I hit refresh and nearly knocked over my coffee. The Folio Society listing glowed on my screen: an 872‑page, dragon‑leather, gold‑blocked single volume of A Game of Thrones — signed by George R.R. Martin — priced at $2,200 (€2,000). You can feel the temptation before the checkout button even cools.
I’m going to tell you what that number really buys, why collectors moved faster than a raven, and where this edition will probably end up next. Read this like you’re weighing whether to raid the Iron Bank of Braavos.
On the screen: the price stopped my scroll
You see a price and the brain runs a ledger. The Folio Society priced its signed special edition of A Game of Thrones at $2,200 (€2,000), and every one of the 1,000 copies vanished after the drop.
Here’s what that number buys: an 872‑page single volume with Jonathan Burton’s full original artwork, a clamshell box with a blocked suedelux interior, a hidden linen map rolled to fit its compartment, Stephen Raw’s hand‑lettering on the exterior, gilding on all three edges, and a limitation label blocked in real gold bearing George R.R. Martin’s signature. Joe Abercrombie contributes the introduction. I’ll say it plainly: this is a handcrafted collector’s object, not a casual bedside read.
It sits on a shelf like a museum specimen under glass.
How much does the Folio Society limited edition cost?
The official retail price at launch was $2,200 (€2,000). That was for a numbered copy of a 1,000‑unit run, each signed by Martin and finished with premium materials by the Folio Society.
On a collector’s shelf: scarcity turned desire into action
You can watch a market move in real time; today it moved fast. Within hours the entire run was spoken for, a reminder that scarcity still sells.
Collectors prize the obvious things: signature, limitation, provenance. They also prize the quiet details—rolled linen map, dragon‑skin leather over chamfered boards, real gold blocking—that create a story for future buyers. If you’re tracking resale potential, those details matter more than the original sticker.
It’s a dragon’s hoard with a velvet rope.
How many copies were made?
The Folio Society produced 1,000 copies of this limited edition. Each copy is individually numbered and signed by George R.R. Martin.
Are all copies signed by George R.R. Martin?
Yes. According to Folio Society notes, every copy includes Martin’s signature on a limitation label blocked in real gold.
On the aftermarket: where this book will go next
You’ll see two obvious pipelines: enthusiast resale (eBay, collector forums, specialist bookshops) and auction houses (Sotheby’s, Christie’s) for the highest price plays. Media tie‑ins—HBO’s House of the Dragon season three and any chatter about The Winds of Winter—will drive interest in waves.
I watch these moves because if you’re thinking like a buyer or seller, timing matters. A special edition tied to an active TV franchise and signed by its creator is a speculative asset as much as it is a keepsake. Expect premiums over retail, and keep alerts set on marketplace tools if you want to catch a reappearance.
If you had the cash or the pull, would you spend $2,200 (€2,000) to own the only copy you’ll ever personally sign with fantasy history, or is this prestige you’d rather admire from afar?