The Most Valuable Books Worth Holding Onto
People collect all sorts of items that can turn into good investments years down the line. One common object owned by people all over the world are books. They've been around for approximately 4,500 years, so there are quite a few that are considered valuable.
From first editions to rare prints, there are numerous novels that are highly sought after by bibliophiles. Those looking to bring in extra cash may want to clear the dust off their bookshelves and check to see if they have any on this list.
J.K. Rowling Couldn't Hide This in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone
Before Harry Potter was turned into a massive film sensation, it was a popular novel series by British author J.K. Rowling. Her first book of the series called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, also known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was first released on June 26, 1997.
The publisher only released 500 copies at first, with 300 only going to libraries and schools in the United Kingdom. This copy was also the only one to reference the author by her birth name of Joanne Rowling. For the lucky ones who managed to snag one of these rare novels, their worth ranges from $40,000 to $100,000.
Russian History Explored in War and Peace
Russian author Leo Tolstoy is best remembered for his 1,225-page literary masterpiece War and Peace. This novel is a glimpse back into Russian history as it chronicles the French invasion of Russia and the impact of the Napleonic era told through the eyes of five Russian aristocratic families.
While there are numerous copies printed, the first edition is the most valuable by far. It was released in 1869, so coming upon one of the original publishings is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. A U.S. first edition from 1885 is worth as much as $18,000.
The Catcher in the Rye Was J.D. Salinger's Only Novel
Although J.D. Salinger is one of the most famous authors in literary history, he's only published one novel. Some readers may know him from his short stories, but nothing compares to his young adult book, The Catcher in the Rye. The story follows protagonist Holden Caulfield going through an adolescence filled with angst, alienation, and rebellion.
After it's finished version was released on July 16, 1951 it became one of the most popular books of the 20th century. If someone has the first edition with its original dust jacket intact and the rest of the novel in near-mint condition it can sell for $75,000.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Is Now an Antique
Without L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Hollywood would've never made the hit film The Wizard of Oz that featured memorable songs, dances, wardrobes, and cutting-edge visual effects. He first penned the famous children's book at the turn of the century in 1900 and included stunning images from illustrator W.W. Denslow.
Even over a century later Baum's characters have been featured in films, TV shows, plays, and more. The first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is now considered an antique and can be sold for $100,000.
The Great Gatsby Typo is Worth Thousands
Some novels are an instant hit when they're first published, while others take a bit of time to establish readership. The Great Gatsby is a look back on the Roaring Twenties in the United States and is a cautionary tale about what it takes to achieve the American Dream.
It struggled a bit when it was first released because it only sold 20,000 copies and received mixed reviews by literary experts. A first edition copy with the original dust jacket is worth $194,000. One way to tell if its a first edition is if there's a typo on the back of the dust jacket that reads "jay Gatsby" with a lowercase "j."
Pride and Prejudice Has Record-Breaking Sales
Jane Austen was a revolutionary writer for her time after publishing Pride and Prejudice in 1813. Since its release it's become one of the most read novels in English literature and has sold over 20 million copies. It tells the tale of protagonist Elizabeth Bennet who deals with themes of marriage, social pressure, wealth, and judgment.
The success of Austen's novel has led to various film and television versions that bring her characters and ideals to life on screen. Austen's first edition of Pride and Prejudice has three volumes, which sell for around $185,000.
Jack Kerouac's Unorthodox Writing Process for On the Road
If one book could summarize the underground culture in 1950s America, it's On the Road by Jack Kerouac. It conveys a postwar United States that heavily focuses on the Beat and Counterculture generations and also incorporates elements like jazz music and poetry.
Something quite unique about Kerouac's writing process was typing the entire novel on one continuous reel of paper. If someone is still holding on to an original copy it may be worth a little over $10,000.
Shakespeare's Plays Were Saved Thanks to First Folio
William Shakespeare's plays have outlived him by many centuries. They're still taught in thousands of schools around the world, performed in grand theatres, and have been turned into several different books and TV shows. First Folio is a collection of 23 of his most well-known plays including Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Tempest.
It's one of the oldest books on record after being published in 1623 and without it there's a big chance that many of his plays would've been lost forever. In the unlikely chance someone owns a copy of this four century old book, it can be worth about $6.3 million.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Was Almost a Disney Movie
Not only did Beatrix Potter write The Tale of Peter Rabbit back in 1902, but she also did all of the illustrations. She originally wrote it for the son of her governess and decided to refine it to get published. The children's story focused on a rambunctious young bunny named Peter Rabbit who gets chased around a garden owned by Mr. McGregor.
After its success Walt Disney asked Potter for the rights, so he could make it into a film. She refused because she thought it would be a scheme. A year before the book was released to the public Potter commissioned 250 copies for her friends and family, which are now worth over $56,000.
Ulysses Gets an Obscenity Trial
One of Irish writer James Joyce's literary masterpieces is Ulysses. It chronicles a protagonist named Leopold Bloom in Dublin, Ireland over the course of an ordinary day and is a parallel of the epic poem, Odyssey, by Homer. After almost a century the novel has been adapted into plays, films, TV shows, audio broadcasts, songs, and other works of prose.
Around the time the novel was first published it attracted a great deal of controversy, which led to an obscenity trial and other acts of scrutiny. Only 100 copies of first editions were published, so having one in perfect condition is worth about $355,000.
Dracula Was the Start of Vampire Culture
Only 1,000 copies of the first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula were created, so it's extremely difficult for people to get their hands on one. This Gothic horror novel is the first telling of Count Dracula, which inspired the entire vampire fantasy genre.
It was introduced to the public towards the turn of the century in 1897 and actually did a lot better with modern readers versus those from the Victorian era. A signed first edition was recently put up for sale for $60,000.
The Price of The Canterbury Tales is Unreal
After seeing the price of The Canterbury Tales after it sold would make most people do a double-take. Those looking to grab a copy and spend some time reading it should know that it contains 17,000 lines and is written in the outdated language of Middle English.
The size of the book is massive, but it's often thought to be incomplete because author Geoffrey Chaucer wanted to add more stories before he passed on. If someone is still hanging on to a copy from 1476, the price comes in at roughly $11.2 million. This makes it one of the most expensive novels of all time.
