I am looking for a website where i can look up the value of old books. If you have an old book that you would like us to research, or if you have any other questions regarding old books, email us through our askalibrarian service, or contact your local library. Dont be discouraged if you dont immediately find the book you are looking for. Tolkien when considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value.
I work for a guy who does a lot of appraisals and ive been put in charge of figuring out the value of a bunch of antique books. A rare book can sell for a substantial amount of money but few novice collators know how to tell the difference between a nice old book and a valuable one. Traditionally, they are used to hold open a book or. Find out what your car is worth at, the trusted resource for used car values. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j. Tthe searchable database consists of detailed reports in an evergrowing database of items in this category. Look for antiquarian books on cooking, cocktail recipes, training of household servants and decorating homes and manors. Condition is very important and will greatly influence value. Fill out this form with enough information to get a list of comparable copies. Books are made of organic material and are easily affected by their environment. Unfollow old book values to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Any language, dutch, english, french, german, italian, spanish. Do not attempt to tape any part of the book if you want to maintain its historic or monetary value. Search over 3 million price reports spanning art, antiques, coins, collectibles, memorabilia, and other tangible assets of value.
Rare and valuable books old and not so old books worth. Links to websites to help you value, sell or find rare books. You need to take your time immersing your senses in old books, leaf. Get the kelley blue book value for your used car or tradein vehicle, find tools to help you with buying or. Comic book price guides, like overstreet, have a minimum price for comic books. Fair market value of the book is an agreed upon price when neither the buyer nor the seller is. Also check out our antique book ultimate buyers guide.
See more ideas about value of old books, old books and books. We have thousands of rare and antique treasures brought to you by our network of trusted sellers from all around the world. May, 2019 many people like collecting older books from flea markets and antique shops but it can be hard to tell which books in your collection really have value. Alibris is one of the premier rare and outofprint book sites on the internet. The next time you clean out a closet or organize an old bookshelf or work desk, look for books that are out of print or written decades or centuries ago by a famous writer. Be sure to set up saved searches aka want matches, and well let you know the moment a matching book comes available for sale. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a. An old book doesnt have to be rare to be worth money. Traditionally, they are used to hold open a book or document for handsfree viewing. Whether you want to sell books, insure your collection, or are just curious about the total value of your home library, there are plenty of resources online to help you find out how much your.
If you are having difficulty understanding some of the terms used by rare booksellers, refer to our glossary, which also includes a guide to used book conditions and book sizes. The value of old books is sometimes hidden in plain sight. The following websites can help you evaluate the value of your books. How to determine the fair market value of used book. Some years ago, responsibility for the pamphlet was transferred to the rare books and manuscripts section rbms of the association for college and research libraries and retitled, your old books. For free evaluations or if you are selling rare books or manuscripts visit.
Information on old books describes how to determine the value of old books by the smithsonian libraries. Whether you want the cheapest reading copy or a specific collectible edition, with bookfinder, youll find just the right book. If you keep your books in the basement usually too damp or in the attic often too hot and dry you may want to rethink your storage. The tax value, or estate value, is the average prices similar books sold for at auction. And condition is perhaps even more critical than in hardcovers. Many people like collecting older books from flea markets and antique shops but it can be hard to tell. If it is likely that these books would be donated to your library, or the friends group, remember that the donor is responsible for determining the value of the gift. May 05, 2006 i am looking for a website where i can look up the value of old books. Fair market value of the book is an agreed upon price when neither the buyer nor the seller is under any pressure to sell or to buy. According to the price guide to cookbooks and recipe leaflets by linda j. The book of kells is one of the finest and most famous, and also one of the latest, of a group of manuscripts in what is known as the insular style, produced from the late 6th through the early 9th centuries in monasteries in ireland, scotland and england and in continental monasteries with hibernoscottish or anglosaxon foundations. Value of an old and rare medical book more bark than bite.
Ideally i am looking for a site where i can put in the title, author, publisher, and year printed and get a fair market quote for it. You probably dont need to include every word of the title and authors name. If you have one of these rare books sitting on a shelf somewhere, get ready to cash in. Most hard cover books published since the early 20th century were sold with a dust jacket. Thats the sound of comic book excitement coming to life and ebay has all the brands, genres and issues any fanboy or fangirl could ever want. For instance, a rare first edition of charles darwins on the origin of species was auctioned. For over 40 years, kelley blue book has been the trusted resource for snowmobile values and pricing. The story of louis pasteur valuetales spencer johnson. Next, go through this list with each book that seems promising.
In general, old books are best suited to a cool, dark environment around 6570 degrees with about 45% relative humidity. Antiquarian booksellers association of america lists booksellers and appraisers near you. How to find out how much your old books are worth sapling. The reasons for collecting old cookbooks vary and many of them have nothing to do with food. The more rare, vintage and antique books you touch and see and feel, the better acquainted you will become with the real deal. I have a set of books that are shakespeare from 1807 i also have pics that i can email u im trying to find the value of these books here is some of what the inside page shows i cant find another book like it. Certain books, even very old ones, are not particularly rare. Used and rare bookseller websites that bring together sellers prices.
