Book Prices Drawn From Catalogs |
| The following table shows the advertised prices gathered from catalogs of ML books over the years. What's really interesting is that prices remained stable for over twenty years (1923 - 1946)!!! Thanks to Guilbert Gates who contributed nearly all of the material for the table.
For tables of prices that include those observed in contemporary newpaper and magazene ads, click here. If you have information on prices from the catalogs not listed here, please write to the editor. For specific information about each catalog and brochure, see the Modern Library Advertising Brochures page. By the way, prices were cheaper earlier on. In addition to the prices listed below, advertising records indicate the following:
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|
DATE
|
REG.
|
GIANT
|
ILLUS.
|
PAPERBACK
|
NOTES
|
| 1920 | $0.85 | ||||
| 1921 | - | ||||
| 1922 | - | ||||
| 1923 | $0.95 | ||||
| 1924 | - | ||||
| Fall 1925 - Fall 1929 | $0.95 | ||||
| Spring 1930 | - | ||||
| Fall 1930 - Spring 1931 | $0.95 | ||||
| Fall 1931 | $0.95 | $1.00 | First mention of Giants | ||
| Spring 1932 - Spring 1936 | $0.95 | $1.00 | |||
| Fall 1936 | $0.95 | $1.10 | Giants at $1.10 for one year only | ||
| Spring 1937 | $0.95 | Giants not mentioned in catalog | |||
| Spring Giants 1937 | $1.10 | Giants only | |||
| Fall 1937 - Fall 1941 | $0.95 | $1.25 | |||
| Spring 1942 - Fall 1943 | $0.95 | $1.45 | Fall 1943 catalog bottom corner says "Coming! The illustrated Modern Library” and along the bottom of the box “Details will be announced later.” | ||
| 1943 Illustrated Issue | $1.50 | Illustrated Issues announced | |||
| Spring 1944 | $0.95 | $1.45 | $1.50 | ||
| Fall 1944 - Spring 1946 | - | - | - | Were catalogs issued????? | |
| Fall 1946 | $0.95 | $1.75 | Ill. Mod. Lib. not mentioned in this catalog, although the contributor's copy may be missing a page. | ||
| 1946 Illustrated Issue | $2.00 | Separate illustrated catalog issued | |||
| Spring 1947 | $1.10 | $1.95 | $2.00 | Regulars at $1.10 for one season only | |
|
DATE
|
REG.
|
GIANT
|
ILLUS.
|
PAPERBACK
|
NOTES
|
| Fall 1947 | $1.25 | $1.95 | $2.50 | ||
| Spring 1948 - Spring 1950 | $1.25 | $2.45 | $2.50 | ||
| Fall 1950 | $1.25 | $1.95 | $2.50 | $1.95 Giant price is probably a misprint, although repeated several times in catalog | |
| Spring 1951 | $1.25 | $2.45 | $2.50 | ||
| Fall 1951 | $1.25 | $2.45 | Illustrateds disappear from catalogs | ||
| Spring 1952 - Fall 1953 | $1.25 | $2.45 | |||
| Spring 1954 | $1.25 | $2.45 | Noted in catalog: "Price for regular M.L. will be $1.45 after April 1." | ||
| Fall 1954 - Fall 1956 | $1.45 | $2.45 | |||
| Spring 1957 - Spring 1958 | $1.65 | $2.95 | |||
| Fall 1958 | $1.65 | $2.95 | $0.95 | First appearance of numbered paperbacks in catalog | |
| Spring 1959 | $1.65 | $2.95 | $0.95 and $1.25 | The following paperbacks are listed at $1.25: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 18, 38, 50 | |
| Fall 1959 | $1.65 | $2.95 | $0.95 "and up" | ||
| Spring 1960 | $1.95 | $2.95 | $0.95 "and up" | ||
| Winter 1960 | $1.95 | $2.95 | Paperbacks disappear from catalogs. Note "Winter" designation (as opposed to "Fall") | ||
| Spring 1961 | - | - | No catalog issued. Separate catalog issued for Vintage Books. | ||
| Fall 1961 - Fall 1962 | $1.95 | $2.95 | |||
| Spring 1963 - Fall 1963 | $1.95 | $2.95 | Prices higher "where noted." | ||
| Spring 1964 - Fall 1964 | - | - | |||
| Spring 1965 - Fall 1965 | $1.95 and $2.45 | $2.95 and $3.95 | |||
| 1966 | $1.95 and $2.45 | $2.95 and $3.95 | Prices higher "where noted." | ||
| 1967 | $1.95 and $2.45 | $3.95 | Prices higher "where noted." | ||
| 1968 | $2.45 | $3.95 | |||
| 1969 - 1973 | - | - | |||
| Fall 1974 | $3.95 | $5.95 | Poster with highly reduced number of titles |
