50 Great Short Stories Value Guide

The 1962 edition of '50 Great Short Stories' is a quintessential Bantam Books paperback that brought high-brow literary education to the American masses. Edited by Milton Crane, this anthology is collectible for its iconic mid-century cover art and its role as a staple in 20th-century classrooms.

What Is 50 Great Short Stories Worth?

The typical price range for 50 Great Short Stories is $5 - $10 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Physical condition of the spine, as these mass-market paperbacks are prone to cracking and glue degradation.
• Presence of foxing or yellowing on the paper pages, which is common for 1960s wood-pulp stock.
• The specific printing number, with first printings of the 1962 cover art variant carrying slightly more interest.
• Absence of student marginalia or library stamps which frequently appear in these educational copies.

How to Identify 50 Great Short Stories?

• Check the copyright page for the 1952 original date with the specific 1962 Bantam printing notation.
• Verify the editor is Milton Crane and the publisher is Bantam Books, typically featuring the classic rooster logo.
• Look for the distinct mass-market paperback dimensions and the original cover price often printed on the top right corner.
• Confirm the table of contents includes exactly fifty stories from diverse, renowned international authors.

History of 50 Great Short Stories

This anthology, '50 Great Short Stories', was edited by Milton Crane and published by Bantam Books. It became a popular paperback collection, making classic short fiction accessible to a wide audience. Over the years, it has seen multiple printings, indicating its enduring appeal and significance in literary education and enjoyment.