For insurance purposes, tax purposes, or resale purposes, determining the value of your collections can be a beneficial activity. The appraised value of an item may vary widely based on factors such as printing date, provenance, and the presence of a book jacket. One of the largest considerations in a value appraisal is the condition of the volume in question. Appraisal professionals have the skills and tools to estimate the value of your collections. Their fees may vary.
If you merely wish to get an idea of the value of a book in your collection, you may go online and search for the title (being careful to search for the correct edition) on the secondary (used) book market.
Auburn University Libraries cannot give appraisals on book or manuscript values. We can however give you advice on how to go about either getting a general idea of value or finding a professional appraiser to employ for an official appraisal.
Many members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America will be happy to evaluate or buy books within their specialties. There may be a charge for formal written appraisals, but most dealers will share their knowledge and opinion for free. Dealers often rely on years of experience to assess the market as well as prices that comparable books have realized at auction (using such subscriber databases as American Book Prices Current).
Book dealers and collectors consider a number of factors when determining what a book may be worth. It is as much an art as a science, but here are a few of the major considerations:.
1. Desirability - Is there a potential demand or buyer for the book? How important is the book? Is it a famous author or a famous work? Is it a book that was a pioneering work in its field? Naturally, these are only the type of questions that can be asked. Some collectors are interested in first editions of important works of literature. Others may want important books in medicine, science, or philosophy or books that, for instance, have appeared in Printing and the Mind of Man- a well known exhibition of works that advanced human thought and culture.
2. Rarity: How many copies of the book exist? It is often difficult to know how many copies of a book exist in private collections, but one can gain some insight (though not an exhaustive count) into Institutional and Library holdings. There are several online databases for that, but perhaps the simplest and most accessible is Worldcat.org
3. Condition: Condition is extremely important. Is the book complete? Does it have all the plates? Is the binding original? Are the pages stained, browned, or spotted (foxing)? Are the front and back boards of the binding firmly attached? Is the dust jacket included (and in good "unclipped" condition)? Is the binding original or has it been restored or repaired? So many considerations go into the evaluation of book condition, it is very useful to employ the services of a professional for official book appraisals.
4. Provenance: Who owned my book before? Other factors that may affect book value include the provenance of the book. Are there any ex-libris bookplates pasted inside? Are there any signatures to to the title page or other marks of identification. Perhaps, the previous owner was famous or important. This could add considerably to its value.
5. Is the book signed by the author? Is it a signature or a lengthy inscription? The value of a book may increase significantly if signed by the author. A lengthy inscription from the author may add more value, especially if the inscription is to another famous author or person, indicating provenance and association.
