The antiquarian booksellers association of america abaa. While you probably wont find many of the books on the list in your local bookstore there are thousands of books that are on their way to being rare and valuable. Photo by tom woodward youve come to the right place if you are trying to figure out if your book collection is woth anything. Manhattan rare book company specializes in rare books and first editions in literature, art, history, and science.
Willard marriott library houses books, maps and ephemera documenting the record of human communication from clay tablet to artists book. It pays to try to get a couple of different appraisals before you decide to sell your book just to make sure you know all you can about the book and its potential value beforehand. Tbcl the book collectors library 1888863 book 2665 1 514 4847865. In 1976 he became a fulltime dealer and auctioneer, and maintained a robust business in political and other collectors items until his company, slaters americana, was absorbed by heritage in 2004. To determine the publication history of the work and where your book fits into it, you can consult catalog resources and authorsubject bibliographies. You can browse by subjects, authors or lists members have created. An exlibrary copy is a book that once belonged to an institutional or public library. Register for the free basic subscription and receive access to their price guide with over 1,000,000 actual prices.
Abandoned famous poets library rare first edition books. From relatively modest beginnings, it has grown into one of the finest collections of rare printed material in the country. Lenhardt library rare book collection chicago botanic garden. A beatenup old book that is falling apart will have little value. Tbcl the book collectors library 1888863book 2665 1 514 4847865. A selection of digitized rare books is accessible through the illinois digital archive the library presents four rare book exhibitions each year with an accompanying free gallery talk to share these treasures with a public audience the lenhardt library is focused on developing a collection of national prominence that strengthens its service to researchers and the visiting public. Fill out this form with enough information to get a list of comparable copies. Both private collectors and institutional libraries deaccession rare books on an ongoing basis.
The library holds american, british ceased in 1997, and australian book auction. Just like wikipedia, you can contribute new information or corrections to the catalog. Rare book hub rare books, book auctions, antiquarian. Values relate to first editions in very good condition. Rare book hub rare books, book auctions, antiquarian book.
You can also see items from the collection on display in the librarys permanent exhibition. Jul 29, 2015 how can i tell how much my books are worth. Selections from columbias book arts collection january 20, 2020 july 3, 2020 chang octagon. Buying rare books can be a great investment and a lot of fun. Rare books while there is no universal definition of what constitutes a rare book, it may be thought of broadly as a book with high intrinsic or research value that would be difficult to replace. In the world of rare books, professionals rely on this vast set of data to ascertain details of cataloging and establish the rarity of an item. These books show minor signs of wear, and may have minor defects, all of which should be noted. Use the search box above to find fond treasures from your childhood or that one book that has escaped your collection thus far. Mar 04, 2020 the library has a number of publications which are price guides for books, and there are two different types. Our speciality is in old and rare books, specifically early printed books before 1800 including incunabula, early bibles pre1800, manuscripts, archives, natural history books, color plate books, books on travel and exploration, fine sets, limited editions, first. Get the best deals on collectible black americana books when you shop the largest online selection at. Rare book values are very subjective, and can vary widely depending on what the local market will bear where you are trying to sell your book.
Do you have an old or antiquarian book and would like to know its value. Antiquarian booksellers association of america lists booksellers and appraisers near you. The easiest way to know how much your copy of a book is worth on the open market is to check on how much similar copies are currently being offered for. There are a number of sources that are useful for finding copies of used and rare books and getting estimates of their values. We specialize in making it easier for you to get the books you need. Special collections and archives holds the librarys rare book and periodical collections, and a wide variety of manuscript collections and individual items. Links to websites to help you value, sell or find rare books. Also covers rare book auctions, manuscripts, ephemera, broadsides, maps, prints, posters, bibliography, first editions, incunabula and catalogs. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. If you want to learn more about what makes an old book rare or. The collection began to take shape in the 1960s with a transfer of several hundred rare books from the library of parliament to the national library of canada. A dust jacket in very good condition is almost a must for modern firsts, accounting for up to 80% of a book s value.
University libraries rare books and manuscripts library rbml contains primary source materials and supporting published works ranging from medieval and renaissance manuscripts to contemporary fiction and small press publications, making rbml an exceptional resource for. Directory of web resources for the rare book cataloger. Financial value at resale does not always reflect emotional or artifactual value. Used and rare bookseller websites that bring together sellers prices. Make offer the negro servant legh richmond antique book from masonic library. Since 1997, bookfinder has made it easy to find any book at the best price. Our speciality is in old and rare books, specifically early printed books before 1800.
The new york public library will be closed sunday, april 12 in observance of easter. These cases are unique featuring sculpted cover designs inspired by a titles dustwrapper like daisys face on the rare gatsby. Global catalog of library collections antiquarian booksellers association of america. Explore thousands of old and rare books, including illuminated manuscripts, fine press editions, illustrated books, incunabula, limited editions and miniature books. The rare book hub offers tools for the book collector and bookseller, especially old and rare books, antique or antiquarian books, hard to find, out of print, and collectible collectable books. Frequently asked reference questions internet public library. Rare books, outofprint books online half price books. The dust jacket is both the most decorative part of a book, and the most delicate. The free levels include access to a glossary of terms and links to libraries.
Has every book imaginable, including many collectors rare editions. This is certainly one of the most common questions that we receive. Rare book department of the free library of philadelphia. Since that time tom has served as director of americana auctions and senior historical specialist for heritage auctions. If you wish to reproduce any images of rare books and special collections material in publications or on the internet please contact rare books and special collections for permission. While most online price guides specialize in one type of antique, kovels lists antiques in many categories.
