A signed and numbered limited edition of Dan Abnett's Warhammer 40,000 novel, Hive, sold for $3,150 on eBay after attracting over 50 bids. This unexpected sale price has left many fans stunned, particularly given the unique circumstances surrounding the book's availability.
Originally, Games Workshop planned to release a limited run of premium, signed, and numbered editions of Hive exclusively in its physical Warhammer stores. This decision sparked community backlash, with many fans expressing frustration that the limited edition would be inaccessible to those without a nearby store. In response to this pressure, Games Workshop canceled the in-store release and instead offered a non-limited, print-on-demand version online, without the author's signature.
This pivot led some to believe that Games Workshop had destroyed the remaining limited editions. However, a copy surfaced on eBay, believed to be the only one publicly available since the May controversy. This particular copy is numbered 12 out of 2,000 and was described as a "unique and one of a kind maybe no others out there." The listing noted that "all the original were canceled and the new print will not have author signed or limited in quantity."
The sale of this copy for $3,150 has ignited discussions within the Black Library community, with reactions ranging from disbelief to scorn. Many questioned the value proposition of paying such a premium for a signed and numbered page compared to the forthcoming print-on-demand version. Some fans noted that traveling to have a standard copy signed by Dan Abnett would still be significantly less expensive.
Questions remain about how this copy came into the seller's possession and whether it originated from a Warhammer store or elsewhere. It is unclear if store managers were instructed to destroy their copies as some fans believe, or if they were stored away. The sale highlights the intense interest surrounding Warhammer 40,000, which has expanded beyond its tabletop roots to encompass video games like Space Marine 2, animated series, and upcoming film projects.
This surge in interest across various Warhammer 40,000 media likely contributed to the extraordinary price commanded by this rare edition of Hive, potentially making it one of the most expensive Warhammer 40,000 books ever sold, at least publicly. Meanwhile, fans continue to await the conclusion of Dan Abnett's Bequin trilogy, with the next installment, Pandaemonium, pending further lore developments from Games Workshop.