There are many factors which influence the value of an antique book, as in all antiques. First there is the condition of the book. The binding, the pages, whether dog-eared or torn, or God forbid, missing. The pages may have notes written on them. (Which can often be valuable in themselves if penned by a famous person or under unusual circumstances) or they may be damaged or stained or any number of factors which will affect their desirability. In the same way if a book is signed by it's author this usually increases it's price, although in the modern world not necessarily as "book signings" are all too common as a marketing tool and have helped to downplay the importance of a signed edition. All of these factors contribute to the overall value of your antique book.
The overall availability is a factor in price but is not necessarily the main factor as a book may be hard to find but not desirable. In other words it may be rare but nobody wants it! Confusing? Yes it can be. It is prudent to consult a dealer to appraise your antique book whether for insurance purposes or because you are attempting to sell it. In the final analysis, antiques are always only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.
Appraisals Dealers usually need to see the book itself in order to identify and appraise it. You may submit photographs if you cannot see the dealer in person due to distance or time. They will require usually a photograph of the title page, the back side of the title page (also called the copyright page), the first and last pages of text, and the outer covers and spine in order to evaluate an individual copy. It is best to have very close up, quality photographs if you must go this route. If you are not proficient with a digital camera, ask one of your friends to do it for you. The popularity of digital cameras today makes quality photos easy to accomplish. Do not try and photocopy the book! This produces very poor results and may in fact damage the book due to the pressure exerted upon the spine in this process.
You often hear the phrase "first edition" in reference to books and this can influence the price of the book if there were, in fact more than one edition! Many times there were not. Be careful when someone touts the first edition status of an antique book and attempt to determine for yourself if there were indeed subsequent editions. Again remember to use all of the resources online and elsewhere to obtain valuable and often free information on your antique book. There are several national societies of book dealers, "antiquarians" and of course appraisers that you may take advantage of in the search for information. There are also book collecting societies that you may investigate. Take your time and learn all you can before you buy or sell your antique book.
Someone not familiar with the industry may wonder why anyone would be interested in antique books. After all, a lot of times the information contained in them is so outdated that it's downright inaccurate! Science books are almost comical with their rudimentary knowledge of the universe, medical books are surprisingly inaccurate about the workings of the human body and cause of many illnesses, and of course history books seem almost like fairy tales when held up against today's modern world. But for many, antique books are something to be treasured and they are actually quite valuable to a lot of collectors. Especially bibles and other holy books, and writings of very famous people throughout history; all of these can fetch quite a sum at auction.
Some of the reasons that antique books are so coveted by collectors include the fact that they are so inaccurate when held up against today's modern textbooks. When we understand how inaccurate medical books were from decades ago, we realize how much work doctors and scientists have done to get to where we are today - and how much more work there is to be done. Some appreciate that antique books are seen as almost elementary because this really paints a picture of the progress that people have made when it comes to science or medicine.
But for others, it may be the timelessness of antique books that appeal to them. When you read the writings of ancient poets and philosophers you realize that people really haven't changed much down through history.
Where do you think history comes from, of course it's antique books. In antique books, we can find the laws of the past and the development of human freedoms and rights. You can read about the both the accomplishments and sufferings of people in earlier times. This is our history. It all comes from antique books. Little bits and pieces can emerge from the writings of individuals and groups these bits and pieces make very valuable antique treasures.
On top of all of this antique books are connected to real people who lived hundreds of years ago. Reading one can be like getting into a time machine and going back into the past. Knowing that a book is hundreds of years old, allows us to wonder about the person who wrote it, the people who've owned it, the meaning they got from it. Who touched it, who read it, what did it mean to them? Knowing the books people read is probably the best connection you'll ever have with them.
So who might be interested in antique books? Usually those with a love of history and reading itself appreciate these items more than anyone. Many auctions have a separate set of bidding just for books, as there is a particular crowd of collectors that will be especially interested. Some law libraries may also want older editions for their shelves even if they are no longer relevant. There are also many private collectors that specialize in bibles and other holy books and that are always on the lookout for something different and new to them. While some who are interested in the business shy away from antique books because they feel it's not quite as "exciting" as the world of antique furniture or jewelry or as fun as antique toys and collectibles, they have quite a bit of value to those who are interested.
Both Bill Kernodle & Rob Gormly are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Bill Kernodle has sinced written about articles on various topics from Book Reviews, Home Improvement and Home Management. Enjoythe mystery of the past.. Bill Kernodle's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Rob Gormly has sinced written about articles on various topics from Book Reviews, Auto Insurance and Cars. Trading Antiques can make an interesting hobby and a great business. Hordes of excited people are discovering the joys of the antique business ever year. Get a head start with Rob Gormly's exciting report ". Rob Gormly's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.