For you collectors out there...

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/181650248...84.m1436.l2649

[Ric]

That would be nice to have.

Well out of my price range unfortunately.

[OzStarGazer]

Wow, when I go to a book sale I will pay more attention to old books from now on! I do like to collect rare books, but I think I will pass on that one for the moment until I have a nice house with a garden and an observatory.
I know I once found an old Norton's Star Atlas and bought it for $1. But it's not that old and probably worthless (I think from the 1950s?)

[speach (Simon)]

"$15,000, tell them their kidding!" or is it? "Strait down to the pool room"!

[leon]

Yes I agree Simon, a bit over priced, I have volunteered for years at the Ballarat Mechanics Institute, who have some very old and rare books I might add.
Some much older than this one and valued at far less.

Leon

[OzStarGazer]

Originally Posted by speach

"$15,000, tell them their kidding!"

I thought it was slightly overpriced too.
At the annual book sale in Sydney for example they also have rare books, first editions etc., but they are MUCH cheaper, maybe around $100-130? Sometimes a bit more expensive, but definitely not that expensive!

[JC (Julian)]

I'll bet its the expurgated version....

[Wavytone]

It's not just that it's an old book:

- it's a first edition, and these used to attract perhaps $1000 or so from the right buyers,

- it was a small print run, hence the first edition is relatively rare from the outset,

- it definitely is a collectible for those managing a serious astronomical museum - but ...

... the world has moved on from books and their only value now IMHO is sentimental.

Hence I expect it might fetch $1k or so, but not $15k.

[Eratosthenes (Peter)]

....could purchase a decent astrophotographical set up for $15,000.

Although the value of this book would increase with time one would imagine - collectors item

....incidentally the most expensive book in history was auctioned in NY in 1998 - Archimedes Palimpsest - the hammer went down at 2 million dollars plus 10% to Christies the auctioneer, so 2.2 million dollars (US). And the secret buyer who outbid the Greek Government. (identified later as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos). It was actually a prayer book that was mould, water and fire damaged. But underneath was Archimedes codex and it took many years to reveal the writing and drawings with modern analytical techniques.

Could purchase a nice house, a holiday home and an astrophysics telescope for 2.2 million dollars US (and a Suburu Outlander and trailer, to cart the observatory to the holiday home - its a tough choice isn't it ladies and gentlemen)