Antique Book Values

For many book collectors antique book values are more than a specific monetary value. Often collectors search out antique books to add to their collections based on their love for a particular subject, author or style of literature. For these collectors the value of an antique book lies in the special meaning the book holds for them.

Learn about rare book values

The monetary value of an antique book, just as the value of all antiques, varies based on current market demands and where the book is being bought or sold. Generally, antique book values are not a specific dollar figure. Instead a dollar range is used.

The following are brief descriptions of the different types of values.

• The insurance value, generally the highest retail value, is a formal written appraisal and is the amount it would cost to replace the book if it is destroyed or stolen.
• The retail price, or retail value, is the value of the book when sold at an antique store or antiquarian book dealer.
• Fair market value of the book is an agreed upon price when neither the buyer nor the seller is under any pressure to sell or to buy.
• The tax value, or estate value, is the average prices similar books sold for at auction. The IRS determines the estate value.
• The auction price is the open market price a book would generally sell for when neither the seller nor the buyer has to sell
• The wholesale price is the price a dealer pays for the book which is generally 1/3 to ½ less than the retail price on the secondary market

In addition to books written about the value of books and printed price guides, there are also excellent online resources and price guides to assist in determining the values of antique books.

• An informative free resource, Fadedgiant Books provides an online database of antique book prices for more than 50,000 antique books. Fadedgiant uses auction prices to determine the current values of antique, out of print, collectible and old books. This type of value is known as market driven value. Since the condition of a book is such an important factor in determining its value, this guide should only be used as an indicator of the range of the market value of a specific book.
• The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America
• Abe Books is the largest online bookseller with more than 12,500 independent booksellers listing more than 60,000,000 antique, used, rare and out of print books.
• Biblio represents more than 5,500 independent professional booksellers with over 50,000,000 books.
• AntiQbook

• Antique Trader Book Collector’s Price Guide by Richard Russell with more than 6,000 current book values also includes several unique features:
  • In each collecting category there is a list of classic rarities
  • A pseudonym guide
  • A diverse selection of categories including horror and science fiction, the occult and paranormal, philosophy and religion, Americana and books that have been banned
• The Official Price Guide to Books by Marie Tedford
• Huxfords Old Book Value Guide by Sharon Huxford

The following companies specialize in professional valuation and appraisal services of rare and antique books:

• Flat Signed Rare Books
• A listing of book appraisers from Abe Books
• PBA Galleries

Antique book values are important to many book collectors that add to their collections as a future investment. However, there are also those that add books to their collections for personal and sentimental reasons. Even these collectors should be aware of the value of the books they purchase to ensure they are paying a fair price.

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