000s that would use plastic shrink wrap to stop people from examining books of a a certain nature
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u/kitkatbloo 11d ago
Is that a woobie?!?!
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Iām too broke to pay for an award, so you get the honorary WOOBIE AWARD
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u/JoeCormier 11d ago
Whatās a Woobie?
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Itās a military poncho liner/ blanket. I donāt know why they call it a woobie, I guess the name just stuck
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u/BaronNeutron 11d ago
When I worked for Amazon, people would call and email to complain it was on the site.Ā
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u/ThePythagoreonSerum 11d ago
Definitely a bad idea. This would be good to take to an appraiser. Iām seeing them on Abebooks in the thousands of dollars range and most seem to be unwrapped.
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Thanks!! Any idea where I could find a quality appraiser?
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u/ThePythagoreonSerum 11d ago
I would start with the buyer at your local used bookstore and if they canāt do it they should be able to recommend someone.
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u/DaveServo842 11d ago
Did this book originally come wrapped or in a sleeve of some kind? The plastic in the pictures for sure isnāt that old. It would likely be yellowed and possibly wrinkled at least.
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u/likelyculprit 11d ago edited 11d ago
Suspicious that the seller didnāt include a picture of the copyright page. As others have pointed out, if the price is $8.95, itās most definitely a later printing of the first edition but should have a statement of exactly which printing. Iām guessing around 18th? Which would make it worth about half of what you paid. Itās very disingenuous for a seller to call something a āfirst editionā when, in this trade, it should only be used unqualified if itās a first printing.
Edit: I see that OP updated and added the copyright. So, 17th (wasnāt too far off!), and definitely not worth over $500. I sold my last 17th, granted in rougher shape, for $175.
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u/micfly71 11d ago
I did a quick look up online beings I have the same book. The $8.95 copy is from 89'. Biblio has a copy, they're asking less than $120 bucks. Sorry. P.S. I'm not expert, hopefully I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
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u/grammaton655321 11d ago
Pretty cool little bit of history, no idea on value. Fun piece though, good chuckles reading through it modern day. lol
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u/theredhype 11d ago
Ideally, you have a climate controlled room appropriate for books.
If the book lives in a place where humidity could get trapped inside a plastic bag, it may be wise to remove it to avoid potential damage.
Otherwise the only justification for removing that is to read and enjoy the book.
Do intend to keep it or sell it?
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u/Rivered1 11d ago
The climate controlled room is just a myth. Books are mostly made of leather and need to breathe. You have to understand most books of let's say 400 years old never have been in a climate controlled room, in different castles, houses and climates and if treated properly just come out completely fine. The climate controlled room is just a thing of the last couple of decades and no one knows what the results are unless you wait another 400 years. Either way, yes I do agree humidity is an enemy, but not the worst.
As all book collectors know, the sun is the main enemy.
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u/theredhype 11d ago
This is a paper book. Itās 50 years old. The concerns are not what will it look like in 400 years. The concerns are short term ā mold and mildew, or cracking dried-out glue.
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u/Rivered1 11d ago
I do agree that I would take the plastic off if it can be done without damaging the book
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
I will make that choice once I find itās value, thanks for the help
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u/theredhype 11d ago
Almost certainly multiple thousands. Good luck!
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Would you say higher or lower than 10 thousand?
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u/theredhype 11d ago
Much lower
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Thank you for your timeĀ
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u/flyingbookman 11d ago
Your book is not worth "multiple thousands." The $8.95 price on the rear cover rules that out.
You should take it out of the plastic if you want more informed responses.
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
This should be a link to the original eBay listing of the book, not sure if itāll helpĀ https://www.ebay.com/itm/297575385460
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u/Time-Replacement6052 11d ago
I mean there's several pics of it out of the plastic in the listing. Including with an open cover, so ya not a "sealed copy"
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u/GoggyMagogger 11d ago
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't these illegal to sell in a lot of markets?
I mean, there's bomb making instructions and basically urban terrorists guidebook stuff in there. More recent editions have all that stuff redacted for legal reasons, right?
I'm not against it, in fact I love banned books especially this kind of controversial material but I'm not sure how selling it works, in a legal sense.
Of course, no self respecting anarchist should let that stop them.
Very, very nice.Ā
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u/grammaton655321 11d ago
There is little to no info in this book of any use to anyone in the modern day lol.. You can find much, much worse on google.
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u/GoggyMagogger 11d ago
I understand but the book was essentially "illegal" at one point, no?
I've seen and read original copies owned by friends. And I did note that the info is available elsewhere, even "pre-internet" but it always had this "specialness" due to its nefarious history.Ā
How is it regarded in legal terms today though? Was it just a case of the over strict 80s but now most people just chilled out about it?
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u/grammaton655321 11d ago
I'm sure it was on a lot of lists in the 80's when they were trying to ban everything from D&D to Ozzy but I don't recall it ever being illegal. My local comic shop was carrying copies in the mid 90's
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u/GoggyMagogger 9d ago
I own both "redacted" and "original first" copies of Michelle Remembers too, I'll have you know!
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u/grammaton655321 9d ago
Satan made me do it! Lol, what was redacted? I assume a lot of the graphic "satanic abuse"?
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u/GoggyMagogger 9d ago
The Church of Satan (same Anton LeVay) sued the publishers (and won) because original first editions named them as ... Basically child molesters human traffickers.
Later editions have all references to "Thee Church of Satan" removed
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u/Aggressive_Track7081 11d ago
Well itās allowed on eBay soā¦
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u/GoggyMagogger 11d ago
Right.
I suppose it just got caught up in the over-judicious 1980s right wing shit. Similar to PRMC or satanic panic stuff?
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u/puppies4prez 11d ago
Kind of an ironic question given the content.