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]

These books are not in the best condition so I am also trying to find out where to go to restore them?

[quidnunc]

Go to www.alibris.com

They sell used and rare books and you might be able to look up similar volumes of the same titles to get some rough idea.

[Andy from Beaverton]

http://www.bibliofind.com

[Bogey78O]

There are people who can restore books. I once came across a guy whose profession was restoring old comic books. He wqas one of only a handful nationwide. Generally it costs a good bit but for an item where the difference between Fair and Good is a few hundred it's not a bad price.

[Ruth A.]

Don't be in a rush to restore them--that can adversely affect theur value. Try to establish provenance--how the books came to be there.

[donmeaker]

Depending on where you live you should have a rare book store in the major population center. Particularly in college town. Consider ebay, and if you have a floor price, put in a bid at that level......

[July 4th]

I believe that it matters greatly (for $ value) if the books are the first edition/printing. Searches on the previously mentioned site should help establish that.

[UnsinkableMollyBrown]

Is Personal Memoirs of U.S Grant signed by Ulysses Grant? Also, a first edition, dated 1885, contains two volumes. In bookselling, condition is everything. If there are watermarks, you can kiss the value goodbye. A first edition, 2 volume set in good condition is worth $400-500.

Your copy of Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus is one volume of a three volume set and is not worth very much alone.

[gorebegone]

I found a 1895 copy of Rand's Banker and Lawyer Directory with color maps of all of the States at that time, for $5.00 at the Goodwill. Your books are probably more valuable though. I'd recommend watching the 9th Gate first before reading them.

[DeaconBenjamin]

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookSearchPL

[donmeaker]

look in the front cover, and see which edition. firsts get more value. Good hunting! I have a reprint of the memoirs of US grant. A great read, and as truthful as he could be, with the exception of his "fell off a horse" euphemism for when he got roaring drunk during the siege of Vicksburg. Still, the most brilliant campaign ever on the North American continent.

Grant was magnanimous in victory, surpassing most southrons in his unstinting praise of the valor of the southern soldier.

[Held_to_Ransom]

One thing I have found hunting around for all books is that you should always be very skeptical of an old book with an author's or famous owner's signature in pencil......

[Bogey78O]

LCF

[Delphinium]

My sister had no idea, but they were being stomped into the dirt in her old garage.I am sure she dragged them home from a yard sale, or something? The Washington Irving book has some mold on the cover, but seems okay inside.

The U.S. Grant book is signed to an American soldier, but doesn't give a name. It is kind of falling apart but not too bad.

I have bought alot of rare books, mostly family history stuff. I just didn't know about the one with the signature?

I probably won't sell them. My 16 year old is very interested to read them.

[PMCarey]

with the exception of his "fell off a horse" euphemism for when he got roaring drunk during the siege of Vicksburg...

Careful with that characterization. Many of the Grant stories about his drunkeness during the Civil War are not true and are the result of vicious lies spread by his enemies in the very political Union Army. Catton's "Grant Moves South" debunks many of those stories - particularly the Vicksburg stories.

[Migraine]

Vicksburg. Still, the most brilliant campaign ever on the North American continent.

He damn sure played hardball, I'll give him that.

[Delphinium]

Thanks, Good information.

The Washington Irving books cover looks bad, but the U.S. Grant book is pretty clean.

Yes it is signed by U.S. Grant?

[Migraine]

I think they're probably worthless; so you should send them to me... :_)

[Delphinium]

I'd recommend watching the 9th Gate first before reading them

Why?

[fqued]

I buy and sell antiquarian books. Many things go into value, but the basic essential value of anything is what a willing seller will pay a willing buyer.

A good place to start is AddALL http://used.addall.com/ . This is the best one stop site for a grouping of antiquarian booksellers.

Note carefully: this will give you the price that certain booksellers will sell the book for. That is NOT necessarily its value. I figure that I can sell books on eBay for about 1/3 of the price I find on AddALL.