All prices reflect auctions that closed with a winning bidder. I have listed just the higher selling prices.
Softcover reprints from the last 10 years:
#32 The Chalet School Does It Again, GBP87.00 (~US$174.00)
#14 The Chalet School in Exile GBP50.00 (~US$100.00)
#14 The Chalet School in Exile GBP43.00 (~US$86.00)
#53 Adrienne and the Chalet School AU$79.00 (~US$72.14)
#27 Bride Leads the Chalet School GBP31.00 (~US$62.00)
#28 Changes for the Chalet School GBP30.00 (~US$60.00)
Hardcover without Dust Jacket:
#52 Redheads at the Chalet School GBP33.10 (~US$66.00)
Hardcover with Dust Jacket:
#19 Jo to the Rescue, 1st printing, GBP82.00 (~US$164.00)
#58 Prefects of the Chalet School GBP78.16 (~US$156.00)
#56 Two Sams at the Chalet School GBP59.99 (~US$120.00)
#34 Mary Lou of the Chalet School GBP51.00 (~US$102.00)
#34 Mary Lou of the Chalet School GBP47.11 (~US$94.00)
#2 Jo of the Chalet School GBP36.00 (~US$72.00)
#4 The Head Girl of the Chalet School GBP31.50 (~US$63.00)
#19 Jo to the Rescue GBP30.00 (~US$60.00)
#18 Gay from China at the Chalet School GBP25.98 (~US$52.00)
#32 A Genius at the Chalet School GBP25.00 (~US$50.00)
Showing posts with label Chalet School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chalet School. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
More Chalet School Characterizations
I'm quoting some characterizations and introductions to important characters mainly so that I can refer to them later. When I first read the first two volumes of the Chalet books, I had trouble keeping some of the characters straight. There are so many characters introduced so quickly.
From pages 27 and 28 in The School at the Chalet (note that I am trying to keep to the British spelling as I type these quotes, unless I accidentally revert to the American spelling):
'It's to-morrow you go, Grizel, isn't it?' said the elder of the two, a pretty fair child of fourteen, Rosalie Dene by name. 'Aren't you sorry to leave home?'
Grizel decides to inform the girls, Rosalie and Mary, that her home is anything but happy, much to their horror.
'Sorry?' she said fervently. 'I'm not sorry; I'm glad—glad, I tell you!'
'Grizel!' gasped Rosalie. 'Glad to leave home and go right away!'
' 'Tisn't like your home,' replied Grizel sombrely. 'You've a mother!'
'Well, but you have Mrs Cochrane, and I'm sure she's awfully sweet to you.'
'Yes, when there's anyone there to see it,' replied Grizel recklessly.
The two schoolgirls stood in horrified silence. They did not know what to say.
From page 31, regarding Madge Bettany's response to a friendly man's comment about the weather:
Years ago, Miss Madge's nurse had accused her of being 'as friendly as a mongrel puppy.' She had kept this quality throughout her life. She was always interested in people, and, having met nothing but friendliness in all her twenty-four years, she had the same fearless, somewhat confiding manner with strangers as the pup to which nurse had likened her. So, instead of snubbing the good-hearted little man's advance with frosty good breeding, she answered him pleasantly.
From page 35, regarding the personalities of Joey and Grizel:
The outlook of the two children was so totally different. Joey always saw Paris through a rose-mist of history and legend: Grizel, now that her first wonder was over, so obviously took all that side of it for granted, and devoted herself to its life and people. At the church of the Invalides she did rouse to enthusiasm over Napoleon; but it was only temporary and she stared at Joey when that faithful devotee pushed a few sprays of lilies of the valley between the railings that surround the famous Emperor's tomb.
From page 53:
'I am Gisela Marani, and these are Gertrud Steinbrücke, Bernhilda and Frieda Mensch, Bette Rincini, and my younger sister Maria.'
'These are Grizel Cochrane and Simone Lecoutier,' said Joey, waving her hand in their direction, while she looked eagerly at them.
The two Marinis and Bette Rincini were slight, graceful girls; Gisela and Maria very dark; Bette, brown, with wavy brown hair, brown eyes, and a warm brown skin. Gertrud was brown-haired, grey-eyed, and very pretty, and the two Mensches were of the fair German type. They were all between the ages of twelve and sixteen, with the exception of Maria, who was obviously not more than nine.
From pages 61-62:
Amy and Margia Stevens were nice little people of eight and eleven, who had spent most of their short lives in travelling, since their father was Foreign Correspondent to one of the great London dailies. Margia, the elder child, was a motherly person, who adored her small sister; Amy was a dainty, fairylike little creature, who thought Margia was all that was wonderful.
From page 73:
Towards the end of the meal Herr Mensch appeared. He was a big, jolly man, with fair hair and grey eyes, and, since he was in one of the big banks in Innsbrück, his English was much more fluent than his wife's. His children obviously adored him, and he sat down, pulling Frieda on to his knee with a loud and hearty kiss.
From pages 27 and 28 in The School at the Chalet (note that I am trying to keep to the British spelling as I type these quotes, unless I accidentally revert to the American spelling):
'It's to-morrow you go, Grizel, isn't it?' said the elder of the two, a pretty fair child of fourteen, Rosalie Dene by name. 'Aren't you sorry to leave home?'
Grizel decides to inform the girls, Rosalie and Mary, that her home is anything but happy, much to their horror.
'Sorry?' she said fervently. 'I'm not sorry; I'm glad—glad, I tell you!'
'Grizel!' gasped Rosalie. 'Glad to leave home and go right away!'
' 'Tisn't like your home,' replied Grizel sombrely. 'You've a mother!'
'Well, but you have Mrs Cochrane, and I'm sure she's awfully sweet to you.'
'Yes, when there's anyone there to see it,' replied Grizel recklessly.
The two schoolgirls stood in horrified silence. They did not know what to say.
From page 31, regarding Madge Bettany's response to a friendly man's comment about the weather:
Years ago, Miss Madge's nurse had accused her of being 'as friendly as a mongrel puppy.' She had kept this quality throughout her life. She was always interested in people, and, having met nothing but friendliness in all her twenty-four years, she had the same fearless, somewhat confiding manner with strangers as the pup to which nurse had likened her. So, instead of snubbing the good-hearted little man's advance with frosty good breeding, she answered him pleasantly.
From page 35, regarding the personalities of Joey and Grizel:
The outlook of the two children was so totally different. Joey always saw Paris through a rose-mist of history and legend: Grizel, now that her first wonder was over, so obviously took all that side of it for granted, and devoted herself to its life and people. At the church of the Invalides she did rouse to enthusiasm over Napoleon; but it was only temporary and she stared at Joey when that faithful devotee pushed a few sprays of lilies of the valley between the railings that surround the famous Emperor's tomb.
From page 53:
'I am Gisela Marani, and these are Gertrud Steinbrücke, Bernhilda and Frieda Mensch, Bette Rincini, and my younger sister Maria.'
'These are Grizel Cochrane and Simone Lecoutier,' said Joey, waving her hand in their direction, while she looked eagerly at them.
The two Marinis and Bette Rincini were slight, graceful girls; Gisela and Maria very dark; Bette, brown, with wavy brown hair, brown eyes, and a warm brown skin. Gertrud was brown-haired, grey-eyed, and very pretty, and the two Mensches were of the fair German type. They were all between the ages of twelve and sixteen, with the exception of Maria, who was obviously not more than nine.
From pages 61-62:
Amy and Margia Stevens were nice little people of eight and eleven, who had spent most of their short lives in travelling, since their father was Foreign Correspondent to one of the great London dailies. Margia, the elder child, was a motherly person, who adored her small sister; Amy was a dainty, fairylike little creature, who thought Margia was all that was wonderful.
From page 73:
Towards the end of the meal Herr Mensch appeared. He was a big, jolly man, with fair hair and grey eyes, and, since he was in one of the big banks in Innsbrück, his English was much more fluent than his wife's. His children obviously adored him, and he sat down, pulling Frieda on to his knee with a loud and hearty kiss.
