Top 25 Most Valuable Novels That Could Make You Rich

Every book collector or fan of novels has dreamt of stumbling across a super rare, first edition of their favourite book while browsing the shelves of a charity shop or unboxing their grandparent's old collection. Well, this dream might not be as impossible as you might think, there are still thousands of unaccounted-for first-edition copies of the most well-known and sought-after novels in the world. So, however unlikely it is, there's still a chance that you could have one of those copies sitting on your shelf right now.

But, before you run away to explore your collection, you need to know what to look for, after all, not just any old copy of your favourite novel could make you enough money to buy a new house.

In this article, we explore some of the world's most valuable novels that could make you rich (if you are lucky enough to find them).

Before we begin, we don’t want to get your hopes up too high, only to dash them against the rocks of disappointment, so it’s only fair to tell you that the books on this list are incredibly rare if not one-of-a-kinds, so the likelihood of you finding one on your shelves is low but not impossible.

So, grab a cup of tea, and let's take a look at 25 of the most valuable novels ever sold.

Readers Note: All of the prices in this article are speculative and based on past sales and current approximate market value.

First Edition Ulysses by James Joyce

Approximate Value: £275,000

Considered a masterpiece of modern literature, James Joyce's Ulysses is a modern-day reflection of Homer’s epic poem Odyssey. Book collectors all over the world regard early editions of Ulysses as one of the most desirable books out there. So, because of the book's significance and rarity, a first edition Ulysses in good condition can fetch as much as £24,557. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the most a first edition copy of Ulysses has sold for, in 2009 a very special first edition of the book, printed on Dutch handmade paper, sold for a record-breaking £275,000!

First Edition of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Approximate Value: £246,636

Undeniably, one of the greatest pieces of literature of the 20th century, The Great Gatsby comes in near the top of this list of the most valuable novels. Written during the age of jazz, Fitzgerald claimed to have been trying to create a mirror of society in 1920s New York. Thanks to its rarity and the importance of the book itself, first-edition copies of The Great Gatsby can be valued as high as £246,636.

First Edition of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Approximate Value: £140,000

From J.R.R. Tolkien comes the next entry onto this list of the most expensive novels, The Lord of the Rings. Originally written as a single volume with over 1070 pages, The Lord of the Rings was taken by publishers, Allen & Unwin and published in three installments between 1954 and 1955. The continual success of The Lord of the Rings and the ever-increasing rarity of first edition copies means they can be worth anything in the region of £50,000-£140,000.

First Edition Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Approximate Value: £139,356

From the much-loved author of titles like Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Sanditon comes the next entry onto the list of the most valuable novels, Pride and Prejudice. Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners that follows Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates her way through a complex society of appearances and expectations. When the first edition was originally published back in 1813 it was sold for 18 shillings (equivalent to around £52 in today's currency), today however, it's estimated to have a value of up to £140,000.

First Edition of The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Approximate Value: £100,000

Over the years, Agatha Christie has been a figurehead in the murder mystery genre, drawing in fans from across the globe and building a franchise that has seen countless TV and film adaptations. In total Agatha Christie has written and published 66 novels, each being met with varying levels of success, so it will come as no surprise that she has made it onto this list with The Mysterious Affair at Styles. If you are lucky enough to find a first edition of The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 'very good' condition with its original dust jacket, it could be worth up to £100,000.

First Edition of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Approximate Value: £64,420

One of the most well-known pieces of literature of the 1900s, The Hobbit, set the stage for a new age of high fantasy literature. When The Hobbit was published in 1937 it was only given a first run of 1,500 which immediately makes it rare by any standards. Nowadays there are likely much fewer than 1,500 first edition copies of The Hobbit left thanks to general attrition, not to mention all the copies that have already been accounted for. This means that any first edition copy of The Hobbit is going to be valuable. An example of just how valuable they can be is the leather-bound first edition copy of The Hobbit found on the Greek island of Santorini which sold was valued at £64,420.

First Edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Approximate Value: £50,000

Widely known today for the beautifully unique artwork in the books, Peter Rabbit has become a household name. First appearing in the book entitled The Tales of Peter Rabbit, in 1902, the young mischievous rabbit quickly found his way into the hearts of thousands of people across the globe. Today, a first edition copy of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit is worth up to £50,000 depending on condition.

First Edition Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Approximate Value: £39,221

Considered by many to be the ‘first English novel’, Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe was first published back in 1719. This beloved tale follows the struggle endured by Robinson Crusoe himself after he becomes a castaway when his ship sinks and he is the only survivor. Originally sold for around 5 shillings per book, a first edition copy could fetch up to £40,000 today.

First Edition Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Approximate Value: £24,180

Known the world over, James Bond’s first appearance was in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale. Since then, the works of Ian Fleming have taken fictional espionage and spy work to a whole new level, spawning the much-loved James Bond film collection and inspiring countless other novels, TV series, and films. It’s because of the legacy that Casino Royale holds and the rarity of true first edition copies that you could be looking at a price tag of around £24,000 if you’re lucky enough to find one on your bookshelf.

First Edition In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway

Approximate Value: £22,079

Regarded by many experts as a gateway that led to Ernest Hemingway’s later works, In Our Time is a book comprised of a collection of short stories. Seen as a milestone in Hemingway’s career, In Our Time even received praise from fellow distinguished authors including F. Scott Fitzgerald. Today, a first edition copy of In Our Time could fetch anything up to £23,000.

First Edition Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Approximate Value: £20,381

Next on the list is Lewis Carol’s children’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Originally published in 1865, this popular children’s tale has been the focus of over 50 film and TV productions. Thanks to its popularity in today’s media and the legacy that Carroll left behind, a first edition copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in good condition could be worth up to £20,000-£35,000.

First Edition of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Approximate Value: £18,735

Everyone loves a good Christmas tale, and every year we get a fresh collection of new stories through new films, TV series, and books, but there is one Christmas tale that has reserved a special place in everyone's heart, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Finding a copy of the book nowadays is easy, you will find them in every bookstore as soon as December comes around, but getting your hands on a first edition copy of A Christmas Carol is somewhat more difficult considering they can be worth up to £60,000.

First Edition Prufrock and Other Observations by T.S. Eliot

Approximate Value: £17,500

Widely regarded as a culturally important piece of work, T.S. Eliot’s Prufrock and Other Observations is a collection of poems that broach a variety of subjects. Previous sales and existing listings suggest that a first edition copy of Prufrock and Other Observations could be worth as much as £17,500.

First Edition of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Approximate Value: £16,953

Another of the world's most valuable novels that could make you rich is the adorable tale of The Velveteen Rabbit. Published in 1922, there have been numerous adaptations in both film and TV making it one of the world's most popular children’s stories of all time. Each first edition copy of The Velveteen Rabbit could be worth up to £20,000.

First Edition Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

Approximate Value: £15,133

There are few people, especially in the UK, that haven’t heard of Swallows and Amazons. Published on the 21 of July 1930, it tells the tale of a group of children that come together to explore the great outdoors and embark on epic adventures. Finding a first edition of Swallows and Amazons will make you very lucky indeed as each one, provided it’s in good condition, could be worth up to £16,000.

First Edition of The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Approximate Value: £13,353

Published in 1947, Diary of a Young Girl is the recounting of Anne Frank's diary while she was living a secret life during the German occupation of the Netherlands. This is a significant piece of work that has been read by millions of people from all over the world. Due to the importance of this book, and what it represents, finding a first-edition copy is difficult and could cost upwards of £2,000-£3,000.

First Edition Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Approximate Value: £13,084

From the playfully whimsical mind of A.A. Milne came the fictional children’s character, Winnie the Pooh. First released back in 1926, the *Winnie the Pooh *book was met with positive reviews from critics and commercial success - selling more than 150,000 copies in one year alone. If you happen to be looking through your collection of old books from your childhood and stumble across a first edition copy of Winnie the Pooh then there’s a chance that it could be worth up to £14,000.

