Top Rare Collectible Books, Rare Antiquarian Books for Sale Online

This article discusses top rare collectible books, rare antiquarian books for sale online. Not all first editions or rich-looking, old, leather-bound volumes have much value. Collecting fine books takes a lot of knowledge. It best suits book lovers, not general investors. Reason: Books, in most cases, haven't appreciated as quickly or as much as most art, stamps, and rare coins.

It's a gamble to buy contemporary first editions and expect they will increase in value. For instance: A first edition of John Steinbeck's East of Eden, in good condition and with a dust jacket, is worth a couple of hundred dollars. But if you go out and buy a first edition of a current Ann Beattie novel and expect it to appreciate, after a couple of decades you may find it's worth no more than you paid for it. Value increases according to how future literary critics rank new author Beattie and what the demand is for her early books.
Book rarity: It often bears little or no relationship to value. Example: A first edition of an obscure 19th-century poet with only 200 copies extant may have no value. But John James Audubon volumes or Samuel Johnson's Dictionary appreciate every year even though they are plentiful. See collectible books for more information.

Condition: This is very important in determining value. A perfect dust jacket can make the difference between a $500 book and a $1,500 one.
To keep books in condition, store them away from sunlight and humidity. If they get worms, museums and libraries offer fumigation services.
Best strategy for collecting books: Buy books that dovetail into a single concept. Examples: 20th-century American literature, Western Americana, science books, nautical books, Victorian children's books. Reason:
Once the collection becomes large enough (say 250 volumes), the whole collection frequently becomes more valuable than the sum of its parts.
Trends: As with paintings, different periods generate different amounts of interest. Currently, American 20th-century authors are in vogue, as in Western Americana. Ernest Hemingway first editions go for several hundred dollars, J.D. Salinger about $100, and F. Scott Fitzgerald even more. However, although 20th-century literature has been increasing in price significantly faster than inflation, it will probably slow down soon. Collecting popular categories is always expensive and may not prove to be the best use of funds.

To Top Rare Collectible Books, Rare Antiquarian Books for Sale Online- Top

Undervalued periods and authors have greater potential for appreciation. Aldous Huxley, Robert Louis Stevenson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, James Fenimore Cooper, Stephen Crane, and Edna St. Vincent Millay are all out of vogue now. You can probably assemble a collection of their first editions at a reasonable price.
An author's inscription adds hundreds of dollars to the value of the book.
Books with artwork tend to outpace the market. Especially interesting: Victorian children's books, and botany books, Audubon books, and architecture books. Reason: There is a double-edged market of book collectors and people who want to sell the pictures for framing.
Myths about fine and rare books and first editions:
When an author dies, the value of the books goes up. Not necessarily. Demand is the key factor. There are exceptions. When John F. Kennedy was shot, first editions of Profiles in Courage skyrocketed. However, their price has since come down.
Limited-edition book clubs are a good way of collecting. Not true. These books rarely increase in value.

Any book more than 50 years old is valuable. False. Bibles must have been printed before 1615 to be worth much. Encyclopedias are worth more new than old.
You can pick up bargains at flea markets and in yard sales. Rarely. Even flea market dealers know the value of any first edition. The only way to find something under market value is to educate yourself very well.
To find out whether a book you own is valuable: Contact an auction house or fine-book dealer. Information needed: (1) The name of the book. (2) Its condition. (3) The place it was published. (4) Any distinguishing notes (autograph, dedication, etc.).
If you want to sell a book or a collection: You can use an auction house or a bookstore that deals in fine books. The advantage of a bookstore is that you'll be paid immediately and the price is preset. At an auction house you may have to wait months before the sale, and you may be disappointed with price you get.

Basics for buying and keeping old volumes bound in leather: Before purchasing a leather-bound book, check its condition. Essentials: Be sure no pages are missing. Make certain the book has not already undergone commercial restoration. Trap: If leather is brittle or powdery, reject the book. It cannot be restored adequately.
Remember that old leather bindings need special care. To aid preservation: Clean away dust with a soft brush. Apply leather protector (potassium lactate). When dry, apply a small amount of leather dressing (either lanolin or neatsfoot oil).
To repair a valuable leather-bound book, seek the services of an expert craftsman, not a commercial bookbinder. Best bet: Write to the Guild of Bookworkers, 1059 Third Ave., New York City 10021.

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