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I picked up a book published in 1888 by Mason Brayman, Civil War Union General and later Idaho Territory governor. It’s called “Selections from Poetical Writings of Mason Brayman from 1830 to 1888.” It is also labeled as a “Private Edition” on the front and the inside says only a few copies of this edition were published for friends and family for the man’s 75th birthday. It’s not signed or anything, but it is in really good condition.
Terrapeak couldn’t find any sold of this book from the last 2 years and none are active. Searching online I could not find an original copy of this book (either of this private edition or the regular edition of which I assume also exists). This title was republished several years ago and that is the only copy of this book I was able to locate for sale.
I have no idea how to price this book. Normally with rare items, I just price them really high and wait to see if I get any interest. Items of (possible) historical significance are kind of outside my expertise, though, so I’m not sure what would be considered a high price. Is eBay even the appropriate venue to sell this book?
Any help would be appreciated.
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This seems to be the same private edition, so theres probably no regular edition.
The republished editions are (I guess) print-on-demand copies from various firms who’ve downloaded the scans.
The bee, from her dwelling,
Revisits the plain,
And forests are swelling
With music again:
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Nice find! I am a book dealer.
I found one for sale by a rare book dealer that is the same edition as yours. They have it priced at $225 which seems about right to me. I’d list it on eBay and I’d probably list it around $300 and see what offers you get for it. You can always go higher if you want since it is so hard to find an original copy.
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That copy has a blue cover, and black endpapers:
Dark blue cloth, gilt lettering on front cover, 12mo, [8], 79, [1] pp., black end papers, all edges of text block gilt. Cover title: For Remembrance, May 23, 1888. Colophon reads: R.R. Donnelley & Sons, printer, Chicago.
(published by S. C. Griggs, Chicago)
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Thanks for finding a comp. My biggest fear is that I would sell it for $300 and then find out later it was actually worth $3000 or something. That would be really depressing.
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That “12mo” stands for duodecimo, which is the size of the book. I presume “[8], 79, [1] pp.” indicates the pages, i.e. 8 pages either blank or title page, index etc., 79 pages of text, 1 blank page at the end.
I’ve got three books on how to describe books, and I’ve never got round to reading them. Must admit, “all edges of text block gilt” is useful; “all edges of text block nicotine stained”.
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