Yes, that auction really was bizarre. And HoMe prices have always struck me as odd, that they have fluctuated so much.

Spanish Tolkien Biography

http://www.sociedadtolkien.org/bibliografiatolkien.php

Yes, the current auction is really bizarre.

I have never fully got my head around HoMe prices / scarcity. Partly because I've never really been in the market for them. I have replaced the one book that I didn't buy as a first edition (I think), and upgraded another one that had a worn jacket, but other than that I've only followed the market intermittently.

[Rowns] Some of the price on Ebay are just a bit strange really. $100+ for a few paperbacks! What are they missing!

You know to pull out of the bidding when the price gets anywhere near Abebooks prices. If reputible dealers (with ABEs 13.5% fees) can sell for whatever; not much point in paying that on Ebay (unless its a reputible dealer on Ebay also!).

I've been watching HoME prices for a long while now, and the prices people pay for these books are highly variable. They've all been gradually going down in price (I think). But the other day, a fairly normal copy of Sauron Defeated went for £100; which is pretty high. And, did anyone see the copy of Peoples of Middle-earth (usually goes for ~£300-500), that ADCbooks sold last year for £830! . Whats that all about!?

The crazy world of Ebay...

BH

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290203103988

I just don't get it. If it was two bidders getting caught up, sure, but there are 10 bidders or more (last I looked) all getting into it. All five books I can find online for at most $10 for the set of five. What am I missing?