value – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Childhood books that could be sitting in your home worth money

For many, books are more than just sources of knowledge and entertainment; they are cherished possessions, often passed down through generations.

While most books hold sentimental value, some can also be worth a considerable amount of money. If you have a collection of old books gathering dust on your shelves, it might be time to take a closer look.

You could be sitting on a goldmine without even realising it.

Joanne Williams, a book expert from Awesome Books tells us some types of books that might be worth a small fortune.

First Editions

First editions of classic books are highly sought after by collectors. These are the initial printings of a book, often produced in limited quantities. If you have a first edition of a well-known work, it could be worth a significant amount. Look for first editions of classic literature, such as:

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

George Orwell’s 1984

Signed Copies

Books signed by the author are always in demand, especially if the author is well-known or the book is a classic. The value increases if the signature is accompanied by a personal inscription. Keep an eye out for signed copies of works by famous authors like Ernest Hemingway, J.K. Rowling, or Stephen King.

Limited Editions and Special Prints

Books that were published in limited numbers or special editions can be particularly valuable. These editions often feature unique bindings, illustrations, or forewords not found in the regular editions. Examples include:

Limited edition versions of *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

Special illustrated editions of *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* by Lewis Carroll

Collector’s editions of *The Catcher in the Rye* by J.D. Salinger

Antiquarian Books

Books that are over 100 years old can be highly valuable, especially if they are in good condition. Antiquarian books can include anything from early printings of famous works to rare and obscure titles. Key factors that affect their value include the book’s condition, rarity, and historical significance. Look for:

Early editions of works by Charles Dickens

Rare printings of Shakespeare’s plays

Historical documents or first-hand accounts of significant events

Out-of-Print Books

Some books become valuable simply because they are no longer in print and hard to find. These can range from children’s books to academic texts. For example:

Original Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine

Certain vintage children’s books like The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Out-of-print works of poetry or niche academic subjects

Unique or Unusual Books

Books with unique features, such as misprints, rare bindings, or unusual content, can also be valuable. Collectors often seek out these anomalies because they represent something different from the norm. Examples include:

Misprinted editions of popular novels

Books with unique or rare bindings, such as leather-bound copies

Books with controversial or historically significant content

Potential Value of Books

On average, Brits could be sitting on books worth hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds. The value of collectible books can vary widely, but here are some general estimates:

First Editions: Depending on the book and its condition, first editions can range from £100 to several thousand pounds. For example, a first edition of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* has sold for over £50,000.

Signed Copies: Signed copies of books can add £50 to several thousand pounds to the book’s value. A signed copy of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea might fetch £1,000 or more.

Limited Editions and Special Prints: These can be worth anywhere from £100 to several thousand pounds, depending on their rarity and condition.

Antiquarian Books: Values can range from £50 to tens of thousands of pounds. An early edition of Charles Dickens’ *A Christmas Carol* can be worth over £10,000.

Out-of-Print Books: These can range from £20 to several hundred pounds, depending on their popularity and rarity.

Unique or Unusual Books: Prices vary widely, but unique features can significantly increase a book’s value, potentially adding hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Tips for Determining the Value of Your Books

Research: Use online resources like AbeBooks, eBay, and specialised rare book websites to compare prices and see what similar books are selling for.

Condition: The condition of the book greatly affects its value. Books that are in pristine condition, with intact dust jackets and minimal wear, are worth more.

Consult Experts: Consider reaching out to a rare book dealer or appraiser for a professional assessment. They can provide insight into the book’s rarity, demand, and potential value.

Joanne Williams, a book expert from Awesome Books says: “Your bookshelf could be hiding more than just great stories; it might contain valuable treasures waiting to be discovered.

“By taking the time to identify and research your collection, you could unearth books that are worth a significant amount of money.

“Whether you decide to sell these valuable books or keep them as prized possessions, knowing their worth adds a new layer of appreciation for your literary collection.”

Unifying Generations: Over 65s in Scotland are ‘pivotal to society’ and highly valued by younger generations

Over-65s revealed to play a pivotal role in society, caring for family members, volunteering in communities, mentoring and providing support in the lives of younger people new report says

Survey conducted among 2,100 people in the UK, including Scotland, shows a strong desire for more intergenerational interactions, especially in the post-pandemic world

Edwards Lifesciences’ ‘Unifying Generations’ report recommends to transform perceptions of the 3^rd generation, encourage mentoring schemes and improve digital skills of older people

Over-65s play a pivotal role in Scottish society and in the lives of younger people by volunteering, mentoring, providing care, and giving financial contributions according to a new report Unifying Generations: Building the Pathway to Intergenerational Solidarity’ from Edwards Lifesciences.

