Raptis Rare Books Blog – Insights for Collectors, Stories from the World of Rare Books
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Why Is This Copy of The Little Prince Worth $60,000?
It is one of the most beloved books ever written — a slim fable about a pilot, a tiny prince, and a rose, cherished by generations of children and adults alike. Yet this particular first…
Read MoreGulliver’s Travels at 300: Jonathan Swift’s Satirical Masterpiece
Three hundred years ago, on October 28, 1726, London readers opened a strange and wonderful new book: a seemingly straightforward account of a ship’s surgeon’s voyages to lands no map had ever charted. It was,…
Read MoreWhat Makes This Copy of The Shining Worth $30,000?
The $30,000 first edition of The Shining — inscribed by Stephen King, signed by Jack Nicholson, and signed by jacket illustrator Dave Christensen. At first glance it looks like any first edition of a 1970s…
Read MoreMoby-Dick at 175: The Story of Melville’s Masterpiece in Print
This autumn marks the 175th anniversary of one of the greatest novels ever written. In October and November of 1851, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick; or, The Whale first appeared in print — a sprawling, strange, and…
Read MoreWhy This Signed Copy of The Talented Mr. Ripley Is Worth $22,000
The $22,000 first edition of The Talented Mr. Ripley, boldly signed by Patricia Highsmith, in the original first-issue dust jacket. In our latest video, we take a closer look at a book that might seem…
Read MoreMalcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point, Blink, and the Books That Changed How We Think
From The Tipping Point to Blink, Malcolm Gladwell changed how we talk about ideas. A look at his life and career, with signed and inscribed first editions of his landmark books.
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