The old books in the attic may not be of much value to you, but they could be very highly valued by potential buyers. For example, the first edition of Charles Darwin's rare book "On the Origin of Species" sold for 2.1 billion rupiah in 2011. Even if you don't own a similar book, after identifying the edition of the book and its publication details, you can check its value. sell a book. Start by checking the physical condition of the book and looking for online reference sources. If you need additional input, ask an appraiser for help. Remember, the selling price of your book depends on market interest and the willingness of the buyer to spend money.
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Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the Identity of a Book
Step 1. Check the title of the book and the copyright notice page for key information
Write down the title of the publication of the book along with the author's name. After that, pay attention to the print details consisting of the name of the publisher, the city where it was published, and the date of publication, as well as the date of copyright registration.
- Open the book slowly to the first page. Skip the blank pages and title pages, if any, as they only contain book titles. Behind it, you'll find a page with the full title. Turn the page to find a page with copyright information.
- Don't rely on dust-proof frames or book bindings to find the information you're looking for as these elements may not be the original items that came with the book. Even if they are genuine, the information listed there may be incomplete.
Step 2. Find out the details of your book edition
There are many book collectors looking for first editions and rare editions. Check the title page and copyright page to see if the book is a first, revised, or limited edition. Details that can affect book value are usually printed with other key information.
- Some first edition books display the word "First Edition" on the title page, but many do not. You may have a first edition of a book if you only find a single publication date.
- You can identify a reprinted book if it has more than one publication date. Reprinted books often include the words "Print" (eg "Second Printing") or "Edition" (with a serial number other than "First").
- Sometimes, a book may be reprinted by another publisher that did not publish the first edition. It can be written “First (publisher name) Edition” to indicate that the publisher is not the original publisher of the book.
Step 3. Match the book details with the notes in the online catalog
Once you have a list of key information, compare it to the official records of the publication of the same book. Visit online catalogs, such as World Cat, National Union Catalog (NUC), or search for bibliographies of authors/writings in print or digital publications that cover the author or topic of your book. Search by author name, title, and publication details until you find an exact record of your book.
- These catalogs have data on the complete edition of the title of the book you are looking for.
- You can match book editions based on their publishing history. This will help you understand the actual age of the book.
Step 4. Use catalog information to determine how rare your book is
While it's hard to find the number of owners of the same book, you can find out how many of these books are in circulation in the public, companies, and libraries. Use the search feature on World Cat, NUC, or other online resources to find out how many of these books are on the market and where they are located.
- Just like other collectibles, the fewer copies there are, the higher the price of each item.
- Ask the librarian to help you find your book in an online catalog if you're having trouble finding it.
Method 2 of 3: Checking Book Quality
Step 1. Check the completeness and condition of the pages and the book plates
Look at the records in the same catalog as your book to see the number of pages and illustrations (commonly referred to as “plates”) that are included. Inspect the book carefully to make sure all pages and plates are intact, inspect the book carefully to make sure that there are no stained, discolored, folded, or torn pages, and make sure that the edges of the book, such as gilding, are not damaged.
- Use antiquarian terminology to define the damage accurately. For example, brown spots are known as "foxing."
- Physical condition and completeness greatly affect the selling value of old books.
Step 2. Record the damage to the book binding
Check the durability of the bookbinding and make sure the front and back are still firmly attached to the “spine”. Pay attention to the condition of the stitches on the binding and the glue.
- Books without original volumes are considered incomplete.
- If your book isn't particularly rare, prints in worse condition are bound to cost less than prints in better condition.
Step 3. Check the physical condition of the dustproof cover and frame, if any
Make sure the cover and joints are not fading, torn, or folded at all. If you have a book from the 20th century, check to see if it still has the original dustproof frame. Check the condition of the frame and note any torn, folded, or faded parts.
A lost book's original built-in dust-proof frame can significantly reduce the book's value
Step 4. Summarize the physical condition of the book as a whole with an antiquarian rating standard
Read the antiquarian guide to define the condition of your book. The term that is often used is "fine" or "like new" to indicate that the book is in near perfect condition with no defects. Terms like "very good". “good”, and “fair” indicate a decrease in the level of disability. Record the physical condition of the book that corresponds to the grade you gave.
