Guide to Antique Book Condition

Condition And Book Value

• Just because your book is old, that doesn't mean you have anything of value. As with any other type of collectible, whether it is an old coin, comic book or stamp, the condition of an antique book has a direct impact on the value of the book. When placing a value on a book, collectors not only look at age and the rarity of the volume, but the condition. Book grading is something taken very seriously by those who routinely purchase antique books. Before you place your book on the market, examine it with a stringent grading system that could transform your old book into an antique.

Grading System

• If you have ever tried to sell an old coin, stamp or comic book, you are familiar with a grading system. Books that look new or have the appearance of being nearly new have the highest value. These books are termed, by most collectors, as "very fine."

  A very fine book has few flaws, no warping, bumped corners, flaws on the interior pages, and, if the book was printed in the early part of the 20th century or beyond, should have the dust jacket intact. Ideally, the book should not have been read at all. You can make the analogy of a toy that has never been removed from the box.

  A "fine" book is in excellent condition, but with some slight wear. This book might have been read once or twice but has been handled carefully, with no stains, or tears.

  "Very good" is the next classification and is the most common, especially in older books. In this type of book, you might see more than a few flaws such as bumped corners or a slanted spine, creasing, rubbing, maybe even the owner's signature on the inside cover or a message from a loved one.

  "Good' is the lowest collectible grade. A book of this grade might have significant damage to the spine, missing pages, ripped dust jacket, any number of flaws. If you find this type of book, the value is based on the memory or in the reading but should not be considered a collectible.

  Consult any number of price guides, including Antique Trader Book Collector Price Guide, to get an idea of what your particular book is worth.

Where to Sell Book

• Just because that book you discovered in the attic or in that garage sale might be rated as "very fine," that still doesn't mean you'll have an easy time getting the value of the book or finding a buyer. You do have several options on where to sell your book. You can put the book up for auction, whether on a vehicle, such as eBay or from a local auction house. You can also go to an antique book store, online seller, or individual collector. In many cases, be warned, you will be given an offer much less than the stated value of the book. Antique books are difficult to sell and a collector wants to make as much profit as possible. Of course, in all of these options, you can choose the price you are willing to sell and, in many cases, your best move might be to keep the book as part of your own collection.