How to price a super-rare book?

This book does not seem like it should be so rare. 1978 by a common publisher. Yet I can find only one copy anywhere online (abebooks), and it was priced at a ridiculous $30,254.71. I see now it has been reduced to “only” $22,792.76. (I messaged the seller a week ago to ask what the “real” price was. No response.)

It is:
Sayings and Doings of Pai-chang - Ch’an Master of Great Wisdom ISBN: 0916820106 - Center Publications (January 1, 1978)

How should I price my almost like-new copy?

 

there's no such thing as almost like new................

that said......
offer it for 10 Grand........& see if u get a bite ...

 

A buyer can save her/himself a nice chunk of change by buying a copy from this seller.

Debora

 

Thank you! Looks like my searches were incomplete.
The photo for that one is of The Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda, but the ISBN is correct, so it's likely(?) the right one.

 

Agree with komo, LOL!
And Paul, your copy is nowhere near "like new", IMHO. I see some kind of stain on the top edge of the front cover, and lots of edge wear to the entire cover... just sayin'...

 

Agree, in book terms it wouldn't be described as "like new." Here is the abebooks.com guide to book conditions. From what I can see... If it were mine, I'd describe it as "very good" disclosing cover stain, etc.

https://www.abebooks.com/books/rare...anding-rare-books/guide-book-conditions.shtml

And always keep in mind that, in book collecting, "rare" doesn't automatically translate to "valuable."

Debora

 

points all taken. . . thanks

 

The book may be scarce, but it does not have "collectible" value - (not by a noted author, a fine binding, etc.) It will be of interest to students of Zen philosophy, who would be more likely to look for it in a library before paying an outrageous amount of money for it.

When you can't find direct comparisons, it is sometimes helpful to look for other books by the same author or, in this case, other books in the publisher's Zen Writings Series.

https://www.bookfinder.com/search/?...=P4Gc0G.il3F,w9tdB.OwbT6gjJ4_1662131697_1:4:1

https://www.bookfinder.com/search/?...vLZbUV9ijiMqq.cnjqDbUrxjK8_1662131877_1:12:38

@2manycats might be willing to opine further.