The important thing to remember is that the prices you see on a bookseller’s site, or on Amazon or any bookseller database (ABE, Bibliofind, etc.) is what the seller hopes to get for it. I could give you endless examples, but you seem to have figured that out already.
Given the Mark Twain, it might be worthwhile to get an appraisal. However, I most strongly recommend that you not hire an appraiser until you’ve done some research and found an honest one. One thing I would not do is get the appraisal from a bookstore or auction house. Their primary interest is in acquiring valuable books at the cheapest possible price.
I would also advise lurking on the eBay Booksellers Discussion Board for a while. Or you can simply ask them to refer you to links that will help. There are a number of highly professional booksellers who participate there, and most of them are quite willing to give useful advice to a novice.
Starguard - I’m an eBay Power Seller, so that’s already definitely crossed my mind. Their discussion boards can be very helpful at times - they once helped me identify a rare piece of Limoges that subsequently sold for several hundred dollars - but again, we’re talkin’ a big load of books.
I appreciate everyone’s cautions - I do know that ANY collectible is worth only what someone’s actually willing to pay for it. All I’m trying to do is determine what’s actually worth appraising and of that, where to start the bidding at.
Hey Phlosphr - didn’t know you were into firsts; I don’t recall seeing your posts on firsts-related threads…
What issue is your Huck? Green, Blue or leather boards? I have a standard green board 1st that is fully 1st issue - with all points (and there are a lot for that darn book). The only thing it doesn’t have is, for the photo of the bust of Twain, the bust is not on a table cloth, which isn’t an issue point, but rather a variant and a little more rare.
I also have A Connecticut Yankee, 1st edition, 1st state with the “sKing” point on the picture on page - what? 49 or so…can’t remember, and the clear, readable type on the pages where it is called for for a 1st issue. Mine doesn’t have the half-fly page - another variant, not an issue point, but more rare.
I focus mainly on Lit after 1950, but have earlier lit, some sci-fi, crime and children’s…
I am contemplating selling my 1st edition set of Winnie-the-Poohs - 1st U.K., with dj’s and When We Were Very Young is the first issue with blank endpapers - but they will be pretty darned expensive if I do…some dealers have full sets like that going for over $20,000 - I wouldn’t be close to that, but jeez…
http://www.bookfinder.com - THE definitive book site to see what’s out there and what’s valuable. abebooks and bibliofind listings are incorporated into bookfinder. Look them up and see what you’ve got that’s interesting. If you do, use bookfinder to locate sellers who might be interested. Also, for the really old stuff go to the Antiquarian Booksellers association at http://www.abaa.org/. They list book dealers by region and specialty. Strangely enough, today I just consigned 3 antiquarian books to an auction to be held June 21 in Baltimore. Auction estimates for my items are $4,000 - $10,000. It really pays to do your homework sometimes. I DON’T recommend ebay - I’ve been a dealer on eBay for 5 years, and it’s almost strictly a wholesale or below market now unless you have something truly extraordinary. And unless you’re an expert in what you’re auctioning, it’s way to much of a gamble if you are counting on a fair return.
WordMan - there’s an old AA Milne here, too, but it says “Seventy-fourth printing Sept. 1926”. But I like the endpapers with the pictures of Heffalumps and stuff.
violet9 - what makes a book “really” old? Some of this stuff is late 1800s, but I don’t think there’s anything older than that - nothing that I’ve disinterred so far, anyway. Thanks for the links - I’ll continue to do some checking about.
Today I found a Winston Churchill book in Dad’s office - looks interesting!
Now you’ve got my attention. Winston Churchill the Prime Minister or Winston Churchill the author? The author was a huge best seller a hundred years ago (the Tom Clancy of his day) but has now been completely eclipsed by his political namesake.
Hunh. I had no idea there was more than one Winston Churchill. This one is called The Hinge of Fate, and it was published in 1950, so I suppose it’s the Winston Churchill I thought it was.
I have to tell y’all, I am having a load of fun following your links and researching these books. I’ve learned a ton already, and I’ve also made a vow to myself to treat my own newer hardcover books with a bit more respect. Maybe someday my great-grandchild can put himself through school with my first-edition Carrie Fisher book.
violet9 - what makes a book “really” old? Some of this stuff is late 1800s, but I don’t think there’s anything older than that - nothing that I’ve disinterred so far, anyway. Thanks for the links - I’ll continue to do some checking about."
The A.A. Milne might have some value. “really old” books are probably before 1850, but that doesn’t mean they are collectible. And thousands of titles after 1850 are worth a mint. Any older children’s books (1950s and before) are worth looking into, btw. The books I took to the auction house today ranged in age from 1760 to 1883. The dealer characterized most of them as being “old books” - meaning of no real value. Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s of value necessarily.
But if you could get $50 for the Milne, that would be good, eh? The book dealer was really only interested in books worth more than $300 or so. But I bet you’d be delighted if you had a couple of $50s and a $100 or two. It all depends on your perspective.
Just to put ‘old’=‘valuable’ into perspective - I saw on TV recently a first edition of Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights go for over £1000. That’s a book that’s about six years old. :eek:
Yes, that’s the British Churchill. The American Churchill wrote about ten best selling novels from 1899 to 1917. He was well enough known that the British WC started calling himself Winston Spencer Churchill because people kept confusing him with the famous author. Then Churchill suddenly stopped writing because he wanted to spend some time thinking. He basically disappeared from public view and was forgotten. In 1940 he published one final book; a summation of the previous two decades’ worth of thinking about religion.
Depending on condition - of the book and dustjacket - it may have a little value, say $10 - $20. Pooh books are the most desirable/collectible children’s book - in the top tier with Beatrix Potter books, Harry Potter books, Seuss books, etc. - so later editions have become a little more than just reading copies as the true firsts skyrocket. But a 74th printing is still pretty distant from the 1st, even though the book is almost 80 years old…
Can I put in a request for any children’s literature? I’m not much of a collector, but I’ve got a few from the early 1900’s/late 1800’s. Mostly I just love children’s literature
MixieArmadillo - there are a few children’s books here, but as I like children’s literature too, I’m keeping some. BUT - there’s an “anniversary edition” of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden and another Burnett - Racketty Packetty House (with illustrations) and Charles Kingsley’s The Water Babies (no illustrations) looking for a home. Email me if you’re interested!