- Regardless of the circumstances, you should refer to a book as “ex-library collection” if it has a library stamp or was obtained from the library.
- Use the term “binding copy” to refer to a book with good page condition, but requiring new volumes.
- Remember, old or rare books still usually have a high price even if the damage is quite severe.
Step 5. Gather evidence of the book's origins to increase its resale value
The origin or history of past ownership of a book can affect its selling price, especially if the book is owned by an important person. Check the license plate for the owner's name, owner's signature, or author's signature that mentions the owner's name.
If your book has interesting origins, look for documentation that proves that origin. Check family records or consult someone with knowledge of the book's origins to confirm it
Method 3 of 3: Determining the Selling Value of the Book
Step 1. Have an expert rate your book formally
If you want to get tax incentives or insure books, you'll need to formally assess them. Appraisals can be made officially through a certified book appraiser or informally through a used and rare book dealer, the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), or the International Society of Appraisers (ISA). Find an appraiser in your area to check the physical condition of old books.
- An appraisal usually costs money to pay for the services of an appraiser and insurance. So, be prepared to spend money.
- If you can't find an appraiser in your area, send a detailed photo of the book. Take photos of the front and back of the title page, first and last page of text, outer cover, “spine”, and any other sections requested by the appraiser.
- Librarians usually do not provide assessment services.
- If there is a signature on your book, an appraiser can verify its authenticity for you. Depending on the book and the origin of the signature, this can significantly increase the selling price of the book.
Step 2. Read the latest reference guide to find an estimate for the book's price
There are many written references to determine the price of collection books. Look for guides that match the subject of the book or its author in the library or in the collectibles section of a bookstore. Depending on how the guide is structured, your books can be listed alphabetically by author name or book title, or listed chronologically by date of publication. Read the table of contents in the guide to find your book.
- Make sure you use the latest version of the guide as book values keep fluctuating.
- Use Allen and Patricia Ahern's guide "Collected Books: The Guide to Values" for information on the first editions of books.
- Read "American Book-Prices Current" and "Book-Auction Records," 2 guides to the prices of old books sold at auction. A semiannual guide entitled "Bookman's Price Index" summarizes information from a book dealer's catalog to create a price list.
Step 3. Look for an online book reseller to find out what it's selling for
Look for details on your book on bookseller-only websites, such as Abe Books, BookFinder, and AdALL, or on auction sites such as eBay to find out what the book is selling for there.
- If you don't find satisfactory results, it may be because the book is very rare or hard to find. Consider consulting an antiquarian if you can't find any information on the internet.
- Create an account and try to sell the book or auction it off through one of these websites, if you prefer.
Step 4. Remember that the selling price of a book is determined by the buyer's bid
Regardless of catalog prices, online references, or the appraisal of an appraiser, the amount you get depends on the buyer's offer. These estimates are just rough judgments, not exact figures. Understanding various factors can affect the amount of money you make selling books.
- Buyer offers may fluctuate based on market trends or personal interests.
- The title of a famous book, the work of a popular author, or a book about something that is popular can go up in price because of its popularity or it can go down due to an oversupply in the market.
Step 5. Save any books you don't want to sell
You only have one chance to cash in on a collectible book. If you feel the book is worth more than the buyer's offer, hold on to the sale. After a few years, the value will probably go up.
- You can also keep books that have a high personal or sentimental value. This type of book, although not highly resaleable, could be much more valuable.
- You can also donate books to a library or archive center. Contact the acquisitions department to discuss making a donation.
Tips
- Store books safely and place them in a cool, dry place to protect them from dust and sunlight. Consult archivists and antiquarians for advice if you do not know how to properly protect books.
- If you're selling books online, be sure to explain the details of the book clearly and/or post photos of the damaged parts. Be honest when writing assessments and don't overestimate the quality of your book.
Warning
- Handle the book with clean, dry hands so that dirt and oil from the skin don't stain the pages or book volumes.
- Don't open the page too wide. This can damage the book's bindings. However, cover the cover with a soft pillow or a V-shaped book support.
