Chalet School Series eBay Prices

I have been busy building a set of the Chalet School Series books by Elinor Brent-Dyer. I am only seeking the hardcover books with intact dust jackets, so I'm going after the highest-priced books. I discovered early on that fixed-price sites like the Advanced Book Exchange are not the way to go. The prices on ABE are outrageous, and the books can be found for lower prices on eBay.

Part of the reason why the prices are so high on ABE is because the U.S. dollar is so weak against the British pound. The British dealers take their high-end prices which are sometimes already well above what the books would ever bring on eBay and then double the prices since the listings on ABE are in U.S. dollars. This makes for prices that are quite exorbitant.

Even on eBay, the prices are still quite steep due to the weakness of the dollar. However, the prices are lower and sometimes a bargain can be found.

Naturally, the first five or so titles in the series are the least expensive, and softcover versions can be had for under $5.00 before the postage cost is added. Hardcover versions of the first five books will run at least $10.00 before postage, and with intact dust jackets, the books will run $20.00-$40.00.

What I have noticed is that even the softcover versions of many of the mid-range titles in the series sell for rather high prices. I feel like there is no series in the United States that currently sells for these kind of prices consistently. It is amazing how collectible the Chalet School books are and how in demand they are. It makes me wonder why on earth none of them have ever been published in the United States.

I have made note of some of the recent higher selling prices of the Chalet School books so that others can get a feel for what these books are worth. Keep in mind that none of these prices include postage and that the postage cost would add around U.S.$10.00 to the selling price.

Softcover books:

#50 The Chalet School Reunion AU$142.50 (~U.S.$127.00)
#32 Chalet School Does It Again GBP46.00 (~U.S.$92.00)
#26 The Chalet School in the Oberland GBP20.00 (~U.S.$40.00)
#54 Summer Term at the Chalet School GBP36.00 (~U.S.$72.00)
#53 Adrienne and the Chalet School GBP26.00 (~U.S.$52.00)
#29 Joey Goes to the Oberland GBP20.00 (~U.S.$40.00)

Hardcover books with no dust jacket:

#38 Excitements at the Chalet School GBP31.00 (~U.S.$62.00)
#27 Bride Leads the Chalet School GBP27.00 (~U.S.$53.00)
#40 Chalet School and Richenda GBP24.12 (~U.S.$48.00)
#57 Althea Joins the Chalet School GBP23.09 (~U.S.$46.00)
#17 Lavender Laughs at the Chalet School GBP18.50 (~U.S.$36.00)
#3 Princess of the Chalet School GBP18.00 (~U.S.$36.00)
#10 Chalet School and the Lintons GBP16.00 (~U.S.$32.00)

Hardcover books with dust jacket:

#58 Prefects of the Chalet School GBP150.00 (~U.S.$300.00)
#46 Chalet School Wins the Trick GBP56.67 (~U.S.$113.00)
#41 Trials for the Chalet School GBP56.00 (~U.S.$112.00)
#35 A Chalet Girl from Kenya GBP51.00 (~U.S.$102.00)
#55 Challenge for the Chalet School GBP46.00 (~U.S.$92.00)
#50 The Chalet School Reunion GBP43.50 (~U.S.$86.00)
#36 A Problem for the Chalet School GBP37.80 (~U.S.$75.00)
#35 A Genius at the Chalet School GBP36.11 (~U.S.$72.00)
#16 Highland Twins at the Chalet School GBP30.00 (~U.S.$60.00)
#14 Chalet School in Exile GBP26.00 (~U.S.$52.00)
#21 Chalet School and the Island GBP25.00 (~U.S.$50.00)
#19 Jo to the Rescue GBP16.11 (~U.S.$32.00)
#5 The Rivals of the Chalet School GBP14.99 (~U.S.$30.00)