Grizel Cochrane, Chalet Girl
On pages 20-22 of The School at the Chalet, the reader is introduced to Grizel Cochrane:
At fourteen and a half Grizel Cochrane had realised that she was decidedly an unwanted member of the Cochrane family. Her mother had died when she was five. Grizel could just remember her as a fragile, complaining being, who lay on a couch all day, and said 'Hush!' in fretful tones whenever her little daughter ventured to raise her voice. After her death, Mr Cochrane had sent the child to his mother's, and led a bachelor life for the next five years. On Grizel's tenth birthday he had married again, most unaccountably, without informing his second wife of the fact that he had a daughter. That she discovered when they reached home after the honeymoon, to find Grizel awaiting them on the steps. To say that the second Mrs Cochrane was indignant is to describe the state of affairs much too mildly. At first, she insisted that the child must go to boarding-school. Her husband calmly replied that one reason for this second marriage was that he wanted Grizel under his own roof. He also pointed out that if she were sent away at once people would talk. Mrs. Cochrane desired that less than anything, so she gave way. Grizel went daily to a big high school in the neighbourhood, and, nominally at any rate, received the same care and attention of any of her friends. But life at her grandmother's had spoilt her in many ways, and before long she and her stepmother were at daggers drawn with each other. Mr Cochrane, never a particularly loving parent, refused to interfere. Mrs Cochrane was never actively unkind, but she possessed a sharp tongue, and she had never forgiven her husband for not telling her of Grizel's existence. By slow degrees the willful, high-spirited child gradually became a frightened, nervous creature, who did as she was bidden with a painful readiness.
At fourteen and a half Grizel Cochrane had realised that she was decidedly an unwanted member of the Cochrane family. Her mother had died when she was five. Grizel could just remember her as a fragile, complaining being, who lay on a couch all day, and said 'Hush!' in fretful tones whenever her little daughter ventured to raise her voice. After her death, Mr Cochrane had sent the child to his mother's, and led a bachelor life for the next five years. On Grizel's tenth birthday he had married again, most unaccountably, without informing his second wife of the fact that he had a daughter. That she discovered when they reached home after the honeymoon, to find Grizel awaiting them on the steps. To say that the second Mrs Cochrane was indignant is to describe the state of affairs much too mildly. At first, she insisted that the child must go to boarding-school. Her husband calmly replied that one reason for this second marriage was that he wanted Grizel under his own roof. He also pointed out that if she were sent away at once people would talk. Mrs. Cochrane desired that less than anything, so she gave way. Grizel went daily to a big high school in the neighbourhood, and, nominally at any rate, received the same care and attention of any of her friends. But life at her grandmother's had spoilt her in many ways, and before long she and her stepmother were at daggers drawn with each other. Mr Cochrane, never a particularly loving parent, refused to interfere. Mrs Cochrane was never actively unkind, but she possessed a sharp tongue, and she had never forgiven her husband for not telling her of Grizel's existence. By slow degrees the willful, high-spirited child gradually became a frightened, nervous creature, who did as she was bidden with a painful readiness.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Reading the Chalet School Series
After I finished reading the Betty Gordon series, I have been unable to get started reading another series. This is often my problem when I read a series that is unusually good. What I really want to read is at least part of the Chalet School series. I had read the first two books several months ago but stopped since I did not have the next several books. I decided a few days ago that I would not be happy until I could read more of the Chalet School books. I bought volumes 6 and 8 this week in fixed-price listings, even though the prices were a little higher than if I had waited for an eBay auction, just so that I would at least have all of the first 12 books. So now I'm going to read the first 12 books in order.
I am reading volumes 1 and 2 again to refresh my memory of all of the details. I am in the first chapter of volume 1, The School at the Chalet. This is how Jo Bettany is described on page 15:
Anything less like Madge and Dick it would have been hard to imagine. Her cropped black hair was so straight as almost to be described as lank, her big black eyes made the intense whiteness of her face even more startling than it need have been, and her cheeks and temples were hollow with continual ill-health. Like her brother and sister, she had been born in India; but, unlike them, had come home at the early age of seven months. The frail baby who had never known her mother or father had thriven in the soft Cornish air of their home till she was four years old. Then a neglected cold had brought on an attack of pleuro-pneumonia, from which she had barely struggled back to life. Since then, her health had been a constant worry to those who had charge of her. What made things still more difficult was the fact that Miss Joey possessed at least five times as much spirit as strength, and fretted continually at the restrictions they were obliged to enforce.
