Overview
The item is clearly identified by the cover and copyright page as a 1991 hardcover copy of Tom Clancy's 'The Sum of All Fears' published by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
The item is clearly identified by the cover and copyright page as a 1991 hardcover copy of Tom Clancy's 'The Sum of All Fears' published by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Story
Tom Clancy's 'The Sum of All Fears' was published in 1991 by G. P. Putnam's Sons and became a massive bestseller, further cementing the Jack Ryan universe in popular culture. Due to its massive initial print run, standard hardcover copies are ubiquitous in the secondhand market. The secondary market for mass-produced 1990s techno-thrillers is highly saturated, functioning primarily as a reader's market rather than a collector's market. Supply vastly outstrips demand for unsigned copies, keeping prices relatively flat.
Maker / Origin
Tom Clancy (Author) / G. P. Putnam's Sons (Publisher)
Condition & Value
Based on the seller's description and standard expectations for this tier, the book appears to be in acceptable to very good reading condition with its original dust jacket present. Any unstated tears, heavy foxing, or missing pages would push the value to the bottom of the range.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The secondary market for mass-produced 1990s techno-thrillers is highly saturated, functioning primarily as a reader's market rather than a collector's market. Supply vastly outstrips demand for unsigned copies, keeping prices relatively flat. Copies move best when bundled with other Clancy titles or priced competitively as reading copies.
▲ Presence of the original iconic dust jacket
▲ Strong, enduring popularity of the Tom Clancy / Jack Ryan franchise
▲ Recent comps demonstrate a proven ceiling of $18 for copies in Very Good condition
▼ Unverified edition state — if confirmed as a Book Club Edition (BCE), the value is capped at the $5-$10 reading-copy tier
▼ Massive original print run severely limits scarcity and collector demand
▼ Shipping costs often exceed the value of the book itself, deterring online buyers
Best Venue
For a fast sale, list the book at $8-$10 as a reading copy, or bundle it with other Jack Ryan novels to offset shipping costs. If you can verify a printed price on the dust jacket flap (confirming it is a true first trade edition rather than a Book Club Edition), you can confidently list closer to the $15-$18 mark.
Upside Potential
If the dust jacket retains an unclipped original price and the book is in pristine, unread condition, it can reliably achieve the $18 high-end. A significantly higher premium (above $50) would require an authentic author signature.