How much is my old book worth?
92,334
Published 2012-05-04
How can a book -- an object found in most households - become something of tremendous financial value?
Firstly, there is no single hard and fast rule. Usually it's a combination of factors that put a hefty price tag on a book. The economic formula of supply and demand usually comes into play -- if demand exceeds supply then prices rise.
Scarcity - Firstly, is the book hard to find because only few copies exist? The advent of the Internet showed that many rare books were not actually that scarce. The first American editions of Moby Dick are scarce because most copies were destroyed in a fire. But scarcity can also be created artificially - sometimes publishers will deliberately print a small number of copies, a limited edition, in an attempt to increase desirability.
Next you have to ask -- if the book desirable? Is there demand?
Importance - Does the book have any social significance that makes it desirable? Did it influence literature, like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, or history, like Marx's Das Kapital, or science, like Darwin's Origin of Species? In many cases, the most desirable examples will be the earliest copies of these books.... the true first editions.
Author - Dickens, Verne, Hardy -- collectors want to own particular editions of books written by significant authors. If an author has signed the book, that's always going to increase its value. It's sad but true that the death of a major author usually forces up book prices too.
Edition - Most book collectors are driven to own the first edition first printing of the books they desire. That means the title's first appearance. Later editions and reprints don't have the same appeal. The first appearance of a title in print is usually the one that matters.
Condition - If house-buying is location, location, location, then rare book-buying is defined by condition, condition, condition. Condition can include the presence and condition of the dust jacket. In certain first editions -- like The Great Gatsby - the dust jacket is the defining aspect of the book's value. The combination of condition and edition are very important when defining value.
Age - Age can affect scarcity, but it not usually a critical factor in value. Old books can be found in most attics and basements. Old bibles, old encyclopedias, old copies of Shakespeare's and other common books printed in huge quantities ... they worth very little.
Aesthetics - Is your book beautiful? Is the binding gorgeous? Does it contain beautiful illustrations by a famous artist, or memorable photography? Some collectors do judge a book by its cover and a pretty book can sell for a pretty price.
Association - Sometimes books can gain value by being connected with someone of significance. The most common occurrence is when a book has been owned or signed by someone important.
....So if you have a beautiful first edition of a book of some importance and written by a famous author, and it's become hard to find but it's in great shape, and was once owned by significant person then you have a very valuable book.
Learn more about estimating the value of a book at AbeBooks: www.abebooks.com/books/old-books-antique-appraisin…
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All Comments (21)
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Thank you for sharing.
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I have a first edition Napolean Hill Think and Grow Rich. It's not one of the printings but a true first edition. (or so I believe) Do you have any idea how many copies were made of the original, before the printtings? Thanks DeAnna
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I have Harper's weekly newspaper original, one full box,maybe500 newspapers.
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what is a wonderful wizard of oz b binding 1st edition with professional restoration worth?
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I have this book called ‘ the seven seas by Rudyard Kipling’ and on the page after the cover it sais “to my wonderful mother” with a date from 1914. Even touching a book this old let alone owning it is just phenomenal to me.
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I just checked your website. Do you ship all over the world? I'm from India.
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Was Sir Harry Luke a very important person. I own a cook book written by him called The Tenth Muse which is also inscribed by him.
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I have an 1816 book by John Herr , called Blessed Way?
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Damn this channel is great.
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sir i have The historical record of an imperial visit to India by John murray 1911 in original condition and with Delhi durbar map and colorful illustrations. This book hold its name in rare list of many big libraries. Please let me know it's value.
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One thing that should be added to the bulet point "Importance": Importance and Significance can also be very subjective. A collector that focuses on on books from an otherwise very little known author may pay more than the books actual value, while someone that osn't veryinterested in the author may pay much less
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I have a copy of black beauty published by recent classics that I found in a drainage ditch on garbage day and when I looked up the publisher being recent classics I got absolutely nothing on them it seems as if they were totally like non-existent
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I always evaluate a book by how much I liked it and what it taught me.
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i have an april 1978 parts and spares lists i very good con dition
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I would like to take Richard for many books his short videos I so highly informative and helpful to me identifying and acquiring antiquarian books I look forward 2 more videos by Richard and I would like to thank everyone that abe books in assisting me in my quest for knowledge
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Iam from india I have old antique manuscript books around 500/700 years ago Have any value of the books
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What significance do numbers within an old book hold? Honestly, I never knew Dickens was so handsome when he was young. But then, I've never seen such a picture of him at that age in a book.
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The Combat Being volume five of the soul enchanted by Ronin Rolland first edition
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for those that just want old books to read them, you can get many of them for stupid cheap, below 5€ sometimes even with shipping included, you don't need a 400€ first edition, to read the texts after all.
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Please I want the sixth and seventh book of moses to buy?
