Ah, if we could only get our hands on, oh I don't know, some magical time-turning device and make our way back to April 2013, when a debut author by the name of Robert Galbraith released his new "brilliant mystery," (from the book description, not my words)
The Cuckoo's Calling. (Still available on Amazon for a mere $16.55, although doubtful that there are any first editions left now that it's been revealed that Galbraith is the nom de plume for J.K. Rowling, and a new larger printing has been rushed to the printers).
Now first editions of this,
respectable (but average), book are selling for $950 to $6,214 over on
Abebooks. Rowling's publisher did confirm that there are a few signed copies out there.
First printing numbers are a bit sketchy, but it looks like at least 10,000, with only 1,500 having been sold by July 5, 2013. The
second print run is much larger, weighing in at 300,000 now that Rowling's name is attached to it.
