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An Overview Regarding Condition, Grading and Value

Condition refers to a book’s physical appearance and the completeness of its contents. In general, the better a book’s physical condition, the more it will be worth.

Terms that might be used to describe old books include (from best condition to worst condition) “As New,” “Fine” (no defects), “Very Good,” “Good,” “Fair” (worn but includes complete text), and “Poor” (very worn, but readable). Missing or mutilated covers, pages, or illustrations must be noted and are major faults that will severely compromise the book’s value.

Age alone does not determine a book's value. The significance of the content, the book's condition, and market demand are key factors in assessing the worth of an old book. Nonetheless, certain types of books are typically more desirable, such as those printed before 1501, English books printed before 1641, books printed in the Americas before 1801, and books printed west of the Mississippi before 1850.

Books are valued for either their contents or their physical characteristics. Examples of books valued for their contents include first editions of significant literary or historical works and initial reports of scientific discoveries or inventions. Illustrated books that offer a new interpretation of a text or feature the work of a renowned artist are also prized. Books that were suppressed or censored can be both important and rare, as few copies may have survived. Physical characteristics such as special bindings, early use of new printing processes, or autographs, inscriptions, or marginal annotations by famous individuals can also enhance a book's importance and market value.

A book that is known to exist in only a few copies can have significant monetary value if it is highly sought after by collectors and libraries. To determine how many copies of a book are currently for sale, you can search the Internet using services like abaa.org, addall.com, alibris.com, abebooks.com, or vialibri.com. For information on how many copies are held by libraries, your local librarian can help you access databases such as OCLC’s WorldCat. However, regardless of its scarcity, a book without important text or distinguishing physical characteristics is likely to have little market value.

 

“Building Great Collections; One Fine Book at a Time.”

 BlindHorseBooks.com

 

Member of  
ABAA [American Booksellers Antiquarian Association] 
FABA [Florida Antiquarian Booksellers Association]  
IOBA [International Online Booksellers Association]  
The Ephemera Society of America

 

 

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