[Question] Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

[gatheringrosebuds]

I've often heard Disneyland The Nickel Tour by Bruce Gordon & David Mumford mentioned as one of the best, if not the best book ever written on Disneyland.

Who here has read it, what's your review of the book, and what price would you say that it's worth? So many of the sellers on ebay and Amazon know the high demand and limited quantity of the book and try to sell it for ridiculous prices, so I want to hear your guys' input in the matter.

[penguinsoda]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

My daughter has a copy. I wish now when I bought it for her I got one for me too. Had I known that it would be going for $500 and up after it went OOP... If you collect Disney postcards it is THE source for just about every single postcard ever made in the resort up to the time of publication. Its a great source of history of the park through the years via the postcards that were sold there.

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

^ This! The Nickel Tour is an amazing combination of rigorous historical research, Disneyland time machine and feast for the eyes. IMO its high prices really reflect its value. For us diehard fans of Disneyland history it's a must-have.

[Disneytwins]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

I wish I could afford it.

[penguinsoda]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

I wish I could afford it.

I wish they would publish another run of it. I know one of the authors passed away a few years ago, but they could do another edition... they wouldn't even have to add the most recent postcards... just publish it again at a normal price! :lol:

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

My daughter has a copy. I wish now when I bought it for her I got one for me too. Had I known that it would be going for $500 and up after it went OOP... If you collect Disney postcards it is THE source for just about every single postcard ever made in the resort up to the time of publication. Its a great source of history of the park through the years via the postcards that were sold there.

Perhaps they ought to rename it The 10,000 Nickels Tour. )

[gatheringrosebuds]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

What's the average cost that the book is going for these days on, say, an eBay auction? Around $250? More? For people that have actually seen the book, is a price of around $200-$250 is "worth it"? Or with patience, is it still possible to obtain this book at lower price?

I know that the value of an object is subjective and varies from person to person. I, as a bibliophile who is infatuated with Disneyland, might be willing to pay more than the average Joe, but since I've never held the book and flipped through its pages, I can't determine what its value would be for me, so I really value any input that you guys can offer.

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

What's the average cost that the book is going for these days on, say, an eBay auction? Around $250? More? For people that have actually seen the book, is a price of around $200-$250 is "worth it"? Or with patience, is it still possible to obtain this book at lower price?

I know that the value of an object is subjective and varies from person to person. I, as a bibliophile who is infatuated with Disneyland, might be willing to pay more than the average Joe, but since I've never held the book and flipped through its pages, I can't determine what its value would be for me, so I really value any input that you guys can offer.

I'm seeing good-to-VG copies on ebay, Abebooks and elsewhere in the $450-550 range; VG-to-fine 1st editions signed by the authors in the $1200 range. For me personally, as a Disneyland history buff and Disney book collector who bought The Nickel Tour when it was first published and has read it many times, if I didn't own a copy but was familiar with its content I definitely would say yes to a VG copy in the $450-550 range. I'd pass on the signed edition.

My suggestion would be to see if it's available at your library. The more familiar you are with its content, the better you'll be able to judge if it's worth the current asking price for you to own a copy.

[gatheringrosebuds]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

I'm seeing good-to-VG copies on ebay, Abebooks and elsewhere in the $450-550 range; VG-to-fine 1st editions signed by the authors in the $1200 range. For me personally, as a Disneyland history buff and Disney book collector who bought The Nickel Tour when it was first published and has read it many times, if I didn't own a copy but was familiar with its content I definitely would say yes to a VG copy in the $450-550 range. I'd pass on the signed edition.

My suggestion would be to see if it's available at your library. The more familiar you are with its content, the better you'll be able to judge if it's worth the current asking price for you to own a copy.

What's the difference between the first and the second edition?

There's a copy right now on eBay with a "buy it now" option of $286, and a starting bid of $260 with no current offers with two days left to bid. It's the second edition. I'm keeping my eye on it. There's also an auction for another second edition that's currently at $150 with two days left. Also keeping my eye on that copy.

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

500 bucks for a book...haha....man thats crazy

[Disneymike]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

500 bucks for a book...haha....man thats crazy

That's what Gutenberg would say.....

