Antique Books

When I think of antique books it brings to mind the author bent over his manuscript with quill in hand pouring over his soon-to-be masterpiece.A romantic notion perhaps,but perhaps not far from the truth.Often in these times gone by, not only was the pen a quill, but the binding was hand made and the artistry that went into the production of books was of a much higher quality.Today the cost of a book is very low,it is true but the fine books of yesterday are rare indeed.

How much is it worth?

The factors which influence the price of a book are many.The binding as mentioned is a factor.The overall condition including the pages and of course whether it is leather or some other fine material. Sometimes there is writing within the margins of the pages which may or may not increase the value of an antique book.If it is from the authors hand, it may increase the value substantially.If an antique book is signed by the author,again it may or may not increase it's value.This is due to the fact that these days the "book signing' is a popular marketing ploy and reduces the value of a signature.Of course the final value of any antique is what someone is willing to pay for it.It may not be desirable,although rare,for a myriad of reasons. All of these factors contribute to the overall value of your antique book. 
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Appraisals 

It is usually very wise to have a qualified person appraise the antique book you are seeking to purchase or to sell.If you consult the internet and local dealers you will find many societies of book dealers, antiquarians and collectors anxious to give you information.Appraisals are not free though so be prepared to pay for one.

If for some reason you are unable to take the book to a dealer in person, you may submit photos with the following stipulations:the photos must be close up and very high quality. Luckily with the spread of digital photography this is not a problem these days as it was in times past. If you are not good at photography I am sure you can find someone to do it for you for little or no cost. They will require usually a photograph of the title page, the back side of the title page (also called the copyright page), the first and last pages of text, and the outer covers and spine in order to evaluate an individual copy.Do not try and photocopy the book! This produces very poor results and may in fact damage the book due to the pressure exerted upon the spine in this process.

First editions are usually very prized for an antique book as are leather and other more exotic materials for coverings and bindings.Also original "dust covers" may be very desirable. 

Enjoy the reading of the past.Enjoy antique books.

Read about antique clocks More about binding your own books.