Identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a first edition, first printing of Amy Tan's sweeping historical novel, 'The Valley of Amazement', published in 2013. The copyright page features the complete number line ending in '1', confirming its status as a highly collectible true first printing.
Story
Amy Tan is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for 'The Joy Luck Club'. 'The Valley of Amazement', published by HarperCollins in 2013, continues her exploration of mother-daughter relationships and Chinese-American heritage. The secondary market for modern literary fiction first editions is highly saturated. While Amy Tan is a celebrated author, 'The Valley of Amazement' had a large initial print run, making first editions relatively common.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed
Condition & Value
The seller describes the item as a first printing but does not explicitly detail the condition of the dust jacket, binding, or pages. For modern first editions, value is highly dependent on a Near Fine to Fine condition rating. Any bumping, remainder marks, or edge wear will push the value toward the lower end of the range.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The secondary market for modern literary fiction first editions is highly saturated. While Amy Tan is a celebrated author, 'The Valley of Amazement' had a large initial print run, making first editions relatively common. Buyers typically seek pristine, unread copies or signed editions, while standard unsigned copies move slowly at low price points.
▲ Confirmed first edition, first printing status (number line ending in '1') appeals to completionist collectors.
▲ Presence of the original dust jacket is mandatory for modern first edition value.
▼ Unverified physical condition — any remainder marks, spine leaning, or dust jacket tears will drop the value to the reading-copy baseline.
▼ Massive initial print run limits scarcity and heavily caps the unsigned ceiling.
Best Venue
List on broad secondary marketplaces like eBay or Amazon as a used collectible book. Ensure clear photos of the copyright page (showing the '1') and the dust jacket are included. Given the low price point, consider bundling with other Amy Tan novels if available to optimize shipping costs.
Upside Potential
If the book is actually signed or inscribed by Amy Tan (not noted in the current description), the value would align closer to the $40 asking price seen in the signed comparable.
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.