The report, based on a survey of 2,100 people across the UK, including Scotland, calls for a change in perceptions of the ‘3^rd generation’ and greater recognition of their role as ‘unifiers’ between generations.

“I have been a volunteer for over 35 years. I started with the scouts and now run Volunteering Matters’ RSVP Forth Valley programme which encourages older people to use their experience to help the local community in the Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire areas,” said Rosemary Fletcher, 73.

“Helping others is what motivates me and my fellow volunteers to get up every day. It is vital to us. When the Covid lockdown happened and we older people had to isolate, it was a shock. I needed to do something, to contribute in my own way.

“To help our local GPs cope with the number of visits, I brought together senior colleagues alongside younger volunteers including some from my scout network who wanted to study medicine. They were able to support the local practitioners in their daily tasks. But I didn’t want to stop there, there was so much to do.

“I decided to support Catalyst, a charity based in Stockton-on-Tees, carrying out a survey of how local charitable organisations were coping during lockdown making up to 12 video calls a day,” continued Rosemary, who received the ultimate recognition of an MBE in the New Year Honours 2021.

In contrast to existing perceptions, the survey results highlighted the significant social contributions of the 3^rd generation.

In Scotland, 27% of the over-65s provide care to family members, which is higher than the UK average (23%), and 19% provide support to family members in daily tasks such as shopping and driving.

In addition, 47% provide financial support to younger people within their family, especially giving towards holidays and leisure (28%). Outside the family, older Scots are engaged in their communities: 19% volunteer locally, and 17% volunteer in a charity.ⁱ

In turn, younger Scots value the role of the older generation in their lives. Seventy-two percent (72%) of those aged 18-40 said the support from over-65s was very important or somewhat important.ⁱ

“I wholeheartedly endorse the report’s three recommendations. By changing perceptions of older people, we celebrate and recognise their pivotal contribution, and encourage even more” commented Derek Thomas, Member of Parliament for St Ives.

“New mentoring schemes will help our younger people to make greater strides educationally and vocationally, while digital training for older people will reduce isolation and keep family and communities much closer. There is so much to be gained by bringing our generations closer together.”

Many benefits of intergenerational interactions were also highlighted in the report. According to younger people in Scotland, listening and giving advice (53%) is the most valuable skill older people can offer them.ⁱ This is higher than the UK average of 45%.

This was followed by companionship/friendship (47%), sharing historical or cultural knowledge (42%), and mental and emotional well-being (34%). Additionally, 32% of younger Scots believe that mentoring or educational schemes provided by national or local government would help them to do more with older generations. The older generation recognise the need to improve its digital skills with 37% saying they would most like to learn technology and digital media from younger people.

One of the most positive themes was the willingness to improve intergenerational interactions. Eighty-two percent (82%) of people of all ages thought closer relations between generations are a good thing, which is higher than the UK average of 76%.

In addition, close to half (49%) had a friend of a different generation and 42% were open to having one.Results from the survey also cited the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the main barriers to closer relations between age groups, with 32% of respondents believing that younger and older people were further apart since the pandemic and 28% saying they now spent less time with someone of a different generation. Now is the time to recover.

The report makes three recommendations to ensure that the UK continues to move towards a more unified society: campaigns to transform perceptions of the value of senior people and their interactions with younger generations, greater opportunities for mentoring and knowledge sharing from older to younger generations; and schemes that help senior people interact more in the digital realm.

“With people living longer and healthier lives, it is important to transform perceptions about the older generation,” noted Nick Walker, Country Senior Director, Edwards Lifesciences UK and Ireland.

“The Unifying Generations report sheds light on the pivotal social and economic contribution of the senior population and demonstrates the importance of protecting their health and well-being.”

The report will be launched today at a Parliamentary event hosted by Rachael Maskell MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ageing and Older People and Derek Thomas MP.

To learn more and download the full report, please visit:

https://www.edwards.com/gb/aboutus/unifying-generations/

edwards_unifying-generations-report-uk-2022_online Download

Which? exposes supermarket pricing secrets that could lead to you paying over the odds

Shoppers could be paying almost four times more than they need to for the same branded grocery products at certain times, Which?’s biggest ever supermarket pricing investigation has found.

The consumer champion analysed more than a million prices for 493 branded grocery items at six major supermarkets – Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose – throughout 2020.

