Books You Might Have at Home Worth Over $500

⚠️ A few important things to know before you dig in:

• All prices shown are actual eBay sold prices in NZD, pulled from recent completed listings.
• eBay tends to be a leading indicator for where the New Zealand second-hand market will eventually head — typically with around a 12-month lag. So if something is selling for big money on eBay now, expect NZ prices to follow.
• Signed copies and Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) have not been included — those categories can push prices into the stratosphere and aren't representative of what most people will have on their shelves.
• I've kept bulk lots to a minimum, focusing on individual titles wherever possible.

Now, go check your shelves — you might be sitting on something extraordinary.

🏆 Big Ticket Books — Sold for Over NZD $1,000

NZD $4,995

Beyoncé's HOW TO MAKE LEMONADE — Limited Edition Book (2017)

NZD $4,995.73 | 55 bids

Released in 2017 as a companion to the visual album, this large-format art book was produced in extremely limited quantities and never reprinted. It has become one of the most coveted music memorabilia books in existence — copies surface rarely, and when they do, bidding wars reliably follow.

NZD $2,604

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger — Stephen King (1st Edition, 1982)

NZD $2,604.61 | 2 bids

Published by Donald M. Grant in a limited run of just 10,000 copies, this is the holy grail for Stephen King collectors — the first hardcover edition of the book that launched his most ambitious series. Original copies in good condition are increasingly rare and consistently fetch four-figure sums.

NZD $2,391

The Lord of the Rings — 1997 Deluxe Harper Collins Limited Edition (of 1,000)

NZD $2,391.12 | 116 bids

Harper Collins released this individually numbered deluxe edition in a strict run of just 1,000 copies, presented in a matching slip case — making it one of the most desirable Tolkien editions of the modern era. The 116 bids on this listing speak for themselves; serious Tolkien collectors compete fiercely for these.

NZD $2,391

Empire of Silence — Christopher Ruocchio (Diamond Edition)

NZD $2,391.12 | 36 bids

Ruocchio's Sun Eater series has amassed a devoted following in the science fiction world, and this limited Diamond Edition — produced in very small numbers — is the pinnacle of collecting that series. Limited editions of debut novels by breakout authors almost always rise significantly in value as the author's profile grows.

NZD $1,921

Rage — Richard Bachman (Stephen King), 1st Printing, 1977

NZD $1,921.43 | 49 bids

Published under King's pseudonym Richard Bachman, this was the very first "Bachman Book" — and King subsequently asked for it to be permanently withdrawn from print following several school shootings in the US. That combination of early King, pseudonym, and voluntary suppression makes first printings extraordinarily scarce and fiercely pursued by collectors.

NZD $1,417

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone — J.K. Rowling (1st Edition, 1998)

NZD $1,417.59 | 24 bids

The American first edition, published by Scholastic in 1998, continues to be one of the most reliably valuable books in the collectibles market. First printings are identifiable by a specific number line on the copyright page, and with the series showing no signs of fading from cultural consciousness, prices remain stubbornly high.

NZD $1,306

The Three Investigators: The Mystery of the Purple Pirate — GLB Hardcover

NZD $1,306.75 | 19 bids

The Three Investigators series, created by Robert Arthur for Alfred Hitchcock, has a deeply loyal collector base — and the original hardcover editions are particularly hard to find in good condition. Later titles in the series had smaller print runs, and this one is among the most sought-after.

NZD $1,140

The Year's Best Science Fiction: First Annual Collection — Gardner Dozois (Bluejay Books, 1984)

NZD $1,140.89 | 34 bids

Gardner Dozois' annual anthology series became the most respected and comprehensive science fiction year's-best collection in the world, running for over three decades — and this is where it all started. A first edition of the inaugural volume from Bluejay Books (a short-lived but beloved publisher) is a prized find for any serious SF collector.

NZD $1,041

Via Dolores — Ronald Damien Malfi (Very Rare)

NZD $1,041.84 | 11 bids

Ronald Malfi has become one of the most celebrated voices in contemporary horror fiction, but this very early novel was published in a tiny print run long before his wider fame. As with many "early work" titles from authors who later broke through, copies are nearly impossible to find and prices reflect that scarcity.

