Are you tired of searching for the best rare book out there? Then you should take a look at some valuable tips on how to locate the best rare book. Check to see whether your old books are value before donating or discarding them. Checking on Amazon, where multiple editions and printings are grouped together, is a bit trickier.
Find data as much as possible
Make every effort to identify a close match, not just in terms of publishing data, but also in terms of condition, binding, and other distinguishing characteristics. You may also look for prices from recent auctions on several auction websites.
You may also use Google to look for sites that list distinguishing markings from particular editions using phrases like “identify edition.” Raptis Rare Books, for example, cites characteristics, markings, and even 16 faults found in the original edition of The Hobbit.
If you can discover many copies of your version for sale at a similar price, your book is worth that much. If you’re still unsure about the edition you have, but there are hints that it could be uncommon or valuable, you should get advice from a professional.
Obtain an evaluation
Dr. Terry Belanger, the Rare Book School’s founding director, tells Lifehacker that there is no one method for recognizing a valuable book. That’s why he created a whole program devoted to the study and maintenance of rare books. You can’t learn to detect rare books on the fly with a crash course. Time, knowledge, and access to a lot of research are all required.
“A Penguin paperback is notably long-lived,” Dr. Belanger says of specific imprints, periods, and editions. I’ve seen Penguins that are still going strong from the 1930s.” Note the identifying markings in the Fellowship copy above, which were identified by Housing Works’ rare book specialist. Take it to an expert like that if you think you have a worthwhile book. This specialist is usually a bookseller who can not only evaluate but also pay the worth of your book.
Of course, the seller will be able to benefit from this deal, but they will be transparent about it. You don’t have to be afraid of being taken advantage of. Look for antiquarian bookshops that are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America or the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. These bookstores “must follow by a stringent code of conduct meant to safeguard their clients,” according to the ALA’s FAQ.
If you’re still on the fence, check out the seller’s Yelp and AbeBooks reviews (ask for their username). Rare books are not a high-margin or fly-by-night industry, so if this vendor is well-known, you may trust them to value your book correctly. You may also seek a second opinion.
Understand what’s so important
To be useful, a book must meet certain criteria: It must be desired (from a well-known author), reasonably uncommon (at least in its particular edition), and in excellent shape (at least in comparison to all other extant copies). While not every ancient book is precious, many of the most valuable books are. All of these variables have an impact on one another.
Focus on desirability of the book
“The term unusual is misleading,” Dr. Belanger argues. Many rare books are inexpensive or even useless. Think of a forgettable, low-cost book that barely sold a thousand copies. Even if you have the final copy, it’s unlikely that anybody will desire it.
“A desired book is a ‘rare book’ even if it isn’t uncommon,” explains Dr. Belanger. Certain books, like original Woodstock tickets, the first appearance of Superman, or one of Apple’s earliest computer manuals, are valued only for their cultural importance. Of course, these relics are uncommon since they were designed to be discarded after a few years, months, or days. When a strong demand is paired with a limited supply, the value increases:
Don’t ignore rarity of the book
Rarity is still important. Only 400 copies of the 1896 Kelmscott Chaucer are known to exist; one is for sale on AbeBooks for $137,500. Thousands of dollars are quoted for even the most unique replicas of this book. This book would have to be cheaper if 10,000 copies were printed.
A popular magazine, on the other hand, is unlikely to acquire much value since the market is saturated. With a print run exceeding 12 million, there’s always someone seeking to get rid of their copy of National Geographic. Even common names, however, may become rare, according to Dr. Belanger: “My aunt Agnes acquired a whole run of Life magazine, and everyone laughed at her.” However, the whole collection is now worth much over $5,000.”
Rarity may also refer to a limited edition or even a single printing. There are millions of copies of The Fellowship of the Ring; a secondhand edition on Amazon costs $5, and many used bookshops charge less. That is why the older versions are more valuable. And one edition of a book may have numerous printings, with each printing correcting minor mistakes or making minor adjustments that distinguish them. If Fellowship wasn’t also well valued and extensively read, none of these facts would make those early copies valuable.
Because they are frequently rarer, the initial printings of a well-known series are usually more expensive than the last. Publishers anticipated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh book in the series, would sell millions of copies when it was published. As a result, they ordered a substantially larger initial printing than The Philosopher’s Stone. For a long time, copies of the original printing will be easy to come by—especially since so many readers will maintain them in superb shape.
Age of the book is a concern as well
What is the age of an old book? It depends on your goal. The Fellowship copy above was published in 1954, but it’s an oddity since it’s the first American edition of one of the world’s most renowned novels. If your book isn’t very noteworthy, age isn’t a huge consideration until you reach into the 1800s or earlier.
“All books printed before 1501, English books printed before 1641, books produced in the Americas before 1801, and books printed west of the Mississippi before 1850 are often highly sought after,” according to the ALA’s FAQ. We’re talking about rare books at this point since all books were uncommon at the time and location. “The Clerk of Oxenford in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales possessed thirty volumes, and he was pretty proud of it,” Dr. Belanger explains.
Final words
Now you know the tips to adhere to when you are trying to find that perfect rare book. Always adhere to these tips and you will surely love the results coming on your way.
