The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dearness \Dear"ness\, n.
   1. The quality or state of being dear; costliness; excess of
      price.
      [1913 Webster]

            The dearness of corn.                 --Swift.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Fondness; preciousness; love; tenderness.
      [1913 Webster]

            The dearness of friendship.           --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

dearness
    n 1: the quality possessed by something with a great price or
         value [syn: costliness, dearness, preciousness]