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

^what's also sad is...I'm pretty sure all these copy's did not make the author most of the money it's just the collectors who bought it for like 30 bucks and no make a huge amount of profit on them

[penguinsoda]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

^what's also sad is...I'm pretty sure all these copy's did not make the author most of the money it's just the collectors who bought it for like 30 bucks and no make a huge amount of profit on them

Thats the way with ANY collectable. Thats why they are... collectable. Did Van Gogh get the millions his paintings are worth now? Of course not. Something is created, someone finds value in it, and if someone is lucky they have a copy or several and make a profit off of selling it. Thats the way the collectable market works.

The book is OOP, so the authors would not be making any money from it anyway.

I just wish I had bought about... 6 of them for the $50 or so they were when they were first published.

[sbk1234]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

This thread has just made me very happy, since I have a copy in excellent / like new condition.

I'm not ready to sell yet, but hearing the prices it's going for, makes me smile, to know I could sell it if I wanted.

In answer to the original question, very good book. Hours of enjoyment.

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

What's the difference between the first and the second edition?

I don't know the specifics of The Nickel Tour second edition, but in general, seconds either are identical in content to firsts or contain corrections and/or additions. If the latter, it would give a second edition Nickel Tour even greater value to the Disney history fan and researcher.

There's a copy right now on eBay with a "buy it now" option of $286, and a starting bid of $260 with no current offers with two days left to bid. It's the second edition. I'm keeping my eye on it. There's also an auction for another second edition that's currently at $150 with two days left. Also keeping my eye on that copy.

If they're in good condition and offered by reputable and trustworthy sellers (always the Big If of ebay), they sound like deals!!

Thats the way with ANY collectable. Thats why they are... collectable. Did Van Gogh get the millions his paintings are worth now? Of course not. Something is created, someone finds value in it, and if someone is lucky they have a copy or several and make a profit off of selling it. Thats the way the collectable market works.

The book is OOP, so the authors would not be making any money from it anyway.

Exactly right.

I just wish I had bought about... 6 of them for the $50 or so they were when they were first published.

You and me both!!

[JesterMn]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

Wow... I had no idea the book was worth this much. I actually won a copy of this book from one of the earlier MouseAdventure games, so I didn't even have to pay for it. And I've barely looked through it, mainly because I was worried about keeping it in good shape. Looks like my strategy may have paid off!

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

As Wiggins and others have noted, it is THE best book on the history of Disneyland. Period. You will find information in it that you just won't find elsewhere.

I believe the first edition dust jacket was a maroon color; the second edition (which I have) has a blue jacket.

Both authors have since passed away. The book went to a second edition--you can bet they made money (not millions, but definitely tens of thousands of dollars).

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

Thats the way with ANY collectable. Thats why they are... collectable. Did Van Gogh get the millions his paintings are worth now? Of course not. Something is created, someone finds value in it, and if someone is lucky they have a copy or several and make a profit off of selling it. Thats the way the collectable market works.

The book is OOP, so the authors would not be making any money from it anyway.

I just wish I had bought about... 6 of them for the $50 or so they were when they were first published.

Well with books....to me I don't get why they don't just publish more...they worth 500....I think they're worth reprinting then

I'm a collector to I get the mark when it's a "one" time type item but a book can be remade for pretty cheap compared to many other things....or just make a "virtual" version at the very least

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

Well with books....to me I don't get why they don't just publish more...they worth 500....I think they're worth reprinting then

I'm a collector to I get the mark when it's a "one" time type item but a book can be remade for pretty cheap compared to many other things....or just make a "virtual" version at the very least

Book publishing isn't that simple -- particularly for a niche market item that is 12 years old (17 for the 1st ed.) with the authors deceased.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Opinions on Disneyland The Nickel Tour?

Well with books....to me I don't get why they don't just publish more...they worth 500....I think they're worth reprinting then

"They" probably don't have a spare $25,000 lying around to print a couple thousand copies. And sorry--any reprint is not going to fetch $500. That's not the way it works.