Condition, rarity and history of ownership determine book value.
A copy of John James Audubon's "Birds of America," part of a collection of rare books auctioned in 2010, turned out to be worth f7.3 million, or more than $11 million. The collection, built up by generations of the family of Frederick Lord Hesketh, was auctioned by Sotheby's for nearly of f15 million. Your old and rare book might be very valuable too. Finding out is a process of collecting and analyzing data about the book and its history. Condition, rarity and history of ownership determine book value.
Instructions
1. Make a list of information about your book. Include the author, year and location of publication, known previous owners and inscriptions. Write down why you think the book is rare and old. Go on the Internet and pull up the video posted on the website of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. View the video to learn about the terms used to describe book condition. List the word that best describes the condition of your book.
2. Go to the website of the Association of College and Research Libraries and read the publication "Your Old Books." Read the definitions of book editions. Determine if your book is a first or limited edition. This can affect the value of the book and is an important part of the appraisal.
3. Go to the website of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America. Enter the book title and any information about your book. You may find copies of the same book and an amount at which it is valued. Other copies of your book may be for sale on commercial websites that trade rare and antique books.
4. Look for a listing of your book in printed appraisal guides such as "Collected Books: The Guide to Values," by Allen and Patricia Ahearn, or "The Official Price Guide to Collecting Books," by Marie Tedford and Pat Goudey. These may be available at your local library.
5. Consult a professional appraiser if you do not believe you have yet discovered the correct value of the book. It may be so rare that no one has yet appraised it. A list of appraisers can be found at the Antiquarian Booksellers Association website.