Jo Bettany is a spirited girl who is 12 years old at the beginning of the first book. Her sister, Madge, and her brother, Dick, are twins who are 24 years old. Madge and Dick are Jo's guardians. The Bettanys have nearly run out of money since their guardian, who recently died, left his affairs in a muddle. Madge gets the idea to open a school for girls in a chalet in Austria, and hopes to earn enough money in tuition to support Joey. Of course since this is the first volume in a 58 volume series, it is safe to assume that the school at the chalet will be a splendid success.
I am reading volumes 1 and 2 again to refresh my memory of all of the details. I am in the first chapter of volume 1, The School at the Chalet. This is how Jo Bettany is described on page 15:
Anything less like Madge and Dick it would have been hard to imagine. Her cropped black hair was so straight as almost to be described as lank, her big black eyes made the intense whiteness of her face even more startling than it need have been, and her cheeks and temples were hollow with continual ill-health. Like her brother and sister, she had been born in India; but, unlike them, had come home at the early age of seven months. The frail baby who had never known her mother or father had thriven in the soft Cornish air of their home till she was four years old. Then a neglected cold had brought on an attack of pleuro-pneumonia, from which she had barely struggled back to life. Since then, her health had been a constant worry to those who had charge of her. What made things still more difficult was the fact that Miss Joey possessed at least five times as much spirit as strength, and fretted continually at the restrictions they were obliged to enforce.
Jo Bettany is a spirited girl who is 12 years old at the beginning of the first book. Her sister, Madge, and her brother, Dick, are twins who are 24 years old. Madge and Dick are Jo's guardians. The Bettanys have nearly run out of money since their guardian, who recently died, left his affairs in a muddle. Madge gets the idea to open a school for girls in a chalet in Austria, and hopes to earn enough money in tuition to support Joey. Of course since this is the first volume in a 58 volume series, it is safe to assume that the school at the chalet will be a splendid success.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
More Chalet School Prices
I am continuing to keep track of Chalet School prices as a point of reference. The books consistently sell for high prices.
Hardcover with dust jacket:
#58 Prefects of the Chalet School GBP63.45 (~US$127.00)
#34 Mary Lou of the Chalet School GBP62.04 (~US$124.00)
#48 The Feud in the Chalet School GBP54.52 (~US$109.00)
#19 Jo to the Rescue GBP52.00 (~US$104.00)
#25 Shocks for the Chalet School GBP50.00 (~US$100.00)
#13 The New Chalet School GBP48.77 (~US$98.00)
#28 Changes for the Chalet School GBP48.50 (~US$97.00)
#38 Excitements at the Chalet School GBP48.10 (~US$96.00)
#45 A Leader in the Chalet School GBP46.00 (~US$92.00)
#46 The Chalet School Wins the Trick GBP43.00 (~US$86.00)
#57 Althea Joins the Chalet School GBP42.41 (~US$85.00)
#52 Redheads at the Chalet School GBP40.63 (~US$82.00)
#41 Trials for the Chalet School GBP35.34 (~US$71.00)
#42 Theodora and the Chalet School GBP35.00 (~US$70.00)
#30 Chalet School and Barbara GBP34.99 (~US$70.00)
#22 Peggy of the Chalet School GBP32.75 (~US$65.00)
#17 Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School GBP31.00 (~US$62.00)
#35 A Genius at the Chalet School GBP29.99 (~US$60.00)
#55 Challenge for the Chalet School GBP29.02 (US$58.00)