💰 High Value Books — NZD $500 to $1,000

NZD $979

Paper Boats, Or Some Poems I Wrote — Dan Campbell (The Wonder Years)

NZD $979.06 | 31 bids

Dan Campbell, vocalist of pop-punk band The Wonder Years, released this small book of poetry and artwork in a very limited run — and the band's intensely devoted fanbase ensures that copies are immediately snapped up when they appear. It has become one of the most passionately pursued items in the pop-punk music collector community.

NZD $966

Magehunter — Fighting Fantasy Book #57 (Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone)

NZD $966.97 | 12 bids

The beloved Fighting Fantasy gamebook series is one of the most actively collected children's/YA series from the 1980s and early 90s, and the higher-numbered titles had significantly smaller print runs than the early entries. Magehunter is one of the rarest in the series, and in any decent condition it commands serious money from collectors worldwide.

NZD $845

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Book 1) — Matt Dinniman (OOP 1st Edition Paperback)

NZD $845.43 | 43 bids

Matt Dinniman's LitRPG series began as a web serial before being published in paperback — and the first edition of Book 1 had a print run that was quickly outpaced by demand as the series exploded in popularity. It is now out of print in this edition, and fans who want a physical first edition are left chasing the increasingly rare copies on the secondary market.

NZD $836

The Christmas-Tree Fairies — 1922 USA Christmas Card Booklet

NZD $836.49 | 17 bids

This die-cut Christmas card booklet is over 100 years old and in remarkable condition — antique holiday ephemera this well-preserved rarely surfaces at all. Victorian and Edwardian-era seasonal collectibles have a dedicated and passionate collector market, and pieces like this, combining age, charm, and condition, are genuinely exceptional finds.

NZD $722

How to Become a Sensuous Witch — Abragail and Valaria (1971)

NZD $722.41 | 26 bids

A product of the early 1970s occult revival, this campy paperback is now a cult collectible — part kitsch, part genuine artefact of the era's fascination with witchcraft and counter-culture. Its small original print run, combined with its appeal to collectors of vintage occult material, Paperbacks From Hell enthusiasts, and pop-culture historians, keeps demand consistently high.

NZD $714

Heated Rivalry — Rachel Reid (2023, Carina Press Edition)

NZD $714.35 | 47 bids

This m/m hockey romance was republished by Carina Press in 2023 in limited quantities before promptly going out of print — and the series has an enormous, dedicated fanbase who are desperate for physical copies. The 47 bids on this single listing tell the story of just how intensely sought-after this specific edition has become.

NZD $701

Infinite Jest — David Foster Wallace (First Edition, First Printing)

NZD $701.42 | 31 bids

Wallace's towering 1996 novel is considered one of the defining works of American literature of the late 20th century, and first edition, first printing copies — identifiable by specific binding and printing points — are prized by serious literary collectors. Wallace's death in 2008 further cemented the book's cultural significance and the collectability of early editions.

NZD $691

Space: 1999 — Eternity Unbound by William Latham (OOP)

NZD $691.72 | 62 bids

Published in 2013 in a very small print run as part of a series of officially licensed Space: 1999 novels, this book is now out of print and extremely difficult to find. The cult 1970s sci-fi TV series has a fiercely loyal global fanbase, and these novels — particularly in unread condition — are hunted down relentlessly.

NZD $623

Younger Days — Ian David Baker (Trade Paperback)

NZD $623.48 | 52 bids

This rare photography book features intimate black-and-white portraits of young men in 1980s London, with a foreword by Emmanuel Cooper. Published in a very small print run by Editions Aubrey Walter, it has become a highly sought-after item among collectors of LGBTQ+ art and photography — copies appear infrequently and are quickly purchased when they do.

NZD $620

The Mars Project — Wernher von Braun (University of Illinois Press, 1953)

NZD $620.84 | 33 bids

Von Braun's visionary technical proposal for a crewed mission to Mars, published in 1953 — years before the space age even began — is one of the foundational documents of space exploration history. A hardcover first edition with dust jacket is a landmark piece of scientific literature that sits at the intersection of history, engineering, and exploration collecting.

NZD $616

Throne of Glass — Sarah J. Maas (OOP Original "Barbie Cover" First Edition)

NZD $616.56 | 23 bids

The original UK first edition of Maas' debut novel — nicknamed the "Barbie cover" by fans for its distinctive cover art, which was later replaced — is increasingly rare now that Maas has become one of the biggest names in fantasy publishing worldwide. Collectors who want the original version of where it all began are willing to pay handsomely for it.

