Identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a first edition, first printing hardcover copy of Richard Paul Evans' bestselling 1998 novel, 'The Locket'. Evans gained international fame following his self-published phenomenon 'The Christmas Box', making his subsequent romantic and inspirational novels major commercial releases. The valuation is anchored by identical first edition copies currently offered on eBay and local marketplaces, which consistently cluster in the $3 to $4 range.
Story
Richard Paul Evans is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who gained international fame with his self-published phenomenon 'The Christmas Box' in 1993. 'The Locket' was published in 1998 by Simon & Schuster during the height of his commercial success in the inspirational and romantic fiction genres. Mass-market inspirational fiction from the late 1990s is ubiquitous on the secondary market. Because supply vastly outweighs demand, these books typically hold nominal resale value.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed
Condition & Value
For modern hardcovers, value is entirely dependent on the presence of a crisp, unclipped dust jacket, a tight binding, and clean, unmarked pages. Assuming standard used condition with an intact jacket, it holds nominal value; any significant wear, tears, or a missing dust jacket would render the book essentially unsellable on the secondary market. The dust jacket shows slight handling and edge softening, but the interior copyright page and binding appear clean and intact. Modest wear is typical for trade hardcovers of this era and keeps it in standard reading/collector condition.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Mass-market inspirational fiction from the late 1990s is ubiquitous on the secondary market. Because supply vastly outweighs demand, these books typically hold nominal resale value. They move best in local bundle sales, thrift stores, or library sales, as the cost of shipping a single volume online usually exceeds the value of the book itself.
▲ First edition status, which is the baseline requirement for any collector interest.
▲ Hardcover format, which holds up better over time than paperback equivalents.
▲ Recognizable bestselling author with a dedicated readership.
▼ Massive original print run severely limits any scarcity premium.
▼ Shipping costs often exceed the item's market value, suppressing online resale viability.
▼ Unverified dust jacket condition — a missing or heavily torn jacket drops the value to near zero.
Best Venue
Given the low individual value ($2-$5) and the reality of shipping costs, listing this as a single item online is not cost-effective. Bundle it with other Richard Paul Evans titles or similar inspirational fiction for a local sale (e. g., Facebook Marketplace) at $10-$15 for a stack, or consider donating it.
Upside Potential
If the book is flat-signed or personally inscribed by Richard Paul Evans, the value could shift into the $15-$25 range for a dedicated fan.
Also found — market-range context
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.