First edition of 'The Hobbit,' signed by author (J.R.R. Tolkien) and inscribed to a friend (Stella Mills, whose work on Icelandic myth helped inspire the world of Middle Earth) -- $47,500
First paperback boxed set of 'The Lord of the Rings,' signed by author (J.R.R. Tolkien) -- $13,380
An 1861 edition of 'The Woman in White,' signed by the author (Wilkie Collins) -- $7500
A 1919 first edition of 'My Man Jeeves,' with a bookplate signed by the author (P.G. Wodehouse) -- $5000.
1961 first edition of 'Ice in the Bedroom' with a silly inscription by the author (P.G. Wodehouse) of 'Senile Good Wishes from octogenarian P.G. Wodehouse' -- $2667
An 1863 edition of 'Orley Farm,' signed by the author (Anthony Trollope) -- $1500
1954 edition of 'The Return of Jeeves,' signed by the author (P.G. Wodehouse) -- $850
...now, I'm perfectly happy with even modern paperback editions of things. But there's something to be said -- just for instance -- about the wonder of being able to hold an edition of Trollope that was once handled, and signed, by the author himself.
(Actually, though, two of the three I would most want are the two cheapest ones. The other, which likely comes as no surprise to those who know me well, would be the autographed Collins.)
If I ever win the lottery...
