Which is worth more? Signature or Dust jacket?

[prying1]

Quandary - I have a VG+ book with a Dust Jacket in VG condition. Found only one copy of the same book/similar condition up for sale with a signature and no dust jacket.

Do I price mine higher, lower, or the same?

Perhaps I should wait until I see another with a DJ...

I'm thinking of upping the price because I remember years ago selling a first edition Vonnegut, "Welcome to the Monkey House" on ebay for $300 less than a copy that had a DJ. - But neither of those were signed...

[Bruce Hollingdrake]

Hi Paul,

Good question,

Probably depends on the signature itself. Would it have value alone? You need to appraise a signature as a stand alone item, in other words I could easily sell a signature of Herman Melville for a few bucks but a signature by Joe Blow may never sell.
My guess would be that a relatively important signature would be worth a little more than a jacket but not by much. Both add a lot.
I would price it around the same or just below. That being said, if you only see one copy who knows if that dealer has priced it correctly? Perhaps waiting would be better...??

[prying1]

I figured I would up the price a bunch and see what happens. Scarce book on George Burchett - Tattooist from it's original publisher in London. - U.S. Printer is more common with about 5-6 copies out there while the London version has only 1 other, the signed one, available.

[benjclark]

Which is more rare?  Stephen King's signature is not rare.  A fine dust jacket for his early stuff can be.  Vice-versa can be true too. 

[prying1]

Good point Benjclark -

I just saw that the book "Memoirs of a Tattoist", which is about George Burchett says,

Author's biro inscription "With Very Best Wishes from : Burch, July 1958"

("Biro" was the name of the guy who invented the ball point pen... = ink signed)

Only real problem is that Burch died suddenly on Good Friday in 1953, on his way to tattoo a client.

That makes this signature real rare. -

Now next question. Should I email the seller and point out the problem?

My copy is still rare/scarce so I'll keep the price high for a while.

[Bruce Hollingdrake]

Hi Paul,

Nothing wrong with keeping the price high but you need to inform the buyer (and/or update your listing) with all pertinent details. I'd say this detail is pretty important..

[prying1]

I emailed the other seller re: death date of Burchett and he was thankful for the heads up. - I'm thinking his copy's signature is from a relative of the author. - Son/nephew - That might add some 'historical interest' to a collector. - Or would it?