By Anne Gilbert
Pay no attention to the person who says “nobody is collecting books these days.” Book auctions prove there are plenty of collectors. However selling your old books is a challenge these days. Sometimes 20th century books can sell for more than 17th century examples. What you don’t know about old and recent books can cost you. At the November 17, Skinner, Boston auction of books, the winning bid for a signed, first edition of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court” by Mark Twain only fetched $123, while an inscribed, first edition of “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller sold for $4,500. Timely were books relating to President John F. Kennedy that did well.
First, there are still rare and valuable books waiting to be discovered. Consider that back in 1974 a book thrown into the trash brought $123,00 at auction. It was “Tamerlane”, the first book ever written by Edgar Allan Poe.
Obviously age alone doesn’t count unless the book is rare and interesting. For example, dozens of 15th century religious books can be picked up for under $200.
Illustrated books with illustrations by famous illustrators such as Arthur Rackham and Jessie Wilcox , can up the price.
Finely decorated book bindings and illustrated covers add to the value, Condition is one of the most important considerations for books published since 1900.
Such books should have their dust jackets and be in mint condition.
Always check 19th and 20th century books to be sure they are first editions.
Look for 20th century books by such “name” authors as Faulkner and Hemingway in their original dust jackets.
If you are left a collection of books, call in a book appraiser, before selling. Don’t sell to the appraiser who will low-ball a valuable book.
Try and sell locally. The shipping cost for books can be astronomical.
If possible, do your own research, using internet auction price results. You can get a sense of what is going on by checking eBay, and what sellers are asking.
Make sure that books you want to sell have covers intact and that the pages aren’t soiled.
A spin-off of book collecting is pamphlets. Consider the collector who found a 1920 pamphlet with a newspaper story on Christmas, republished in 1970. The author was Ernest Hemingway. It is titled “Will You Let These Kiddies Miss Santa Claus ?” He sold it for several hundred dollars.
Familiarize yourself with 19th century reference books on medical and scientific developments. Long out of date many have been trashed. Those that remain are rarities and can sell to collectors of those categories for several hundred dollars.
Collect by subject, author or both. Research what books were published by that author. Unfamiliar or long forgotten titles can add to the book’s value.
PHOTOS: (1) “Catch-22 sold for $4,500 at Skinner auction. (2) “A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthurs Court” fetched only $123, PHOTO CREDIT: Skinner Book Auction, Boston, MA
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