Jun
21
Antique Books – Worth the Reading
The fascination of antique books is everlasting. To be at the authors side as he penned his great “manifesto” or novel is a persistent thought which drives me to learn more about this wonderful piece of history.
Enlarge Image An antique book is more than a collection of pages by your favorite author. It is a piece of history, a glimpse into the past. One in Read more
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Oct
10
What Makes Antique Books Valuable?
Filed Under Antique Books | 2 Comments
What Makes Antique Books Valuable?
Many people are surprised to know that collecting antique books can be an enjoyable and profitable past time. While you many think that the books are out dated or obsolete, many people are prepared to pay thousands of dollars for an antique book because of historical, sentimental and scarcity reasons.
If you think that old books are worthless, you might be throwing away a piece of treasure without even knowing it. So for individuals unfamiliar with evaluating a book’s worth, you may want to read on.
Similar to other antiques, there is no rule-of-thumb when pricing antique books. But there are general factors that are sought to when evaluating the value of an antique. First is rarity. However, this should not be the sole basis, because a book may be hard to find, yet it does not have an appeal to collectors. If collectors are not interested, the book may just be a worthless junk.
The most rare versions of books are the first editions and thus they are most often the most expensive ones to purchase.
Other rare versions are those that have typographical errors. More often than not the publisher will withdraw a book with an error and therefore they are in limited supply in the general antique market place. Other rare editions are those with autographs from famous or historical persons.
A second factor that determines the value of a book is its condition. Put simply, the more the book is in its original condition the higher its perceived value. Any stains or written remarks cause a drop in its value. Of course, if the written remarks are by famous people then the value of the book can actually increase and the more rare the books is the less affect condition has on its market cost.
Often you will find trying to value your book to be a bewildering experience as there are so many factors that can affect a books price beyond the ones already listed. That is why if you are thinking of buying or selling an antique book you should consult an expert and do plenty of research yourself.
Because the condition of a book is very important in determining its value, you really should store any antique books in a proper and book friendly place. Extreme conditions can cause paper to undergo certain chemical reactions that will damage their condition. Therefore, avoid place any old books in humid, hot, wet places or anywhere where there is direct sunlight.
Other places that aren’t book friendly include areas where collateral damage could take place, such as your basement or under waters pipes. Acidic vapors released by unsealed woods can also damage paper. Flat smooth shelves are fine for leaving your books. If you have the money you could also store them in quality archival storage boxes that will protect your books properly.
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