Three Primary Factors Concerning Antique Book Prices | Antique ...

Antique book prices are determined by a number of factors, such as rarity, condition, popularity, plus a few others. Of the three factors mentioned, the most important one is probably the condition of the book, but not wholly by itself. All three go hand in hand, and an explanation of each one will help to understand this.

The rarity of a book obviously refers to how many of them are available for sale worldwide. Some antique books were mass-produced at the time, but not all. Some were printed in fewer numbers. Some books also had special editions printed, or private high quality editions, perhaps with illustrations included. Since these were printed in less numbers, they are considered more rare. The value of the special edition will usually be greater than the standard edition. In may cases there were reprints of books after a while, thus the phrase ?first edition? refers to the original edition of the book. First editions would be next most valuable after special editions.

The next item is the popularity of the book. This primarily depends on the author, as certain authors are in very high demand. As a general rule, if a book was popular at the time it was printed, then it will still continue to be a valuable antique, although the price may fluctuate a bit.

The third item is the condition of the book. The price for identical antique books can vary greatly, usually because of the condition of each. Unfortunately books can easily get damaged and unsightly over time, and this reduces the value. The types of damage might be torn or loose pages, torn covers, broken spine, torn or even missing dust jacket, as well as dirt and mould.

The overall value of the antique book is then a combination of all three factors. For example, let us consider the Bible. It is a fact that millions of Bibles have been printed over the years, and you will find antique Bibles in many homes. Bibles rarely get destroyed or thrown away, because of their religious importance. Because of this, there is now an abundance of antique Bibles in the word, so they are not valuable except in rare cases.

If you are a collector of antique books, or maybe you are just getting started collecting, then the following advice can help you. Always try to find first edition (or special edition) copies, in perfect condition. Doing this, you will nearly always be assured that the books will retain their vale, and increase as time goes on.

Look after your books properly. Try to store them in a clean dust-free environment, ideally at temperatures between sixty and seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Never let them in contact with untreated wood, the acid vapours can harm books. So double-check your bookshelves. If you have metal shelves, ensure that they are rust-free, as this can also damage the book. Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and to fluorescent lights, these tend to make the pages fade. Protect them from dampness, avoid having your bookshelf located against an exterior wall.

In many cases with antique books, the book itself might be in very good condition but the dust jacket is torn, ragged and falling apart. There is often a temptation to discard the dust jacket to make the book more presentable, but avoid this temptation at all costs. The value of the book is usually increased if it has the original dust jacket, regardless of its condition.

By: Brian J Daly

Source: http://www.intecoeng.com/home-and-family/three-primary-factors-concerning-antique-book-prices

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