Last week, Bonhams Los Angeles sold a first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species; estimated between $90,000 to $120,000, it sold with premium for $168,825.
Demand vs. Supply
The only question is whether there’s enough super-rare supply to satisfy demand.
“The hardest part is probably the supply,” says Goldthorpe. “Travel is a part of what people do. They go around looking for rare books—and if you can’t travel, [rare books] are hard to find.”
This, says Gloss of the Brattle Book Store, is of particular concern. “The problem for a lot of dealers is how do you replace stock.”
Sutherland says that’s only a temporary issue.
Once collectors see what buyers are willing to pay, he explains, more material will become available. “There’s lots of stuff out there,” Sutherland concludes. “It’s just a matter of bringing it to the market.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.