How rare is my original Star Wars novel?

Not sure if this is the right forum to place this, im usually lost in the endless episode three spoiler threads cause im pathetic and need new starwars info daily...anyway

I was in a used bookstore a year ago, a classic dusty little dark place that doest have much bt what they have is cool, old copies of LOTR, etc, and i found a copy of the original starwars novel. Its dated at 1976 and the cover has that Macquarrie cover with a concept looking vader, its the book that was out before the movie, obviously, ive seen some dudes on this sight with that as their icon,(the vader) its got c-3po and r2 and luke on it as well. i was just wondering how rare it was. im a fan since 77, have a decent amount of toys, books and stuff but cant recall ever coming across this.

i havent been to conventions really or any really big fan events, so i didnt know if this was a copy that alot have seen.

i was just curious on how rare it was and maybe its value, though im not concerned about that, its not in great condition but the cover aint too bad. just curious about my book.

thanks guys

peace

 

but what edition is it? I have a reprint copy from 1992 or 1993.

you can tell if it is a first run by the numbers on the bottom of the page, the second or thrid page in, with the Library of Congress info on it.

 

Ah, i havent even thought of that....ill check, i havent seen any other dates on it though besides the 76 but ill have to check to be sure..... when i posted i wasnt even thinking about that, i assumed it would have only been run once cause the movie covers came out the next year. they reprinted the original cover?

 

Check out the "used books" section of - it is a listing of all internet booksellers. You can do a search for your book, based on author, year, etc., and get a general idea of what the book would be worth.

Good luck!

 

You may also wanna check out the 'Collecting' forum, someone over there might be able to help.

 

Thank you guys.....

 

I'll give you 10 quid for it

 

Enemy - Collecting Forum has a Questions thread that would have been perfect for this, but here is what 'A Universe of Star Wars Collectables' has to say about the 'very first Star Wars collectable':
If you have the trade hardcover, it is very scarce and valuable. Universe lists a price of 100 US dollars for this (if it is in very good shape, obviously). The first edition hardcover has a gold dustjacket and the words 'Hardbound Ballentine Books Editionctober 1977/First Edition December 1976' in two lines on the copyright page. The number is Del Ray #27476-8.

The first edition paperback is listed at 90 USD if in very good shape. It is Ballentine #26061-9. On the copyright page it says 'First Edition: December 1976'. Later reprints and Book Club Editions are not valuable.

I have the paperback. It sat in the bookcase for years (since 1976!) and it wasn't til I bought 'Universe' last year that I realized
I had collectable #1. I have looked around online at some of the 'rare books' sites but the highest price I have seen for it is around 25 USD. Mine is not in very good shape. It has all the pages and isn't torn, but the pages are showing their age. If I was going to put it on Ebay (which I am not) I might start it around 25 USD and see what happened.

 

Ljaj Fett, thank you for that info! Very interesting and actually i have no plans to sell it. quite frankly its in less then stellar condition but the cover is actually not to bad. its the soft cover and from everything i can tell, it is the actual first editon, first run of the book. Moreso then its value, i was curious as to how rare it is. Itll just be kept on display along with some older LOTR books i have at the top of a bookshelf in my home til it, or I, turn to dust....

thanks again for the info guys and next time ill find the correct forum for this sort of thing!!!

peace

(ep3's gonna rock!)

 

Mine is June 1977, Second Printing. and a June 1977, Seventh Printing.

 

I have a hardcover edition w/ a copyright date of 1976, "by the Star Wars Corporation."

It says "cover art by John Berkey, supplied by Twentieth Century Fox."

It has a blackish-blue dust jacket saying "Star Wars" and underneath "from the adventures of Luke Skywalker." Then it says "George Lucas."

The cover art shows Darth Vader w/ the DS in the background, Luke, Leia, the droids and storm troopers in the foreground.

It is in excellent condition. It has pix in the middle from the movie, and it's clear the thing was printed before the movie came out. Is it worth anything, not that I want to sell it???

 

Ariel - from the writeup and pix in 'Universe' it looks like you have the Science Fiction Book Club edition of the hardcover. 'Universe' describes this as '1st SFBC:$2.49. 183 pp, Del Rey #2403-4, Aug 1977, with 16 pages of color photos from the movie, printing code S27, John Berkey cover'
and gives a price of 20 USD for the first edition. To tell a First Edition of this one, look on pg 183 for the printing code 'S27'. Later editions are not valuable.
This book actually appeared before the trade hardcover, so it was the first hardcover of the novel.