 Eborn believed the estimated value of the two books to be $22,000, so he paid $11,000 for them.Regarding the estimated value of the entire lot that was stolen, the police erroneously reported them to be worth "anywhere from $800,000 to a million dollars," but book dealers would argue it to be much less, as the books were of extremely poor quality.Fortunately for Eborn, the thieves were caught before his check was cashed.