The investigation revealed not just the pricing secrets that mean shoppers could be paying over the odds for the same products depending on the days they shop, but also the types of grocery products that fluctuate the most when it comes to price, as well as the supermarket that almost always beats its rivals when it comes to the cost of branded groceries

Lavazza Qualita Rossa Ground Coffee (250g) at Ocado had the most dramatic price difference, as the investigation found shoppers could pay almost four times more for the same product on different days.

It was at its cheapest price of £1.30 for 63 days in 2020, however for more than a third of the year (130 days), it cost an eye-watering £5 – a 284 per cent difference for the same product. Ocado said this price fluctuation was an error that has now been corrected.

The price for Müller yogurts illustrates the so-called “high-low” tactic used by many supermarkets – when prices are dramatically hiked and then slashed at regular intervals.

For example, Müller Light Greek Luscious Lemon yogurts fluctuated substantially at Sainsbury’s during 2020, flipping between £1 and £2.75 – a 175 per cent price difference – at roughly three-week intervals. The same product was also available for £1 or less in at least one of the major supermarkets for about 85 per cent of the year.

Other products that saw significant price variations included Carte D’Or Vanilla Ice Cream and Loyd Grossman Tomato and Basil Sauce at Asda – with prices fluctuating by 133 per cent and 125 per cent respectively.

At Morrisons, shoppers could pick up a bottle of Shloer’s Red Grape Juice Drink for just £1 on a good day, however it cost more than double (£2.25) on other days – representing a 125 per cent increase.

Which? also found there were price variations of 122 per cent for Jordans Country Crisp Four Nut Cereal at Tesco. Shoppers could sometimes pay just £1.35, yet on other days the same pack was more than double the price at £3.

The investigation also analysed pricing at a category level, looking at 19 areas from chocolates to cheese, and found the price for branded cakes and biscuits fluctuated by 48 per cent on average – more than any other category.

In this category, Which? analysed the price of 14 products and found a 10-pack of Cadbury Chocolate Mini Rolls at Asda had the biggest price difference. It cost just £1.20 at its cheapest but was more than double the price at £2.60 on certain days.

Shoppers should also keep a close eye on the price of juices and smoothies, as prices in this category varied by 41 per cent on average. This was followed by cooking sauces (38%), crisps (36%) and cereal (35%).

Across all 19 categories analysed, Asda had the lowest average prices for branded groceries, making it the best option for shoppers who prefer branded items but do not want to pay over the odds.

Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket for branded items in eight categories including energy drinks, ice cream and tea, and Ocado for seven categories including juice drinks, coffee and cheddar.

Almost all the products in the investigation varied in price and could be found discounted at one or more supermarkets at any time. However, a Which? survey found one in five shoppers are confused by grocery promotions and the majority (73%) would prefer consistently low prices.

While Aldi and Lidl were not featured in the investigation as they stock fewer branded goods, they have won legions of customers by focusing on consistently low prices rather than deals and discounts. In Which?’s monthly price analysis, the cheapest supermarket is invariably either Aldi or Lidl.

Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said: “Our research reveals just how wildly food and drink prices can fluctuate from day to day, meaning people are at risk of massively overpaying for branded groceries depending on when and where they shop.

“We would recommend keeping an eye on the prices of your favourite products and stocking up when they’re discounted to avoid paying over the odds.”

Please see a link below for the average price fluctuation for all 19 categories:

https://infogram.com/1pddv32knm3wngimz1972prnlkhkzqkzll2?live

FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU SAVE

Don’t pay full price – If you regularly buy non-perishable branded groceries such as crisps, cereal and tins of soup, make sure you stock up when they’re discounted and avoid paying full price for them.
Shop around – Although they don’t offer online grocery shopping, Aldi, Lidl, Home Bargains, Wilko and others often offer good deals on branded products too. It’s also worth trying own-label alternatives, which can offer great quality at even better prices.
Watch out for pricing tricks – Discounts are great but don’t be manipulated by other pricing tricks. The strawberries may be on offer but what about the price of the upmarket pouring cream temptingly positioned next to it?
Scrutinise price-matching claims – Sainsbury’s and Tesco both shout about their Aldi price-matching schemes, but they actually only cover a limited range of products, so the total cost of your shopping may still be higher than it would be at Aldi.
Take advantage of supermarket loyalty scheme discounts – Lidl Plus and Tesco Clubcard are just two examples of supermarket loyalty schemes offering exclusive discounts to members.

