Worthy Investment?

Discussion & Review Forum For James Bond Books Written By John Gardner (November 20, 1926 – August 3, 2007)
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Kiwichris
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Favorite Bond Movie: GoldenEye, Licence to Kill, The Living Daylights, You Only Live Twice, The World is Not Enough, Casino Royale, For Your Eyes Only
Favorite Movies: Star Wars, V for Vendetta, Dredd, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Braveheart, Raimi Spider-Man Films, Man of Steel, Zulu, Indiana Jones, Road to Perdition, Enemy at the Gates
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Worthy Investment?

Post by Kiwichris »

I was in a second hand bookshop today and saw first edition hardback copies of Licence Renewed and Icebreaker with their original dust jackets and everything. They were NZ$15 each and agonized over getting them or not. Do you think I should? Are Gardner's books worth much?
"Dalton makes an effective Bond - lacking Sean Connery's grace and humor, and Roger Moore's suave self-mockery, but with a lean tension and a toughness that is possibly more contemporary" - Roger Ebert
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Blowfeld
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Favorite Bond Movie: Goldfinger
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Re: Worthy Investment?

Post by Blowfeld »

Kiwichris wrote:I was in a second hand bookshop today and saw first edition hardback copies of Licence Renewed and Icebreaker with their original dust jackets and everything. They were NZ$15 each and agonized over getting them or not. Do you think I should? Are Gardner's books worth much?
I do not believe Gardners 007 Books are worth all that much. They were hard to find for awhile but are now available via digital format and reprint. It's not liking finding a 1st edt Fleming in the discount bin.

However if the books are in collectible condition (and the real 1980s 1st editions) that is about what I would pay if I were looking at them purely as a collector not as an investment. As an investor I have no clue because I have/will never sell my books.

As a collector I will pay for a book in the condition that satisfies me even if it is slightly over priced. Which I don't think these are, not really. Not for a Hardback 1st edt. Me, I'd buy them, maybe try to work a deal for both books for 20-25, however I wouldn't expect their value to increase. As long as new movies are being made interest in 007 Books will always be there and they will always have a value especially to 007 collectors.

I did buy all the Bond authors books in Hardback over the last 10-15 years, Gardners books I got fairly cheap some in lots and some individually in shops. Most are in decent condition to very good not what I'd consider collectible. Most were a few quid at that.

Just did a search throu some of the sellers I frequent online and they wanted more than the price you named (these stores tend demand a price and get it because they offer a service in locating the books in specified condition). Still if you wanted to sell them they would not be worth much more in a few years I'm sorry to say.

Sorry to be all over the field on this, not wanting to leave you with the wrong impression I covered all the possibilities trying to give a clearer picture while not being an expert myself. Hope this helps in some small way. Please let us know what you end up deciding.
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"Those were the days when we still associated Bond with suave, old school actors such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore,"
"Daniel didn't have a hint of suave about him," - Patsy Palmer
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Blowfeld
Ministry of Defence
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Favorite Bond Movie: Goldfinger
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The Living Daylights
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Re: Worthy Investment?

Post by Blowfeld »

Almost forgot Gardner's most valuable book is the Hardcover GoldenEye.
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"Those were the days when we still associated Bond with suave, old school actors such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore,"
"Daniel didn't have a hint of suave about him," - Patsy Palmer
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Kiwichris
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Posts: 286
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:36 am
Favorite Bond Movie: GoldenEye, Licence to Kill, The Living Daylights, You Only Live Twice, The World is Not Enough, Casino Royale, For Your Eyes Only
Favorite Movies: Star Wars, V for Vendetta, Dredd, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Braveheart, Raimi Spider-Man Films, Man of Steel, Zulu, Indiana Jones, Road to Perdition, Enemy at the Gates
Location: New Zealand

Re: Worthy Investment?

Post by Kiwichris »

Thanks for giving me a rundown on that. I'll probably get them anyway, as I'd rather get them and they not be overly valuable as opposed to passing only to later see them become really prized and pricy.

*EDIT*
I bought License Renewed but not Icebreaker on the logic that it won't ever go down in value.
"Dalton makes an effective Bond - lacking Sean Connery's grace and humor, and Roger Moore's suave self-mockery, but with a lean tension and a toughness that is possibly more contemporary" - Roger Ebert
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