NZD $611

Mein Kampf — Adolf Hitler (1939, 1st US Edition, Reynal & Hitchcock)

NZD $611.36 | 23 bids

This is the 1939 first unexpurgated American edition, published by Reynal & Hitchcock with all profits directed to European war refugee children — a remarkable piece of WWII-era Americana in its own right. It is collected strictly as a rare historical document; first US editions in good condition are sought by collectors of WWII history and rare Americana, and they appear on the market very infrequently.

NZD $609

The Other Man — Michael Bergin (First Edition, 2004)

NZD $609.74 | 13 bids

Michael Bergin's memoir — a tell-all about his relationship with Carolyn Bessette and her ill-fated marriage to JFK Jr. — was controversial on release and has long been out of print. The combination of celebrity scandal, a polarising subject, and genuine rarity has made first editions highly sought-after among collectors of pop-culture and celebrity memoir.

NZD $597

Go Team Venture! The Art and Making of the Venture Bros — Adult Swim

NZD $597.51 | 19 bids

Adult Swim's beloved animated series The Venture Bros developed one of the most devoted cult followings in animation history, and this comprehensive art book was released shortly before the show's cancellation — making it both a tribute and a farewell. It is now out of print and actively hunted by fans who consider it an essential piece of Venture Bros history.

NZD $588

The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls — 2017 Series Compendium

NZD $588.85 | 31 bids

This hardcover series compendium was published in 2017 and quickly went out of print — underestimated at the time, it has since become one of the more actively sought Vampire Diaries collectibles. The series still commands a massive global fanbase, and this comprehensive behind-the-scenes companion is the kind of item that dedicated fans will go to considerable lengths to obtain.

NZD $545

Space: 1999 — Johnny Byrne's Children of the Gods (2013, OOP)

NZD $545.55 | 82 bids

Written by Johnny Byrne — one of the original writers of the Space: 1999 TV series — this novel carries a particular authority that other tie-in fiction cannot match. With 82 bids, this listing is one of the most fiercely contested on this entire list, demonstrating the extraordinary depth of demand from the Space: 1999 collector community.

NZD $544

Eisenhorn: Xenos — Dan Abnett (Illustrated & Annotated Edition, Warhammer 40,000)

NZD $544.07 | 20 bids

The Warhammer 40,000 Black Library produces limited edition runs of its most beloved novels, and these editions — featuring additional artwork and annotations — routinely sell out within hours of release. Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn trilogy is among the most celebrated works in the entire range, making this illustrated edition a particularly desirable piece.

NZD $535

The Haunting of Hill House — Shirley Jackson (1st Edition / 2nd Printing, Viking 1959)

NZD $535.85 | 32 bids

Considered one of the greatest horror novels ever written, The Haunting of Hill House was published in 1959 and Jackson's reputation has only grown since her death in 1965. A first edition in good condition — particularly with the original dust jacket — is a serious collectible, and interest has been further fueled by the celebrated Netflix adaptation.

NZD $528

Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down — Official Companion

NZD $528.23 | 10 bids

This official behind-the-scenes companion to the hit Netflix series is now out of print, and Stranger Things memorabilia and merchandise has become broadly collectible as the show cements its place in pop-culture history. If you've got one still in good condition, it's worth considerably more than you likely paid for it.

NZD $528

Realm of Wind & Vines — Marion Blackwood (OOP Paperback)

NZD $528.23 | 45 bids

The fourth book in Marion Blackwood's Flame and Thorns series went out of print relatively quickly, and readers who discover the series are frequently frustrated to find this volume simply unavailable through normal channels. With 45 bids, secondary market demand is clear — and prices reflect the difficulty of tracking down a copy.

NZD $520

The Art of Over the Garden Wall — Sean Jimenez & Patrick McHale

NZD $520.92 | 2 bids

Cartoon Network's Over the Garden Wall has developed an unusually devoted cult following for a short-run miniseries, and this art book — documenting the visual development of the show — is out of print and increasingly difficult to source. Its near-perfect five-star rating (12 reviews) suggests that fans who do get hold of it are extremely happy with the purchase.

📌 Close Runners-Up — Worth Keeping an Eye On

These titles didn't quite clear NZD $500, but their high bid counts suggest strong and sustained demand — which often means prices are still climbing:

All prices are in NZD and reflect actual completed eBay sales. Books listed here have not been verified for authenticity — always check edition details carefully before buying or selling. If you think you have one of these titles and want a second opinion, feel free to get in touch with us at Books Worth Keeping.