So I’m at work. I do one of any number of things here which often includes work but more often includes these BBoards. I also like to hop around eBay. I rarely buy anything but for some reason really like seeing what people are selling and how much things are REALLY worth. Naturally this often revolves around fly fishing. There are these books on eBay called “Rare and Unusual Fly Tying Materials”. This one auction has volume 1 & 2 with an asking price of $1000. Why? WHY? I ask you, would anyone pay $1000 for these two books. What is in them, does anyone have them? Is the secret to the meaning of life in there…how to turn rocks into gold…the results of every horse race for the year 2007??? I’m flabbergasted? Could someone please explain this to me? Oh and this was a serious question, I really want to know and don’t want to pay that much to find out.
Hi Gburg,
As with any other published works, sometimes a limited edition, first edition, leather bound editions or autographed copy of a publsihed work can demand higher prices. Sometimes if there was a flaw like a printing error or if the book is from someone famous estate that will also justify a higher price. The books you have mentioned are very expensive in the newer volumes so, without knowing more about the volumes in question it is difficult to know or guess-timate why the higher bidding prices are there.
The photography, author’s research and writing of the text, acquisition or borrowing of the rare and unusual tying materials that went into the prepartion of the book is probably accounting for the higher prices to begin with , so, I guess folks will pay dearly for the things they value the most and for their own personal reasons. To some it maight be considered an investment
Gerri
You are correct. Upon closer inspection I found out that these were signed first ed. copies. I also did some investigation to learn that really any copy of this book is expensive (not sure if you can still get them new). I guess that high price for a non-signed copy is maybe due to a large amount of color pictures…but still, it seems like an awful lot. Anyone have a copy of this book. Is it really useful?
“Is the secret to the meaning of life in there…how to turn rocks into gold…the results of every horse race for the year 2007???”
LOL - Man that’s just too funny!!!
Hi, The books you mention are by Paul Schmookler and Ingrid Sills. Actually a thousand for both is a fair price especially if they are signed. Paul is a very famous, perfectionist, ‘use the original material’, salmon fly tyer. Ingrid is an excellent tyer in her own right. Paul also publishes the fancy magazine Arts of Angling. Forgotton Flies in another book he published. All are very large, heavy books. The 'Rare and Unusual" are great for Salmon fly tyers as they show pictures of and write ups on all the rare birds whose plumage has been used to tie salmon flies with over the centuries. Everything about their books is classy and top rate.
They are limited in number and Paul says there will never be a second printing as it is too expensive. At least one of these books and maybe both cost $110 when they were new. I saw just the Vol 1 go for over $800 a year or more ago on ebay. When people saw that, they began putting their copies on and that brought the price down a bit but now that that flurry of a dozen or so were sold and there are fewer available, the price goes back up. If you are young and can hold on to them for some years they are an excellent investment. I have both, signed, along with a signed copy of Forgotton Flies.
I guess you would have to be interested in old and rare and/or collectible books to realize how it works.
Whenever people collect something, and there is a limited amount of that item, they become desirable.
The books you mention have consistently brought higher prices than that on eBay, Amazon and other outlets. I’ve actually seen people paying well over a $1000 for one book in the set. Apparently this was a very small printing and the book is quite rare. The value of anything is a direct reflection of what amount buyers are willing to spend and the buyer in this case got a pretty good deal. Certain well beyond my pocket book, but still a very good deal. 8T 
GBurg,
I was fortunate to order 2 of the books, R & U, Vol. 2 and Forgotten Flies, prior to publication so I got a great price. At the time I told people that I paid less per pound(book is over 11#s) than most other new books on the shelves and that was true. Now I don’t know if these books are worth $1000 but I guess some people think so. Regardless of their monetary worth, they are great books.
Allan
Value is the eye of the beholder ( or wallet).
Why would anyone buy something 10-20 times the original price???
Why would someone pay 5000.00 for a vintage Bamboo rod? Maybe they want it 