2. What makes a book important? books are generally more sought after, Your Old Books People value books either because of including all books printed before 1501, their contents or because of their physi- English books printed before 1641, books • cal characteristics. First editions of im- printed in the Americas before 1801, and A guide sponsored by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section portant literary or historical works and books printed west of the Mississippi be- of the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ initial reports of scientific discoveries or fore 1850. Association of America, and the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia inventions are prime examples of books • that are important because of their con- 5. What is the difference between a rare tents. Illustrated books that give a new book and a second-hand book? This guide addresses some frequently 11. Are old letters, scrapbooks, photo- interpretation of a text or are the work of A second-hand or used book is a previ- asked questions about rare and older graphs, and documents valuable? an esteemed artist are also valued. Books ously owned book that is neither an im- books and their values. The answers are 12. Might someone want my single vol- that were suppressed or censored may portant edition nor has special physical meant only as general responses to these ume to complete a set? be both important and scarce, since few characteristics, such as binding, inscrip- questions, and many possible exceptions 13. How can I keep my books in good copies may have survived. Physical char- tion, or association with important pre- are not described. No attempt has been condition? acteristics, such as a special binding, an vious owners. Market prices for second- made to identify or to evaluate individ- 14. Should I have my books rebound? early use of a new printing process, or an hand books are typically modest. ual books, nor does RBMS have the re- 15. Do I need to insure my books? autograph, inscription, or marginal an- sources to respond to such requests. The 16. How do I describe my books? notations of a famous person, may also 6. What is meant by a book’s condition, online appendix to this document lists 17. Should I have my books appraised? contribute to a book’s importance and its and how does that affect a book’s value? other resources for more information on 18. Where can I find an appraiser? market price. Condition refers to a book’s physical the questions covered. 19. How can I sell my books? appearance and the completeness of its A version of this document with links 20. How can I ascertain a fair price? 3. Does scarcity increase a book’s value? contents. In general, the better a book’s to additional resources and information 21. Can I sell or give my old books to a A book known to exist in only a few physical condition, the more it will be is available at http://www.rbms.info/yob. library? copies may have significant monetary worth. Terms that might be used to de- shtml. 22. Who else might accept my old books value if collectors and libraries prize it. scribe old books include (from best as a donation? Searching the Internet using services like condition to worst condition) “As New,” Questions covered: 23. Where can I go for more information abaa.org, addall.com, or vialibri.com can “Fine” (no defects), “Very Good,” “Good,” 1. What makes a book rare? on old and rare books, book collecting, give you an idea of how many copies of a “Fair” (worn but includes complete text), 2. What makes a book important? and evaluating books? book are currently being offered for sale. and “Poor” (very worn, but readable). 3. Does scarcity increase a book’s value? For information about how many copies Missing or mutilated covers, pages, or il- 4. Are all old books valuable? 1. What makes a book rare? are held by libraries, your local librarian lustrations must be noted and are major 5. What is the difference between a rare Millions of books, pamphlets, magazines, can help you access databases such as faults that will severely compromise the book and a second-hand book? newspapers, and broadsides have been OCLC’s WorldCat. Regardless of scar- book’s value. 6. What is meant by a book’s condition, published since the invention of printing city, a book without important text or and how does that affect a book’s value? more than five hundred years ago. Only distinguishing physical characteristics is 7. Where are rare books found? 7. Where are rare books found? a small portion of these pieces, however, likely to have little market value. Because books are portable and durable, 8. What kinds of books are usually not would be considered “rare” by specialists. rare books can turn up anywhere, from rare? In simple terms, books achieve a degree 4. Are all old books valuable? well-ordered private libraries to attics, 9. What is the difference between a first of rarity only when demand exceeds sup- Age by itself is not enough to make a book basements, garage sales, and increasingly and a limited edition? ply. Unfortunately, there are no easy for- valuable. The importance of the text, the on Internet bookseller and auction sites. 10. Is a book signed or marked up by a mulas for determining rarity. condition of the book, and demand for Books considered rare by collectors and previous owner, or autographed by the it will determine the valuation of an old librarians may be found together with author, more valuable? book. However, certain categories of more common books. Experience and 1 2 specialized knowledge are often needed Collected Editions of an Reprints and Facsimiles page at the beginning or end of the vol- to discriminate among them. Author’s Work Reprinting important texts in typo- ume. The limitation statement gives the When authors become popular and well graphic or photographic facsimile is a total number of copies, sometimes with 8. What kinds of books are usually not established, publishers often issue col- common and inexpensive means of pro- a breakdown of how many copies were rare? lected editions of their works. Such edi- ducing a previously printed text. Such printed on a certain type of paper, or tions may be offered in special bindings facsimiles are generally not rare and are bound in a certain kind of binding, or re- Bibles and may even be limited and signed, but valued as used books. Extremely high- served or withheld from sale. The num- No single work has been printed more they are seldom rare. Exceptions include quality reproductions of medieval and ber of the specific copy is often printed often than the Bible. Because they are so editions published by fine presses or Renaissance manuscripts and early print- or added by hand (as in “no. 46 of 500”), common, most Bibles have no significant those with historically significant edi- ed books, however, can be quite expen- sometimes with the autograph of the monetary value. Certain important edi- tors, which may be valued by collectors sive. Color facsimiles published during author(s), publisher, or other contribu- tions of the Bible, however, are collect- or libraries for that reason. the nineteenth century are also valued by tor. The size of an edition, whether ex- able: the earliest printed Bibles dating collectors when they were produced us- plicitly limited or not, does not by itself from the fifteenth and sixteenth centu- Encyclopedias ing innovative printing techniques such determine a book’s rarity or value. ries; the 1611 printings of the first autho- Since encyclopedias are published and as collotype or chromolithography. rized English (King James) version; and purchased for the currency of their in- 10. Is a book signed or marked up by a a variety of sixteenth- and seventeenth- formation, obsolete editions of modern 9. What is the difference between a first previous owner, or autographed by the century oddities such as the “Breeches” encyclopedias have little monetary value, and a limited edition? author, more valuable? Bible, the “Vinegar” Bible, and the whatever the historical interest of their An “edition” of a work is the total num- The association of a book with a previous “Wicked” Bible, which have some mis- articles. The eleventh edition (1911) of the ber of copies of a book printed from the owner can add to its value, if that person print or peculiar wording. Most Bibles Encyclopædia Britannica may be one ex- same setting of type (be it metal type, is important or famous. Autographs, in- that contain handwritten genealogical ception. Complete sets of encyclopedias phototype, or by digital means). If a scriptions or dedications, manuscript an- or other family information do not have published before 1800 also have some book proves popular, the edition may be notations, bookplates or stamps, or other market value, unless the families or indi- market value, and single volumes pro- reprinted from the same setting of type, distinctive markings may all be forged, viduals were famous. portionately less. with no or minimal changes. This is gen- so they need to be authenticated before erally known as a “printing.” Information a positive statement of association can be Sermons and Religious Textbooks about editions and printings is some- made. Instruction Old schoolbooks and college textbooks times included on the title page of a book Contemporary authors routinely Like Bibles, many other types of religious fall into the category of second-hand or on the back (verso) of the title page.