You discover an ancient-looking book in a box left to you by your Aunt Millie. After you blow the dust off of it and gently crack open the old leather binding, you discover that it’s an edition that was published in (gasp) 1898! “How much is it worth?” you wonder.
You shouldn’t get too excited yet, however. The prices on antiquarian books vary widely, and the truth is that few of them are worth very much. And it can be difficult to do the research that would help you figure out the exact value of your book. There are bookseller associations that have huge databases of old books that are offered by independent sellers, which can be a good place to begin. Here are some online resources that can help you determine the value of an antique book.
There are twenty national associations of antiquarian booksellers that are members of an organization called The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This organization represents thirty different countries and two thousand independent booksellers worldwide. Another organization of note is The Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association, which has been active since 1949. These organizations probably won’t provide the specific information you need about your book, but you should know of their existence and their importance to the antiquarian book trade.
There are databases of collectible books where you might be able to find copies of your book already being sold, to give you an idea of what the going price is for a copy that’s in a similar condition to yours. These databases are comprised of the inventories of hundreds of different booksellers, mostly independents. Websites like www.abebooks.com, www.antiqbook.com, and www.alibris.com are a few of the most popular databases to choose from.
It may surprise you to know that one of the largest database of antiquarian books can be found at www.Amazon.com. In addition to new books, Amazon sells many thousands of antique books through their Associate Program, where individuals from all over the world can sell their books through Amazon. Even if your out-of-print book isn’t currently being offered by any sellers, you are likely to find a listing of it that may give you some information about it. And many of the booksellers who also list their books through the specialty sites mentioned above will also offer the same books on Amazon – and often at greatly reduced prices.
The inventory of antique books on eBay isn’t as large as the sites already mentioned, but if you’re having trouble locating information about a book then it’s worth checking their site to see if it’s being sold there, or if it has ever been sold there in the past.
These online resources are a great place to begin your research when you’re trying to find out much an old book is worth. But the bottom line for any antique is that it will be worth what a collector is willing to pay for it. Odds are, that antique book left to you by your Aunt Millie won’t be worth enough to pay for your next latté, let alone a trip to the Bahamas. But it’s worth exploring its value, because you’ll never know until you try.
