Are the books in your attic or basement valuable?

Maybe, but...

It is not necessarily true that if a book is old, it must be rare; or that if a book is rare, it must be valuable.

In reality, few books are rare and fewer still are valuable. Why?
• Many copies of very old books still exist. They are neither rare nor valuable.
• Many old books are in poor condition and buyers will not pay much for them.
• An old book may be rare but no buyer may want it. For example, your family’s Bible is rare but it is worth little because another buyer does not want to purchase it.

The two most important factors in book valuation are:
• Does someone else want this book?
• What is the condition of the book?

The condition of a book is very important in determining its value. If it is in need of repair, has missing pages, or has a broken spine, the price will be lower.

If you’d like to know if your books are valuable, start by using the library sources listed here. Remember, these sources list the price that a copy of a book in very good condition sold for in the past, or list the amount a dealer is willing to pay. There is no guarantee that you will be able to sell your copy of that book for a similar price.

Sources on the value of specific books

002.075 AHE
Book Collecting 2000: A Comprehensive Guide by Allen Ahearn 1999

002.075 AHEAlso in Reference
Collected Books: The Guide to Values by Allen Ahearn2001

002.075 HUXAlso in Reference
Huxford’s Old Book Value Guide2001

002.075 OFF
The Official Price Guide to Collecting Books2004

002.075 RUSAlso in Reference
Antique Trader Book Collector’s Price Guide by Richard Russell2006

Use the following Internet sites to find the current prices asked for by booksellers or the general public:

www.abebooks.com
www.bookfinder.com
www.choosebooks.com
www.tomfolio.com

Sources on selling your books

After you determine the value of your books, you must decide how you wish to sell them. You may sell them yourself, or use a bookseller or dealer.

004.678 WIN
Selling Used Books Online: The Complete Guide to Bookselling at Amazon’s Marketplace and Other Online Sites by Stephen Windwalker2002

017.8 SIEAlso in Reference
The Used Book Lover’s Guide to the Midwest: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky and West Virginia by David S. Siegel1999

Professional organizations to contact for information on dealers:

Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America
(212) 944–8291
www.abaa.org

Midwest Antiquarian Booksellers Association
(773) 989–2200
www.mwaba.org

Prepared by Bonnie Reid, August 2007