There are some easy ways to weed out the garbage from the good stuff when it comes to books. Following this check list, you can start to figure out your old book’s value. Value comes from two things: Condition and Rarity.
Condition
- Make sure all the pages are there, including illustrations.
- Check if the spine is cracked -- and be careful not to crack it yourself!
- The covers must be secure.
- Look for stains and other marks or tears.
- See if there are library markings.
- Is it inscribed? Are there children’s scribbles in the pages?
- Smell for mustiness and look for water markings.
- Take a look for signs of repair.
Some key points that will lower the value of your book are library markings and spine damage. Mustiness immediately eliminates almost all the value from your book. Unless it is extremely valuable in good condition, the damaged version will be worth almost nothing.
Rarity
- Survey popular websites such as www.abe.com to see if other copies of your books are easily available.
- When comparing your book, check the publication date, publisher, and city of publication.
- If your title has a dust jacket, this will increase its value exponentially, as dust jackets tend to be rare.
- Look for signatures from authors, illustrators, or famous owners.
Using a little common sense and following the tips above, you should be able to weed out any books that are a waste of time for collectors. Try selling them yourself online, or take them to an authorized book dealer to determine their final value.
