Preliminary identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a true first edition, first printing hardcover copy of 'The Shelters of Stone', the long-awaited fifth installment in Jean M. Auel's internationally bestselling Earth's Children series. Published in 2002, it features original dust jacket artwork and complete publisher number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'.
Story
Published in 2002 after a 12-year hiatus, millions of eager readers rushed bookstores to discover Ayla's fate, prompting Crown to order an enormous initial print run of over one million copies.
Maker / Origin
Jean M. Auel (born 1936) became a literary phenomenon after launching the Earth's Children prehistoric fiction series in 1980 with 'The Clan of the Cave Bear'. Known for her obsessive anthropological and archaeological research, she learned primitive survival skills and flintknapping firsthand to ensure authentic storytelling.
Condition & Value
Dust jacket shows light surface curling and edge handling but remains intact with vibrant colors; binding appears tight and pages clean. Pristine, unclipped copies with pristine jackets achieve the higher end of the range.
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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
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Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.