First Edition James Bond: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service by Ian Fleming

Approximate Value: £13,000

After Thunderball came On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the tenth book in Ian Fleming’s James Bond Series. In this ever-popular series, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was yet again another success selling over 60,000 copies in the first month alone. Today, first edition copies of On Her Majesty's Secret Service can be worth upwards of £10,000 depending on condition.

First Edition Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Approximate Value: £12,383

Jules Verne’s classic ‘ahead-of-its-time’ science fiction novel is the next first edition novel that could make you rich. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea follows the adventures of a couple of unlikely new crew members of a technologically advanced submarine. First edition copies of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea in good condition could be worth anywhere between £10,000 and £20,000.

First Edition Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Approximate Value: £10,370

The final novel completed by D. Scott Fitzgerald and the next edition on this list is Tender Is the Night. Set in the French Riviera, Tender Is the Night draws parallels to D. Scott Fitzgerald’s life and the life of his wife. If you find yourself with a first edition copy, complete with its original dust jacket, you could be looking at a price tag of around £5,000-£30,000.

First Edition Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm

Approximate Value: £10,008

Published between the dates of 1812 and 1858, Grimm’s Fairy Tales is a collection of German fairy tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Featuring a selection of culturally and historically inspired tales that challenge the modern-day perception of what is considered a children’s fairytale, the early editions of this combined work are difficult to find with true first editions being valued up to £10,000.

First Edition Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Approximate Value: £5,000-£100,000

What kind of list of the most valuable novels would this be without Harry Potter? The most valuable Harry Potter is, of course, the first installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The value of first edition copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone can vary wildly from £5,000 to £100,000 depending on condition and the presence of a signature. For more information on how to identify first edition Harry Potter books, check out our blog.

First Edition Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

Approximate Value: £5,000

From the great Arthur Conan Doyle, we have the immensely popular Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles. Published in 1902, this classic piece of detective fiction has seen many film and TV adaptations all over the world from as early as 1914. In today's rare books market, true first editions of Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles can be worth up to £5000.

First Edition Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Approximate Value: £2,000

The Second Harry Potter on this list is the second book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. After the overwhelming success of J.K. Rowling’s first book, it was no surprise that the second book was also a success. While not quite as valuable as the first Harry Potter book, true first editions of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets can be worth up to £3,000.

First Edition Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Approximate Value: £1,000

Growing up we all dreamed of the day that we might find a golden ticket that would let us wander through the magical world of Willie Wonker’s Chocolate Factory. First published in the US in 1964, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened a whole new world of imagination that attracted fans both young and old from all over the world. Today, a first-edition copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in good condition can be worth anything up to £10,000.

Now, we couldn’t end this list without a few honourable mentions, so here are a few more novels that might not have made our list of the most valuable novels but could certainly make your day if you are lucky enough to find a first edition copy.

• The Chronicles of Narnia First Edition by C.S. Lewis – Up to £20,000
• The Tale of Tittlemouse First Edition by Beatrix Potter – Up to £10,000
• The Secret Adversary First Edition by Agatha Christie – Up to £5,000 or £80,000 with a dust jacket
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz First Edition by L. Frank Baum – Up to £15,000
• Tarzan of the Apes First Edition by Edgar Rice Burroughs – Up to £20,000

So, that concludes our exploration into the most valuable novels ever written. We have only covered some of the most valuable and most well-known titles out there but if you think that you have a book that could be worth something let, us know and we’ll find out for you.

Now is your opportunity to finish your cuppa and check out your bookshelves to see if you have any hidden gems tucked away that could make you a fortune.

Now you have scanned through your book collection and pulled out all the hidden gems the question remains what to do with all your leftover books? You could leave them there to fill up your shelves and collect dust, or you could make the most out of them and sell them using WeBuyBooks.