To determine the true market value of a book, or any other collectible item, an appraisal may be necessary. Often these collectors search out antique books to add to. Charles scribners sons, 1934, first edition with dust jacket, sold for. The worlds most valuable childrens books do you have one.
This site provides values and information on firearms in a convenient online pricing guide format, and allows you to find out what your used guns are worth. That old book in your attic may not be worth much to you, but it might be worth a lot to a potential buyer. How to find the value of old books method 1 identifying your book. Well known to book collectors and booklovers, our site is an excellent resource for discovering a rough value of an old book. Often mistaken for first editions, the literary equivalents of rookie sports cards, they lack collectible value. Finding the blue book value of your new and used firearms, including pistols, rifles, shotguns, airguns, and blackpowder guns is easy with the number one source of gun pricing.
The retail price, or retail value, is the value of the book when sold at an antique store or antiquarian book dealer. You need to take your time immersing your senses in old books, leaf through them and get a feel for the pages, touch the cracks on the spine and use your nose. Value of an old and rare medical book more bark than. With more reading and viewing being accessed by electronic means, book stands and holders can be used to. Use the search box above to find fond treasures from your childhood or that one book that has escaped your collection thus far. Warren, whose price guide books have been the authority on collectibles values since 1985. But if you want to get a rough idea of your book s condition and its relative value on the rare book market here are the basics. Vintage and antique books best price on antique books online.
Do you have an old or antiquarian book and would like to know its value. In other words, it takes a dealer time to sort, bag, board and price any comic book. That old book in your attic may not be worth much to you, but it might be worth a lot to a. Since 1997, bookfinder has made it easy to find any book at the best price. Valuetale set multiple volume value tales book set. Use our antique book search to find and get the best price on vintage and antique books online. If it is likely that these books would be donated to your library, or the friends group, remember that the donor is responsible for determining the. Values relate to first editions in very good condition. Book stand for holy book, beautiful folding design. Rare and valuable books find rare books online at the. Rare books for sale, buy antique books from alibris. The value of old paper junk in the trunk rare book. Selling rare books in poor condition worms, rats, floods. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books.
Refer to the book s title page and page for key information. For hardcover books published from the 20th century onwards, the presence of a dust jacket and its condition also greatly affect value. Condition is a critical barometer for discovering the value of old books. Determining the fair market value of used books for the purpose of charitable donations is tricky because there is no formula that can be applied or definitive source on the subject. The easiest way to know how much your copy of a book is worth on the open market is to check on how much similar copies are currently being offered for. Has every book imaginable, including many collectors. The dust jacket is both the most decorative part of a book, and the most delicate. Buying or selling without checking iguide could be hazardous to your wealth. The most valuable authors in vintage paperback by bruce black just as in collecting their hardcover counterparts, numerous factors lead to collectibility in vintage paperbacks. The value of a book depends on the book s rarity, importance, and collectors demand, as well as its condition and ownership history. You might think its a rare and valuable book but dont know where to find its value. Collectible authors and themes obviously add to value.
There are, however, some general guidelines that can be looked to when trying to determine the value of used books, such as how fair. Jul 29, 2015 whether you want to sell books, insure your collection, or are just curious about the total value of your home library, there are plenty of resources online to help you find out how much your. Appraising collectible books littera scripta your old books. I have a set of books that are shakespeare from 1807 i also have pics that i can email u im trying to find the value of these books here is some of what the inside page shows i cant find another book like it anywhere or online please help me figure out what the value are of these books shakespeares dramatic works 9vol edition 2nd printing complete with dr samuel johnson preface and. Frequently, if you have a book that is a collectors edition or signed by the author, you can obtain more money for it. If you really need a documented estimate of a books value for probate or insurance purposes then visit your local rare bookshop and pay for a formal appraisal. Some books are scarce, and the more scarce they are, the faster they often sell.
First editions of wellloved books can become the most prized in literature. Your old books lists questions and answers about book collecting. For many book collectors, the value of their antique books is more than a specific monetary value. Abebooks is very useful for finding an approximate value of a book but dont use that value for insurance purposes. A beatenup old book that is falling apart will have little value. The next time you clean out a closet or organize an old bookshelf or work desk, look for books that are out of print or written decades or centuries ago. Torn and tattered books in very bad shape will have little value.
If youre an avid reader, you may at one point find yourself with quite a collection of books. Old book value guide by collector books, hardcover. Like any item, a book is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Old book value guide by collector books, hardcover barnes. Valuetale 41 volume set valuetales value tales multiple book set, 41 of 43 3. If you are having difficulty understanding some of the terms used. Beyond scarcity, there are several other factors that influence the value of an old book. A rare book is not simply an old book, its not a now out of print book and its not a book that has simply been passed down because of its sentimental value. The minimum price is not a real reflection of market value. Professional appraisers have examined thousands of books and have the experience to weigh the dozens of subtle criteria that differentiate fine from very good. I totally need the copy of the the wonderful wizard of oz in my life. A book that has significant damage is likely not worth much. Kelley blue book regularly updates its snowmobile values to give consumers.
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