how much do manuals raise a games value?

[rapoza609]

Ive never been big into collecting manuals with my games unless it was just thrown in. I only have a few CIB and sealed 2600 games. However I recently got an opportunity to buy the manual for Mr. Do's Castle to go with my game.

Mt question is this: How much do manuals alone raise the value of a game? Does it just depend on the game? Are they worth investing in? If so, how much should someone look to spend on a manual alone?

[Philflound]

It definitely depends on the game. Common games usually have more manuals than rare games logically. That also goes for the boxes. A manual should not raise the game more significantly than the box though, since manuals are usually saved while boxes were thrown away. Since Mr. Do's Castle is rare, the manual and box would also be rare, I'd say the manual price should be 50-100% as much as you paid for the game price. At least for that one. Just my opinion.

 

My experience on games with rarity 1-3 usually the manual will sell from 50 cents to $2.00.

 

Phil

Edited February 1, 2015 by Philflound

[Atarian7]

One time I saw River Patrol go for $400 and the manual went for $100 in a different auction.

 

 

[Zwackery]

It's really on a case-by-case basis, so you'll need to do research on each particular title.

 

Since you mentioned Mr. Do's Castle, while the game is rare, with this title it is all about the box. The last sold auction for loose cart and manual on eBay was back in November for $57.78 (6 bidders placed 16 bids). When I bought mine loose several years ago, I also paid around $60 for a loose cart and manual. This may be a case where the loose manual would only get you ~$10 because all the value is in the box, so it's a disproportionate situation for collectors. Maybe someone who is looking to complete a set would pay more for a manual, but it varies from situation to situation.

[AtariLeaf]

I don't go out of my way to collect manuals and I have most of the common ones. The rarest one I have is for Bumper Bash but I personally wouldn't spend a lot for a manual by itself.

[Crazy Climber]

Unless its an R8 or above, not much

[Philflound]

I actually do not purchase manuals individually. I try and buy lots, hopefully 100 or more at a pop so I can research for my site. I have the majority of manuals for games I own, short of the rarest. If I can come across them in a lot or in the wild, I'll pick them up. Otherwise I try to concentrate on buying complete in box, even if I own the cart loose.

 

Phil

[Atari_Bill]

I personally love manuals and make every attempt to purchase when I can especially on rarer stuff. They certainly don't hold the value that boxes do, but I do think that they are more valuable to some than has been suggested.

[high voltage]

cib is always the best, second best is cart and box, third, a cart and manual is always better than cart only. I am always willing to pay more if the original manual is included.

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

Unless its an R8 or above, not much

Indeed. You can find and buy R1-R7 manuals for cheap. Sometimes the manual of the rarer games can increase value up to

20%.