In reply to unclesamsauntibess:
What you must remember people is that when companies run out of stock of an item on their bay of e shop, instead of removing it they hike the price up to a stupid amount so that people don't buy it. I think they do it because it is a pain in the arse to remove an item and then re list it when they get a re-stock.
I suspect the folks do the same on Amazon.
For a sensible cross reference on a books worth is to look it up on either;
www.abebooks.co.uk
or visit Chris Bartles site
www.glacierbooks.com
or the american site
www.topworldbooks.com
However there are a few details that will make your book worth more or less.
1) First Edition, First Printing in UK are the most valuable to UK collectors. There are however, quite a few books that were first printed in the USA.
2) The Book must have its original dust jacket (DJ) and not be "price clipped". This is where the book seller cuts off the corner of the dust jacket where the publisher had placed the recommended retail price.
3) Relevant signatures i.e. Author, person who wrote the forward, significant person who is referred to in the book. I'm yet to find a book with a fake signature but I'm sure if the market is out there for them then they will appear. Personally I don't see the point in buying a book with a signature already in it. Why not go to the book launch and meet the author. There are some un written rules about getting books signed but let us not get into that.
4) Dedications can actually de-value a book even if it is written by the Author. If the book is dedicated to "Phil and Sue, Best wishes" then the re-sale value is lower unless you happen to be Phil and Sue.
5) Condition of Dust Jacket. Quite a few of the books published in the 60's and 70's were on a style of paper that really faded in the sun. Chris Boningtons books are a good example of this, it's quite rare to find a 1st Edition of "I chose to climb" where you can read the red lettering on the spine of the DJ, same goes for "Annapurna South Face". Tears are bad, badly repaired tears are worse. Sellotape is the devils sticking plaster.
6) Ex-library books are the bane of every collector. You think you've finally found a copy of a certain book for peanuts only to discover that it's an ex-library book with stamps and stickers. Try as you will the stickers just will not come out. I have tried every type of glue remover known to man, I have applied enough heat to a sticker to melt granite and still the glue does not release. It's incredible. They DO NOT come off! People often "forget" to mention it in there adds on bay of e - makes my piss boil. They often try to hide it by tearing out the first page where the sticker is placed, the book is now worthless to a collector.
7) Rare books are only worth what people are willing to pay for them. I have a Copy of Don Whillan's Portrait of a Mountaineer signed by Don, Joe Brown, Chris Bonington, Doug Scott, Tut Braithwaite and Martin Boysen or a copy of Black Cliff signed by Joe Brown, Johnny Dawes, Ron Fawcett, Al Parker, Tut Braithwaite, Chris Bonington and Martin Boysen. Technically they are probably worth £800 each but i doubt I would find someone willing to pay that.
8) There are some real rare books out their, Publishers draft proof reading copies limited edition runs (100 books only ever printed etc).
Are there any new books that will become collectors pieces? I think Peak Rock Sleeve edition will become valuable. Especially if it comes with rare signatures like Steve Bancroft, John Allan etc.