How much Would a first Edition Ayn Rand "Atlas Shrugged" Cost?

Question

Im bidding on one on ebay, and I have the strong belief that this is really cheap... what are your opinions?

Answer 1

It would depend on the condition & what printing as well as the edition. Also be aware that modern editions can be labelled as "first editions" when published under a new publisher or if re-released. A true first edition would be from Random House, 1957.
Things that greatly effect the value of a book no dustjacket, library stamps, soiling or water damage. The best way to determine the value is to go on used sites & find one closest to the edition that best matches the condition of yours. If there is more than one, take the average. I usually use abebooks.com.

The values for this book on that site range from $25.00 (no dust jacket; Fourth Printing.) - $4,500 (fine with dust Jacket first edition).for unsigned editions.

Answer 2

I feel ambivalent about The Fountainhead. There's no doubt in my mind that it's melodramatic and filled with one-dimensional characters. The book presents a world that is far too black-and-white. In that sense, I do not respect it as a work or literature. HOWEVER, it was a gripping read (precisely because of the aforementioned characteristics, in my opinion), and Howard Roark-- if you choose to ignore the rape of Dominique Francon and the "no means yes" mentality that incident seems to endorse-- is an admirable character. The theme of individualism is one that is an inspiring one, and I found many good points that were made in the book: 1. One's life is one's only, and should not be lived for others. Who would want to live like Peter Keating, always conforming to other's expectations of him, and losing his sense of self in the process? 2. One should stand by one's principles; not everything should be open to compromise. 3. "Altruism" should be engaged in for its own sake, not for the selfish need to feel superior to others. 4. Just because something was done before-- just because it is a "classic"-- does not necessarily mean it is right or beautiful. One should not be afraid to do something different. I disagree with some of the points made in previous comments. Being "selfish" can be moral, in the sense that Ayn Rand uses the word selfish. Roark never hurts anyone; to purposefully do so would bring him no benefit. you cannot help others until you are taken care of.yourself. Also, another point in the Fountainhead is that though great people may have suffered in the past, and suffered during their lifetimes, their genius was eventually acknowledged by society. Those people forged ahead, and stayed true to their principles (for the most part). Furthermore, the founding fathers were being true to their ideals when signing the Declaration of Independence. Being "selfish" does not mean Not everyone is a genius, but genius is not necessary for integrity. The character of Mike is a labor, but he leads an honest life. So, in Ayn Rand's ideal world, attorney, farmers, etc WOULD exist. Ultimately, I think the lessons to be derived from the Fountainhead are valuable. Roark perseveres without having to sell his soul to the devil. He does not care about what other people think of him, and because of that, one can always be sure he is honest. FYI, unlike the "young white males" that are ostensibly Ayn Rand's "target" audience, I am a Latina college student. I have $0 in government/institutional grants and $0 in student loans. I have to take time off from school periodically in order to pay for my classes and my books. I have more than earned every thing I have achieved (much like a certain literary character...). (And I AM a Democrat.)

Answer 3

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RE:
How much Would a first Edition Ayn Rand "Atlas Shrugged" Cost?
Im bidding on one on ebay, and I have the strong belief that this is really cheap... what are your opinions?

Answer 4

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While I do like Tashi Freeman's brother's suggestion, I'll be more specific. Objectivism - and Rand's writings generally work wonderfully when viewed from the inside of an ivory tower. However, it's a fanciful and really quite destructive pseudo-philosophy that generally does not survive contact with reality particularly well. It is fanciful because Ms. Rand never acknowledges that a purely objectivist society can't possibly exist, or rather it can exist in as an accelerant to causing a functioning society to become decrepit and dysfunctional state. Mostly because it's intellectual racism, however you'd like to couch it, denuding a civilization from the very essence of public discourse - acting with civility. The founding fathers, certainly weren't acting in their personal best interests when signing the constitution, when you get down to it, alot of the great creative productions of humanity did not leave their creators that much better off materially - (consider Albert Einstein, Nicolai Tesla or Philo Farnsworth). When you consider the idea for more than a few minutes you realize there can be no roads, or farmers or janitors or accountants or any mundane thing, for everyone is seeing their moment of creative excellence. Of course children somehow miracle to adulthood without having to go through that whole - "too young to take care of themselves" phase. Nobody ever goes unacknowledged, or get's fired or get's sick or has an accident or experiences a turn of bad luck and finds themselves infirmed - ever. So public education , healthcare, or little things like - oh - disaster relief or a standing constabulary , to say nothing of the height of "dangerous collectivism" - an actual army, can exist. In this way, objectivism works very well, if you happen to be an aspiring architect with a Frank Lloyd Wright fetish who has not yet had their idealism brought into contact with reality. Most troubling however was the delusional viewpoint of her writings in more elite circles, such as those of high finance or international relations. History is not without a sense of karmic irony, since I found it most amazing that Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan - a long time Objectivist and personal friend of Ms. Rand basically found himself in the profoundly disturbing position - very late in life of having to publicly admit and re-examine the beautiful delusion of libertarian tendencies of objectivist thinking. Of course this ideal has cost the rest of the United States in a few months at least 6 trillion dollars of it's wealth only to discover that perhaps Ms. Rand's ideals are "not entirely operative" to paraphrase Mr. Greenspan. In the recent stock-market collapse, where deregulation was considered the mantra of Wall Street, with aspirations to some perfect Friedman type capitalist ideal, and it was all destroyed by con-artists and outright deception, on the part of people who worked the system, and managed to collapse it by not operating "in the interests of the corporate well being and shareholders" - again to quote Mr. Greenspan. So it's a wonderful piece of mid-20th century reactionary polemics, but it doesn't wear so well, in the real world.

Answer 5

The Fountainhead First Edition

Answer 6

According to ABE.com, the range of prices for a signed 1st ed is being sold for (asking price) is $2500 - $12,500.
Depending on condition and reputation of seller.

Answer 7

Be very careful of the condition. Is it a first PRINTING of the first edition? Does it have the original dust cover in good condition? abebooks has some for as little as $350.00, but they all have some condition issues. Here's a sample of a description of one in the $600 + range
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=607527743&searchurl=bx%3Doff%26ds%3D30%26bi%3D0%26an%3DAyn%2BRand%26y%3D3%26fe%3Don%26bsi%3D60%26tn%3DAtlas%2BShrugged%26x%3D83%26sortby%3D1