Some books are worth a small fortune
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (367625)
Rockingham, Australia
May 2, 2025 3:39am CST
Once again, the photo has nothing to do with the discussion.
I’ve just finished reading To Kill A Mockingbird. It’s the first time I’ve read it but what a great read. No wonder it’s regarded as a classic.
For twenty years, our home town was Donnybrook. There is a bookshop there called Donnybooks. A friend of ours is now working there and told us that a box of books had come in from an estate sale. When she was going through it, she came across a first edition of To Kill A Mockingbird. It isn’t signed but has a dust jacket.
I googled the book and first editions can be very expensive but I’m hesitant to mention prices. After all, a book is only worth what you can get for it. However, first editions are advertised from at least several thousand to several hundred dollars.
16 people like this
14 responses
@MarieCoyle (52389)
•
2 May
To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my all time favorite books! Love it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May
@MarieCoyle Yes, such a wise, kind father. A great book. I think I'll be reading it again before I leave here.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (163837)
• United States
2 May
When I was in 7th grade in school, we had to read To Kill a Mockingbird. It was an okay book but not one I would have read on my own. Why do teachers have to take all the joy out of reading books? Sometimes there isn't a "deeper meaning" behind the words the author wrote. Sometimes you have to take a book at face value and enjoy it for what it is instead of making everything seem like the author was thinking deep thoughts with every line in the book.
I have several first editions stored in plastic totes in our garage. Some signed by the author and some not. And yes, some of them are worth a few dollars. I tried to buy books that would go up in value the longer I kept them. I don't know if I've made good investments in them but hope Pretty can sell them for more than I paid for them after I'm gone.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May
I agree that people/critics often try to read more into a book/film than the author actually intended. There is no way of telling of course unless you're able to talk to the author. I hope some of your special books turn out to be a good investment.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (163837)
• United States
2 May
@JudyEv Thanks... I always wondered what the author(s) would have thought about the way teachers dissect their books... I bet most of them would roll their eyes and tell us to enjoy the books as they are and not to read too much into them.
I know that's how I'd feel if I found out someone was dissecting my book of poetry. I was 18 when it was published. There wasn't a lot in my brain to think about at that time. 
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (50950)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 May
You didn't study it in school? 
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (50950)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
3 May
@JudyEv I can't think of any Australian novels we may have studied, but certainly English ones... absolutely hated The Mayor of Casterbridge.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 May
@BarBaraPrz Some of those ancient classics weren't exactly rivetting.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (126598)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 May
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite classic books! I remember I had to read it as an assignment in one of my high school literature classes. I was dreading the assignment, thinking it was going to be a boring book from a bygone era. Wow, was I surprised! I was hooked right from the beginning, and didn't put the book down until I read it from cover to cover!
Isn't it amazing how much value some of those first edition books can fetch? And speaking of first edition, I wonder how much a first edition Bible autographed by Adam & Eve would be worth? lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (126598)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 May
@JudyEv I wonder who took the "photo" of Jesus on the cross?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 May
@moffittjc He had been giving me a hard time so I couldn't help a little smirk to myself. 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (208581)
• United States
3 May
Condition has a lot to do with it too. I can't remember if I ever read TKAM.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 May
@LindaOHio I haven't seen the movie. I might try to find it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (208581)
• United States
5 May
@JudyEv I don't think I've seen the movie either.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (200249)
• United States
2 May
That's awesome. Was she offering it to you?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May
No, just telling us about it. We saw it in the bookshop but it was around $900 so we left it there. We wouldn't really know where to start to go about selling it.
@allknowing (153918)
• India
2 May
I have read this book years and years ago but have totally forogotten what it is all about
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153918)
• India
2 May
@JudyEv Thank you Those days I was a voracious reader but now I do not know when it was the last time I touched a book
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91065)
• Arvada, Colorado
2 May
Yes first edition would be valuable.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May
It surprises me that books are more valuable if they have their dustjackets.
@FourWalls (81144)
• United States
3 May
I’ve never read the book, but I’ve seen the movie. Gregory Peck’s second-best shining hour (behind Gentleman’s Agreement).
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (126649)
• Marion, Ohio
2 May
Cute photo. Glad you enjoyed the book
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (91932)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 May
Lucky you, I have never read this book nor seen the movie, At least i will see if I can find the movie online,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (367625)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May
I'm not sure what the attraction is about first editions but collectors prefer them. Did you enjoy the movie?