We have thousands of rare and antique treasures brought to you by our network of trusted sellers from all around the world. At the center is thomas jeffersons book collection, which was sold to congress in 1815. Generally rare books are not circulated, so they tend to bear fewer markings. Rbms controlled vocabularies vocabulary for binding, provenance, printing, genre, and. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Sell old books, rare books, first editions books to peter harrington, specialises in buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Like worldcat, the estc is a librarybased system and free to use. Its important to remember that plenty of books are marked ex libris, but that doesnt necessary add value to the book and can actually decrease the value of the book if the marks are obtrusive. The international league of antiquarian booksellers resources including library of articles, glossary of terms in several languages. Valuation of books and other printed items rare books and. Ranging in age and scope from cuneiform tablets the first writing of mankind, c. Where can i direct her to learn more about the value of these books.
Get the best deals on collectible black americana books when. Believe it or not, only 500 copies were printed during its initial run, with 300 of those going to libraries and schools across the united kingdom. The collection focuses on early and rare books demonstrating the underappreciated activities of working women in all areas and periods. Every library has its own methods for identifying books in its collection, so library marks range widely.
Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given collector. The unique materials of the rare book and special collections division of the library of congress, now totaling over 800,000 items, include books, broadsides, pamphlets, theater playbills, prints, posters, photographs, and medieval and renaissance manuscripts. May, 2019 the free library of philadelphia was founded in 1891 as the citys first public library system. The librarys rare books collection is held in storage and can be viewed by contacting library staff to arrange an appointment in the heritage collections reading room. In 1967, the british government marked canadas centenary by contributing a number of outstanding rare works to. Rare book department of the free library of philadelphia, philadelphia, pennsylvania. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Infography about book collecting a book collectors choice of the best books, articles, and online resources.
Warren, whose price guide books have been the authority on collectibles values since 1985. Its rare book department, among the largest in american public libraries, exists to serve the people of philadelphia, as well as the students, scholars, and researchers who use its collections. Interesting info rare and valuable books whats my book worth. You probably dont need to include every word of the title and authors name. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a. Book valuations rare book and manuscript library u of. A book that has significant damage is likely not worth much. Rare book and special collections reading room library of. Publishers will sometimes forget to remove the first edition words from the printing. If youre an avid reader, you may at one point find yourself with quite a collection of books. A rare book can sell for a substantial amount of money but few novice collators know how to tell the difference between a nice old book and a. An ex library copy is a book that once belonged to an institutional or public library. Visit us online, at our galleries in new york or las vegas, or call us at 180099bauman.
Whether you want the cheapest reading copy or a specific collectible edition, with bookfinder, youll find just the right book. If youre new to the world of collecting rare books, learn about these. A first edition, first state without a dust jacket is of significant value given. Descriptive cataloging of rare materials graphics alalc romanization tables transliteration schemes for nonroman scripts from the library of congress. How to find the value of books the best thing to do if youre serious about finding out the value of your books to have a professional book appraiser or bookseller evaluate your. Library and archives canadas lac rare book collection has roots in many different places, including various federal institutions and the shelves of the nations book collectors. Bauman rare books offers an extraordinary selection of rare books and autographs in all fields. The rare book department, among the largest in american public libraries, maintains collections of. Others are considered scarce because the number of interested collectors exceeds the number of copies available on the market. Rated a by naac from 20182019, and among top ten law institutions of india for many years. Were the rare book department of the free library of philadelphia, and wed love to. Rare books for sale, buy antique books from alibris. In all circumstances any reproductions must be credited to rare books and special collections, the university of sydney library.
If you keep your books in the basement usually too damp or in the attic. The book collectors magazine resource for book collecting, first editions, rare, antiquarian books. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is called a bibliophile book collecting can be easy and inexpensive. Many people like collecting older books from flea markets and antique shops but it can be hard to tell which books in your collection really have value. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed. Websites used and rare bookseller websites that bring together sellers prices. The collections of the free library of philadelphias rare book department are vast and diverse. Well known to book collectors and booklovers, our site is an excellent resource for discovering a rough value of an old book. May, 2019 a rare book can sell for a substantial amount of money but few novice collators know how to tell the difference between a nice old book and a valuable one. You might think its a rare and valuable book but dont know where to find its value. Offering our general opinion as to elements that may make a book valuable or. What is meant by a books condition, and how does that affect a books value. Do not attempt to tape any part of the book if you want to maintain its historic or monetary value. The rare book and manuscript library does not appraise rare books or manuscripts.
Information on old books describes how to determine the value of old books by the smithsonian libraries. Factors of age, fragility, scarcity, research value, or unique characteristics may bring books into special collections. The humanities department has resources to help you find out. These factors will influence the book s market value and, if you want to sell or donate it, whether any particular collector or library needs it. First editions of wellloved books can become the most prized in literature. Alibris is one of the premier rare and outofprint book sites on the internet. Your old books lists questions and answers about book collecting. Some books are unique works, like original manuscripts or association copies. We suggest that you contact rare, used, or out of print book dealers in your area. Rare books marriott library the university of utah.
Whether youre a budding rare book collector or a bibliophile with an evniable collection, discover an amazing selection of rare and collectible books from booksellers around the. Tthe searchable database consists of detailed reports in an evergrowing database of items in this category. The easiest way to know how much your copy of a book is worth on the open market is to. When we talk about rare books, we speak of books that have a limited supply. However, we realize that this is a topic of great interest to many people and we offer this page as a resource. Addall click on the used books tab at the top and fill out the. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands.