1893 Porter for Sale on eBay

Someone is selling an original Porter on eBay. The starting bid is $500. Depending on condition, an original Porter can sell for $300 to $1500.

The seller’s ad has a few inaccuracies, however.

THE LOT IS ONE BOOK. LIZZIE BORDEN TRIED TO BUY ALL THE COPIES OF THIS BOOK. MY ESTIMATE IS THAT LESS THAN FIFTY COPIES WERE CIRCULATED. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ESTIMATES TWENTY. THE AUTHOR EDWIN PORTER WAS THE POLICE REPORTER FOR THE FALL RIVER GLOBE. IT WAS PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS OF J D MUNROE OF FALL RIVER IN 1893. IT HAS 312 PAGES. IT IS IN FAIR CONDITION. THIS CONDITION IS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THIS BOOK. IT WAS THE COPY OF DR RICHARDS – A FALL RIVER DOCTOR. NO RESERVE. LET ME LIST SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS NOT A VERY HIGH QUALITY BINDING. THE BINDING IS LOOSE AT THE FRONT AND BACK. THE GOLD LETTERING IS FADED OR WORN. THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE SPINE IS WORN. THE CLOTH COVERING IS WEARING THIN. THE PAPER IS AGING AND TURNING BROWN. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL PRINTING. THERE IS A RECENT REPRINT AVAILABLE. I PRESUME THERE WAS NO DUST JACKET WHEN ISSUED. I DO NOT HAVE A DUST JACKET. THE NAME ‘RICHARDS’ IS WRITTEN IN PENCIL ON THE FIRST PAGE. THERE ARE NO TORN PAGES. I BELIEVE THE 1893 EDITION WAS ONLY PRINTED ONCE. THUS, I REFER TO THIS AS THE FIRST EDITION.

The part about fifty copies in circulation and the Fall River Historical Society saying there were less than twenty. Bunk. However, it is wonderful to see the honest and straightforward description of the condition of the book. Good work there. One must know what one is getting before investing so much money. Pity there are not a lot more photos. And I would like to know the state of the end papers.