Which? awards various endorsements to supermarkets:

Lidl was awarded Cheapest Supermarket of 2020 – link here.
Waitrose won the Which? Award for Supermarket of the Year in 2020 – link here.
Aldi was named the UK’s favourite in-store supermarket for 2021 in Which?’s annual satisfaction survey – link here.
Sainsbury’s was the highest-scoring online supermarket of 2021 in Which?’s annual satisfaction survey and was also named a Which? Recommended Provider for its online services – link here.
Aldi was awarded the Cheapest Supermarket for April – link here.

An Asda spokesperson said: “We have a long heritage in providing customers with the brands they love at the best possible prices and we’re really pleased the Which? survey found that Asda is the cheapest supermarket for branded products.

“Investing in price to provide even greater value for customers when they shop remains our key strategic priority. In tandem with everyday low prices, we are also focussed on a number of other price investments to deliver great value, including our regular rollbacks and price lock events, where prices are reduced across thousands of food and non-food categories.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We’re committed to offering our customers the best possible quality and value and prices fluctuate up and down for a variety of reasons.

“Our Price Lock and Sainsbury’s Quality Aldi Price Match campaigns ensure customers can feel confident they are getting the best possible prices at Sainsbury’s, while not compromising on quality.”

An Ocado spokesperson said: “Ocado is committed to offering customers the best range, service and value in the market. As part of this commitment, we are proud to offer over 49,000 products – more than any other supermarket.

“Our Value Delivered range offers hundreds of everyday items at low prices. The fluctuation in price for the Lavazza product was due to a technical error and has since been resolved. The regular price is now back in place and is in line with most other major grocery retailers.”

Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose did not provide a comment.

Remember these retro racing games? This is what they could be worth now

Motoring experts from LeaseCar.uk have researched nine retro racing games from the 80s and 90s and revealed how much they could be worth now.

Many of the games are worth just shy of £100 – with one classic fetching as much as £1,700!

Can you remember these retro racing games?

This is what they could be worth now

Racing fans and gamers have been told to check their attics for retro driving game favourites that could be worth as much as £1700 now.

Motoring experts from LeaseCar.uk have researched and revealed nine classic racing games from the 80s and 90s that could fetch a pretty penny on the resale market.

Collectors and enthusiasts are willing to pay serious money for copies of their favourite racing games of yesteryear.

From Mario Kart and Stunt Racer to Spy Hunter and Top Gear, nostalgia seekers will shell out hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of pounds to experience a blast from the past.

A spokesperson for LeaseCar.uk said: “If you’re around 25 or older, chances are you’ll remember at least a few of these pioneering games of yesteryear.

“And if you’re lucky enough to have a copy tucked away somewhere, you could be sitting on a significant cash cow.

“The prices we’ve listed below relate to pristine, sealed copies, but even used copies can fetch a fair sum.”

Here are nine retro racing games and what they’re worth now:

1. F-Zero on Super Nintendo

(Image credit: https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/nintendo-should-make-another-f-zero-game-47383d6dba15)

Factory sealed copies of futuristic racing game F-Zero can fetch around £50-£60 on average, which is a good deal more than it would have cost to buy when it was released in 1991.

2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Racing on Gameboy Advance

(Image credit: https://lutris.net/games/rock-n-roll-racing/)

If you happen to have a sealed copy of Rock ‘n’ Roll Racing for Gameboy Advance, you could resell it for about £90-£100.

3. Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart’s Super Off Road on Nintendo NES

(Image credit: https://thegamesdb.net/game.php?id=2794)

In this game, up to three players compete against each other or the computer in racing around several top-view indoor off-road truck tracks of varying difficulty. The resell value can be as much as £60-£70 now.

4. Top Gear on Super Nintendo

(Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_(video_game)#/media/File:SNES_Top_Gear_cover_art.jpg)

In this Super Nintendo classic, players could choose between four cars to face 32 challenging courses in locations around the world. If you’re lucky enough to have a copy stored away, it could be worth as much as £85-£90.

5. Rad Racer on Nintendo NES

(Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rad_Racer#/media/File:Rad_racer_box_front.jpg)

In this game, originally released in Japan as ‘Highway Star’, players drive a Ferrari 328 or a generic Formula One racing machine through a racecourse. It’s one of the most profitable games on the list, worth up to £210-£220 for pristine, sealed copies.

6. Spy Hunter on Nintendo NES

(Image credit: https://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/spy-hunter/cover-art/gameCoverId,120902/)

Drawing inspiration from the James Bond films, the object of Spy Hunter is to drive down roads in the technologically advanced “interceptor” car and destroy various enemy vehicles with a variety of onboard weapons. The potential resale value for this one is massive – up to £370-£380!

7. Stunt Racer 64 on Nintendo 64