#10 The Chalet School and the Lintons GBP28.88 (~US$58.00)
#54 Summer Term at the Chalet School (front panel only) GBP28.00 (~US$56.00)
#32 The Chalet School Does It Again GBP26.55 (~US$54.00)
#15 The Chalet School Goes to It GBP23.51 (~US$47.00)
#29 Joey Goes to the Oberland GBP20.13 (~US$40.00)
Hardcover without dust jacket:
#27 Bride Leads the Chalet School GBP46.50 (~US$93.00)
#31 Tom Tackles the Chalet School GBP27.09 (~US$54.00)
#21 Chalet School and the Island GBP25.00 (~US$50.00)
#26 The Chalet School in the Oberland GBP20.15 (~US$40.00)
#16 Highland Twins at the Chalet School AU$34.69 (~US$32.55)
Hardcover with dust jacket:
#58 Prefects of the Chalet School GBP63.45 (~US$127.00)
#34 Mary Lou of the Chalet School GBP62.04 (~US$124.00)
#48 The Feud in the Chalet School GBP54.52 (~US$109.00)
#19 Jo to the Rescue GBP52.00 (~US$104.00)
#25 Shocks for the Chalet School GBP50.00 (~US$100.00)
#13 The New Chalet School GBP48.77 (~US$98.00)
#28 Changes for the Chalet School GBP48.50 (~US$97.00)
#38 Excitements at the Chalet School GBP48.10 (~US$96.00)
#45 A Leader in the Chalet School GBP46.00 (~US$92.00)
#46 The Chalet School Wins the Trick GBP43.00 (~US$86.00)
#57 Althea Joins the Chalet School GBP42.41 (~US$85.00)
#52 Redheads at the Chalet School GBP40.63 (~US$82.00)
#41 Trials for the Chalet School GBP35.34 (~US$71.00)
#42 Theodora and the Chalet School GBP35.00 (~US$70.00)
#30 Chalet School and Barbara GBP34.99 (~US$70.00)
#22 Peggy of the Chalet School GBP32.75 (~US$65.00)
#17 Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School GBP31.00 (~US$62.00)
#35 A Genius at the Chalet School GBP29.99 (~US$60.00)
#55 Challenge for the Chalet School GBP29.02 (US$58.00)
#10 The Chalet School and the Lintons GBP28.88 (~US$58.00)
#54 Summer Term at the Chalet School (front panel only) GBP28.00 (~US$56.00)
#32 The Chalet School Does It Again GBP26.55 (~US$54.00)
#15 The Chalet School Goes to It GBP23.51 (~US$47.00)
#29 Joey Goes to the Oberland GBP20.13 (~US$40.00)
Hardcover without dust jacket:
#27 Bride Leads the Chalet School GBP46.50 (~US$93.00)
#31 Tom Tackles the Chalet School GBP27.09 (~US$54.00)
#21 Chalet School and the Island GBP25.00 (~US$50.00)
#26 The Chalet School in the Oberland GBP20.15 (~US$40.00)
#16 Highland Twins at the Chalet School AU$34.69 (~US$32.55)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
eBay Prices - Chalet School Series
Softcover Books:
#22 Chalet School and Rosalie GBP21.35 (~US$42.00)
#22 Chalet School and Rosalie AU$28.00 (~US$25.77)
#31 Changes for the Chalet School AU$56.00 (~US$51.55)
#30 Bride Leads the Chalet School AU$46.00 (~US$42.34)
#32 Joey Goes to the Oberland AU$31.00 (~US$28.54)
#58 Two Sams at the Chalet School AU$27.26 (~US$25.00)
#21 Tom Tackles the Chalet School AU$24.00 (~US$22.09)
#19 Jo to the Rescue AU$20.50 (~US$18.87)
#47 A Leader in Chalet School AU$20.00 (~US$18.41)
#54 Redheads at the Chalet School AU$18.50 (~US$17.00)
#25 Peggy of the Chalet School AU$14.50 (~US$13.35)
#10 Chalet School and the Lintons AU$14.50 (~US$13.35)
#51 Chalet School Triplets AU$13.50 (~US$12.43)
Hardcover Books:
#28 Shocks for the Chalet School GBP45.00 (~US$90.00)
#42 The Chalet School and Richenda AU$61.00 (~US$57.00)
Hardcover Books w/DJ:
#50 Feud in the Chalet School GBP64.53 (~US$127.00)
#15 Chalet School Goes to It GBP56.51 (~US$113.00)
#53 Jane and the Chalet School GBP46.54 (~US$93.00)
#16 Highland Twins at the Chalet School GBP41.00 (~US$82.00)
#18 Gay from China at the Chalet School GBP37.25 (~US$74.00)
#11 New House at the Chalet School GBP28.50 (~US$56.00)
All prices are from listings that ended with a winning bidder.
