Why is 1st edition of handren RR guide sell for so high online?

Im looking to acquire the handren guide, and im seeing the older version go for upwards of 100$ online…whats the reason for this? Also whats the main differences between first and second edition, other than obviously updated climbs and pictures? Does the first edition stand up well these days still as a guide?

Fine as a guide. New edition is a much better guide (more up to date on the ever expanding route list in RR).

But! First edition is a treasured piece on my shelf. The stories and historical bits got squeezed out in the newer edition(s).

There have been a decent number of updates between 1 and 2.  And even more now, so, either way you're supplementing with MP.

The 2nd edition is very nice.  Unless you're after the 1st as a collector's edition, I wouldn't worry about it.

As for book pricing, there seems to be some computer algorithm in the background controlling these prices.  Exorbitant pricing for old guidebooks seems to be the M.O.  There were a few threads on this in years past.  Sellers have handed over pricing to the algorithm, and often there are competing algorithms trolling websites, trying to up-sale each other by pennies.  Over time, this gets out of control.

Hey Hieu, I do not think this book is really worth all that. What you may be seeing on sites like Amazon is the algorithm reflecting low availability. The 2nd edition of this book is still in print and can be easily bought in Vegas. Sold prices on eBay for the 1st edition are usually pretty low. 

I own the first edition and it is worth every penny. If anyone wants to send me $100 for it I will consider parting with it.

Rprops wrote:

Fine as a guide. New edition is a much better guide (more up to date on the ever expanding route list in RR).

But! First edition is a treasured piece on my shelf. The stories and historical bits got squeezed out in the newer edition(s).

When I made a big move south 10 years ago, I cleaned as much stuff out of my house as possible beforehand.  I registered as a seller on Amazon and sold a bunch of old guidebooks - I don't have that gene for keeping old editions that many people have.  For the Red Rock area, I sold the Brock and Swain guides, and also the Urioste guide, at cheap rates. I probably should have kept that last one. I have a friend who lives in the UK who comes over and climbs with me periodically.  The first trip we did to Red Rock together, I gave him the first edition Handren to take home as a souvenir. Having a real guidebook is so much better than only having MP.  

The author is local and doesn't really like to ship cases out so stores out of state don't tend to get it often. Where-as here, in Vegas, he can just drive and drop off cases at our shop. No heavy item shipping costs, damage risks, etc to have to pass on to the purchasing store. That can make the perception of its availability skewed. Other than that, algorithms.

While its title has "II" at the end... its the 3rd printing of the 2nd edition, every print run updates are made including adding new routes. Its more up to date than its 2016 copyright date would suggest.

Charlie S wrote:

There have been a decent number of updates between 1 and 2.  And even more now, so, either way you're supplementing with MP.

The 2nd edition is very nice.  Unless you're after the 1st as a collector's edition, I wouldn't worry about it.

As for book pricing, there seems to be some computer algorithm in the background controlling these prices.  Exorbitant pricing for old guidebooks seems to be the M.O.  There were a few threads on this in years past.  Sellers have handed over pricing to the algorithm, and often there are competing algorithms trolling websites, trying to up-sale each other by pennies.  Over time, this gets out of control.

Sounds similar to rental housing price algorithm used by the corporocracy.

Desert Rock Sports wrote:

While its title has "II" at the end... its the 3rd printing of the 2nd edition, every print run updates are made including adding new routes. Its more up to date than its 2016 copyright date would suggest.

Interesting.  Besides the change in the cover photo, and, the printing locations, how else can you tell which of the printings you have?

Brian in SLC wrote:

Interesting.  Besides the change in the cover photo, and, the printing locations, how else can you tell which of the printings you have?

The only way I know to tell the various second editions apart is llook at hamlet wall and if the routes bolted in the 2020s are there it’s a newer printing.