Rare books?

[Delphinium]

I found a bunch of old books on the floor of my sisters garage. One of them is a signed copy of "Personal Memoirs of U.S Grant" and another is "The Works of Washington Irving", the Life and voyages of Christopher Columbus. Both are dated 1885.

Does anyone have an idea of their value, or where would I go to idea?

[Delphinium]

I can't find where it says which adition?

I am anxious to read it. I usually look for old history books for my own reading pleasure.

[Calpernia]

>>>Consider ebay, and if you have a floor price, put in a bid at that level......

I'm a major eBayer, and I say NO! He will do much better to have an appraiser to see them, then 'DONATE' them to a museum. THEN deduct the appraised value from taxes as a donation!

[Delphinium]

Whats your address?

[Delphinium]

This is written in ink, and it looks old, but clear.

[Porterville]

Washington Irvings first are worth about 40 dollars, if it is from 1885 it is not a first. ... The way to check prices is to go to abebooks.com and click on the advanced options. Fill in the rellevant blanks and click on first edition. I sold a first edition Hesse the last month for 200 dollars on eBay, I bought the book for 1 buck. I sold a first Fitzgerald last year I bought for 30 dollars for 200 also... what I also do is Check eBay. If it is not fetching prices on eBay, you probably won't sell the book for much money.

Hot Authors:
Hesse
Kourouac
Hemingway
Fitzgerald
Harper Lee
Twain
Ayn Rand ***very hot
Salinger ***very hot
Vonegutt fetches an OK price
Stephen King
Steinbeck
Jack London
and the classics from Huxley etc. etc.

[fqued]

The 1885 Memoirs alone aren't worth much (you can buy a copy for under $50.00), BUT,
if the signature of Grant is a real signature, and not printed, that raises the value quite substantially. Check to see if it is a true signature, and not printed on the printing press.

[nmh]

Looks like others have already given you the rare and used book sites I use. There you will find what is is worth if anything. Good luck!

[Aarchaeus]

I have a brother in the book business. He deals in old and rare books. Might be able to help you with appraisals. His name is Mike Hightower. His e-ddress is alphabooks@sbcglobal.net

[Delphinium]

I probably wouldn't sell them anyway. I love old history books. I have found some pretty good deals by going to www.bookfinder.com.

I bought an old French book that have my family genealogy in it from when they lived in France before the 1600's. I saw that book other places for up to $500.00 , and bought it in good condition for $35.00. I was thrilled, too bad I don't speak French.

[Delphinium]

Thanks for the great information. Aren't you worried about giving away secrets?

[Calpernia]

Personally, I would keep them myself! And...so learn French :))

[Coyoteman]

No idea about restoring.

Try www.bookfinder.com


Gary S. Breschini, Ph.D.
Coyote Press / Archaeological Consulting

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Visit our website at http://www.coyotepress.com
Or, our new site at: http://www.californiaprehistory.com

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[ladyinred]

I am an antique dealer, and although I don't specialize in books, I do sell some of them. The condition is everything in most cases. I will write down the titles and ask the book dealer that I work with about them. He will know.
It is amazing to me at times that even very old books in fairly good condition aren't really worth a lot. Has to be some really rare and popular edition to command a large price.

[jocon307]

"Try to establish provenance"

yes, that is good advice.

[Delphinium]

I am too old to learn French.And I am not really proud of my French heritage.

I met another cousin from the same ancestry who lives in New Orleans. He took the first old French book I found and was able to understand enough to get all the genealogy out. That book has the story of the Catholic/Huguenot wars that caused our family to flee France. I really wish I could find someone interested enough to translate it without costing me too much.

[Delphinium]

It is amazing to me at times that even very old books in fairly good condition aren't really worth a lot.

Maybe there are too many of them around?

[Porterville]

No, because even rare book store owners aren't sure what they have. They are to interested in pushing inventory. You can go into just about any public library and find some valuable 1st editions. Like a first edition Old Man And The Sea or a 1st Fountain Head.... there is just so many books out there, but you have to know what is the first.. because many later printings look just like the first editions and people will push them as first editions. So, you have to go inside a book store or book sale scan the books, taking a note pad helps, go home and check out what the book is... is it a first edition or just the first American edition etc. etc.

[Porterville]

Twain, Verne, Longfellow, but everyone who really is a lover of an author really wants a original first edition. The first AA book is worth a bunch of money, for example.

[Delphinium]

I am an antique dealer

You would have loved to have been going through the stuff in my sisters garage? She gave me some very cool stuff.

[fqued]

in response to:
It is amazing to me at times that even very old books in fairly good condition aren't really worth a lot.
you wrote:
Maybe there are too many of them around?

Actually, scarcity does not translate into value. a great example is Newfoundland silver coins vs. US silver dollars. Far fewer Newfoundland silver dimes of various years were minted, but value is not high because so few people collect them. But if you have a US silver dollar that had 300,000 minted, your beat up old coin holds value because so many people collect US silver dollars.

I have sold many very rare and scarce antiquarian books. some were worth hundreds of dollars, others a fraction of that.

It all comes down to the simple concept of supply and demand. an old book that more people want than the ready supply allows is very valuable. a much rarer book that few people care about has little value.