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Identification

Nancy Friday, My Mother/My Self, Hardcover with Dust Jacket

Photo reference

2 uploaded photos

Overview

Images confirm the title, author, publisher (Delacorte Press), and 1977 copyright date. The dust jacket is present. However, the copyright page does not state 'First Printing' or 'First Edition', nor does it feature a number line.

Story

Published by Delacorte Press in 1977, Nancy Friday's 'My Mother/My Self' was a landmark bestseller that reshaped popular discourse around mother-daughter relationships and female identity. As a widely printed book, millions of copies entered circulation, including numerous Book Club Editions. The secondary market for mass-market 1970s psychology and sociology bestsellers is generally soft, functioning primarily as a reading and reference market rather than a collector's market.

Maker / Origin

Delacorte Press

Condition & Value

Based on the provided details, the book retains its original dust jacket, which is a significant positive for display value. However, the exact condition of the binding, pages (foxing, tears, or highlighting), and the dust jacket's edges cannot be fully assessed without additional photos.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The secondary market for mass-market 1970s psychology and sociology bestsellers is generally soft, functioning primarily as a reading and reference market rather than a collector's market. Copies frequently trade in the $5 to $15 range depending on condition. Premium prices are strictly reserved for verified true first editions, signed copies, or pristine examples with archival protection.

Value Drivers

▲ Presence of the original dust jacket significantly improves resale appeal over bare hardcovers.

▲ Landmark 1970s feminist psychology title maintains steady, albeit low-value, reading demand.

Concerns

▼ Lack of first-edition markers on the copyright page strongly suggests a lower-value Book Club Edition or later printing.

▼ Unverified dust jacket flap — a clipped or missing price confirms a BCE, capping collector interest.

Best Venue

List on broad secondary marketplaces like eBay or Amazon as a reading copy. To maximize the listing, add a photograph of the inside front flap of the dust jacket to confirm whether a price is printed (indicating a trade edition) or absent (indicating a Book Club Edition). Price competitively around $10-$15 for a steady sale.

Upside Potential

If the inside front flap of the dust jacket reveals an unclipped original retail price, and the title page bears an authentic signature or inscription from Nancy Friday, the value could exceed the current high estimate and approach the $40-$50 range.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 1 comp

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • Argosy Book Store, ABAA, ILAB
    My Mother/My Self; The Daughter's Search for Identity
    Link could not be verified.
    $125