Is this a bargain or not?

[IceMaiden]

Given the price Banshee Towers goes for, I can't decide if this is a good deal or not:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122016355794" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MJE]

     I have been looking for Enid Blyton titles recently, and I would not even consider this. But we all have different criteria about what we want to buy, and how much we want to pay; so I cannot really say whether, in general, it's a good deal or not. It seems a tad expensive for a book that has no dustwrapper, and there is damage "affecting the text", as it says in the eBay page.
     But I could be out of touch: this book may be especially rare, and it may be a good deal to those who really know about these things - a good deal, at least, for someone who just wants to read the book and doesn't care about dustwrappers, good condition, etc., and who wants to pay as little as possible. One problem is that there are only two photographs - so, to some extent, we can't tell in full what the condition is, anyway.
     Just my point of view - I'm not expert in the varying editions, reasonable prices for them, and the like.

Regards, Michael.

[Courtenay]

Well, it doesn't have a dust jacket, which is what collectors are looking for. So while it's not a completely unreasonable price for a book of that age, it's not exactly a bargain either and probably wouldn't be worth it to most people — especially as it sounds from the description like it's only in fair condition (though it's described as "good").

[Fiona1986]

Given that there is only that one hardback edition of Banshee Towers, and how infrequently they appear for sale, I would actually say that's a fair price. I paid £10 for a book in a similar condition - which was listed as having a page missing. I was happy to buy it and add in a page from my old paperback. It turned out it didn't have a page missing at all, so I believe I did get a bargain.

[Rob Houghton]

I would say for 'Stella and Roses Books' that's a reasonable price, given that if it had a wrapper they would probably sell it for around £300 or maybe more - BUT - I have seen quite a few hardbacks of Banshee Towers for around £6 without a wrapper.

[Fiona1986]

- BUT - I have seen many wrapperless hardbacks of Banshee Towers for around £6.

Where on earth were you looking? It took me a couple of years to find my copy!

[Rob Houghton]

Lol - while you were replying I was editing. Maybe not 'many' but as I said, 'quite a few'. Over the last year I've seen three or four without a wrapper on eBay.

[Julie2owlsdene]

A book is worth what you want to pay for it.

[Moonraker]

I would say for 'Stella and Roses Books' that's a reasonable price, given that if it had a wrapper they would probably sell it for around £300 or maybe more

I recently paid £40 (in a fit of extravagance) for my copy, complete with d/j.

[Rob Houghton]

But presumably NOT from Stella's books!?

[Moonraker]

No, at least I don't think so! I did get it via eBay.

[IceMaiden]

I have seen quite a few hardbacks of Banshee Towers for around £6 without a wrapper.

I'll have to look out for one of those! The cheapest I've seen Banshee Towers without a wrapper is the one eBay for £36 that's been there quite a while and it doesn't look in great condition as the writing on the front is rather faded. I already have a copy with a wrapper, but for six quid I wouldn't say no to a spare . Interesting how the wrapper can add so much to the price even though it technically doesn't add to or alter the story itself at all!

[Fiona1986]

I saw a good copy in a dustjacket yesterday, for £45. That was in Peter Ellis bookshop off Charing Cross Road.