Evaluate Antique Books
Not all old or antique books are valuable. Value depends on a variety of factors such as the importance of the work, the book's scarcity and collectors' interest in it. But when buying or selling books, collectors often use a system called "grading" to help estimate their value. Grading a book can be a rather difficult thing to learn, since one collector's idea of what grade a book is may be different from the next but there are some things you can look at to help evaluate antique books.
Instructions
1. Investigate how scarce or rare the book is. Check the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) site, where you can search for books by author, title and binding and whether signed or not. The site also features many helpful articles on rare books and evaluation. You can also check for the book on used/out of print books sites such as addall.com.
2. Determine if it is a first edition. Since each publisher has their own system to identify first editions, knowing whether a book is a first edition can often be difficult. Use a reference guide such as "Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions," by Bill McBride to research which edition your book is.
3. Check the binding of the book. The binding of the book is the way the book is held together. Damage to the book such as pages falling out and a loose spine (the edge of book where the pages are held together) can all greatly affect the value of a book.
4. Study the condition of the book. Although a rare book can be in poor condition and still be worth a lot of money, most antique books lose value if the cover is too tattered, the book has marks in it or cover pages have been torn out.
5. Authenticate autographs in signed books. Some booksellers who buy and sell rare books also authenticate autographs. Check your local yellow pages for a bookseller in your area or contact a member of the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America) for a member that specializes in the type of book and autograph that you have. Make sure to inquire about pricing beforehand, since prices can vary depending on the amount of research that might be involved.
