Tips for the Buyer of...

Rare, Antiquarian and Out-of-Print Books

Many buyers of used books soon become avid collectors. Here is some information that may help you as you decide whether or not to make that purchase.  

Q. What determines the price of the book?

A. In a nutshell, availability and condition. An old book is not necessarily a rare or expensive book. Some 19th century books went through so many printings that they are virtually everywhere & are correspondingly inexpensive. Limited edition books, on the other hand, generate a high price. For example, The Complete Story of the Airedale written by Jowett, was limited to 1000 numbered copies. Prices reflect that fact. It is impossible to over-emphasize the critical importance of condition. A good copy of an out-of-print book may sell for $15.00 while a copy in mint condition may be $75.00.

Q. What do the terms good, very good, fine, very fine, as new/mint mean when buying used books?

A. These descriptors have specific meanings in the world of used books. Good is at the low end of the scale. It implies that the book has all of its pages intact and is reasonably tight and serviceable. Very good means that the book is tight, but scuffing, smudging and general signs of use are evident. Fine indicates that the book is bright, clean, undamaged and has been cared for. Very fine is applied to a used book just below mint/as new condition. As new books have seldom or never been opened. They are in immaculate condition with absolutely no marks or damage. (For a more detailed description of the terms, see Maurice Dunbar's Fundamentals of Book Collecting.)

Q. What does the term " reading copy only" mean?

A. This generally means that the book is in pretty rough shape with pages loose, hinges cracked and various and sundry other undesirable damage. These books are usually purchased when they are exceptionally scarce and are unlikely to come up again in the collector's lifetime. Usually, a reading copy book is sold at a substantially reduced price because of its condition. Some buyers then pay to have it restored.

Q. Is it important that the book have a dust jacket ?

A. Dust jackets (or dust wrappers) only made their appearance at the turn of the 20th century and not all books were issued with them. Unless a dealer describes the book as having a dust jacket (with its condition duly noted) do not assume that the book has one. Some collectors will insist that their books have a dust jacket if they were originally issued with one. For others, the presence of a dust jacket is unimportant. Clearly, this is a matter of personal preference.

Q. What is " foxing "?

A. This refers to the reddish freckles that appear in older books. This is the inevitable result of the papermaking process and does not seriously detract from the value of the book. Most dealers will note if the foxing is serious, e.g., considerable foxing. Foxing would not normally deter a collector from making the purchase of a rare book.

Q. How should a book collection be stored?

A. Books need a dry (but not arid) environment. The bookcase should be kept clean and a constant temperature. The major threats to your books' well being are moisture, dust, sunlight and heat so all these should be avoided. They should be kept on bookcases with sufficient space between them so that warping does not occur as a result of jamming too many volumes on one shelf.

Collect, read, enjoy!