#22 Chalet School and Rosalie GBP21.35 (~US$42.00)
#22 Chalet School and Rosalie AU$28.00 (~US$25.77)
#31 Changes for the Chalet School AU$56.00 (~US$51.55)
#30 Bride Leads the Chalet School AU$46.00 (~US$42.34)
#32 Joey Goes to the Oberland AU$31.00 (~US$28.54)
#58 Two Sams at the Chalet School AU$27.26 (~US$25.00)
#21 Tom Tackles the Chalet School AU$24.00 (~US$22.09)
#19 Jo to the Rescue AU$20.50 (~US$18.87)
#47 A Leader in Chalet School AU$20.00 (~US$18.41)
#54 Redheads at the Chalet School AU$18.50 (~US$17.00)
#25 Peggy of the Chalet School AU$14.50 (~US$13.35)
#10 Chalet School and the Lintons AU$14.50 (~US$13.35)
#51 Chalet School Triplets AU$13.50 (~US$12.43)
Hardcover Books:
#28 Shocks for the Chalet School GBP45.00 (~US$90.00)
#42 The Chalet School and Richenda AU$61.00 (~US$57.00)
Hardcover Books w/DJ:
#50 Feud in the Chalet School GBP64.53 (~US$127.00)
#15 Chalet School Goes to It GBP56.51 (~US$113.00)
#53 Jane and the Chalet School GBP46.54 (~US$93.00)
#16 Highland Twins at the Chalet School GBP41.00 (~US$82.00)
#18 Gay from China at the Chalet School GBP37.25 (~US$74.00)
#11 New House at the Chalet School GBP28.50 (~US$56.00)
All prices are from listings that ended with a winning bidder.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
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)
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)
Sunday, December 9, 2007
The Chalet School Series by Elinor Brent-Dyer
The Chalet School Series is a well-known series in the United Kingdom and is very popular with collectors. Many of the books are very scarce and are very expensive. The series is practically unknown in the United States, as it has never been published here. I became aware of this series during 2007, in a roundabout fashion, and wondered about it—but just a little bit. At first, I was not very concerned about learning about it. I would say that this was primarily because I had never heard of it and did not feel that there was any reason to learn about it. The Chalet School series never gets mentioned in the different U.S. forums for series book enthusiasts. Since nobody ever mentions it, I decided not to give it much thought. I am like many other collectors in that I am more drawn to books that I have heard of or that others have discussed as prized.
However, in spite of my lack of concern about the Chalet School series, I continued to have this gnawing feeling that I needed to learn about the series. I reasoned that a series originally published over the course of 45 years and for nearly 60 volumes that is very popular with collectors must be worth investigating. Over the course of several weeks, I tried to find out a few things by visiting a few Chalet School series sites, but I still could not make any determination about it.
I was completely lost as to what the series is like and how it compares to all of the American series books. Unfortunately, international postage is very expensive, and the U.S. dollar is very weak against the British pound, so the cost of these books is very formidable for a U.S. collector, even for the softcover books. In fact, the prices are downright scary. Even the very easiest to find books cost at least 5 pounds and postage runs around 7 pounds. So the cheapest books are at least 12 pounds, which coverts to around US $25.00. Generally, this would be for a softcover book. There is a problem with the softcover Chalet School books; many of them contain edited versions of the stories. I cannot justify paying $25.00 for an edited softcover book when I would prefer to obtain the original story. Now the hardcover Chalet School books can sometimes be had for around $25.00, but as a general rule, they will usually cost at least $40.00—and $60.00 and up is more realistic. These prices are for the easiest to find titles. The scarce titles cost in the hundreds of dollars.
I mention the prices because I finally decided that the only way to figure out whether this series is worth collecting is to buy few books and read them. Since I knew that I would ultimately only be satisfied with the hardcover books, I managed to acquire the first two titles in the series in hardcover with dust jacket. Each book ended up costing me around $50.00 or so. I have never had to invest so much in order to "try out" a series. So, was it worth it?
I read the first book, The School at the Chalet, and loved it. I am nearly done with the second book, Jo of the Chalet School, and have greatly enjoyed it. I have already begun to purchase additional titles, and I cringe to think of what the entire set will ultimately cost me. My plan right now is to purchase whichever books I can in hardcover with dust jacket. I have set a limit on what I will pay per book, so right now, most of the books are out of reach for me. After I have bought all of the books that I can from within my self-imposed limit, I will then proceed with either paying more for some of them or may settle for hardcover books that are missing their jackets. In the end, I may have to settle for softcover editions of some of the books. It will be awhile before I have to make that decision.
I am beginning to set up a Chalet School cover art gallery and information page for my site. Once I am satisfied with what I have composed, I will put it up for others to view.
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