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Early Edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin

q:

I have a copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and it is not in the best of shape. Many years ago my grandmother rented out her barns for storage, and this was left behind. It's been up in the attic for many years and is now in my safe deposit box. It is not a first edition, but does it have any value? Any information would be appreciated.

—M. M.

a:

I spoke with Tom Nicely, owner of Leaves of Grass, a by-appointment antiquarian bookshop in Ann Arbor, Michigan (734-995-2300). He told me that old editions of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe are fairly common (it was one of the most popular and highly printed books of the 19th century). A first edition (1852) in good condition can command $15,000. Later editions can still be quite valuable if they are in good condition and are a special printing -- for example, if the book is the first illustrated edition, one that is illustrated by a famous artist or one that has especially lovely leather binding. The majority of 19th-century editions in fair condition range in price from about $10 to $50. To get a sense of where your edition falls on the scale, Mr. Nicely suggests visiting a Website called www.bookfinder.com and entering the author and title for a search. When I did this I found 511 used editions of Uncle Tom's Cabin listed, ranging from a few dollars apiece (for 20th-century printings) up to $15,000. By reading the descriptions, you can find the one that most closely resembles your edition. Hope this helps!

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