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How to Determine the Value of a Book

Determining the value of a book is not as difficult as it may seem. It's very similar to trying to find the value of a piece of art. You can't really set a price until you know what a buyer would be willing to pay. There are, however, a lot more sources for determining book values than there are for art work . Several things must be considered when trying to place a value on a book. The condition, the year it was published and the popularity of the author are only the beginning.

Instructions

- 1
  Note the title of the book, the author's name and the illustrator's name if there is one. This information will be found in the title pages. Also note whether or not the book is signed by the author. The author's signature could potentially add quite a bit of monetary value.On the other hand, the previous owner's name written in the title pages will take away from the value of the book unless it belonged to a famous person.
- 2
  Check the publisher's name and the copyright date. See if the volume is a first edition or a later printing, and note the number of pages. Also include the ISBN number if there is one. If the book was published before the late 1960s, it will not have an ISBN number..
- 3
  Make notes on the condition of the book, the color and type of binding, whether soft cover or hardback. Many people only collect hardback books. See if your book has its original dust jacket, the paper cover that protects the binding. A dust jacket in good condition will add value. Also note whether or not the volume is a book club edition. This is indicated by the letters "BCE." Book club editions used to be undesirable, but that has changed now.
- 4
  Visit libraries and use the reference books and other guides that are available on buying and selling books. There should be several that give approximate values or the price for which your book was recently sold.
- 5
  Go to Internet sites such as Amazon, Biblio and Barnes and Noble, and find listings for your book. Compare your volume with those that the booksellers are offering. Yours may be in better or worse condition. Also check the prices at independent brick-and-mortar bookshops in your area. Some dealers specialize in hard-to-find books, and your collection may include a hidden treasure. In addition, almost all public libraries have occasional book sales. Your goal, of course, is to see how much you would have to pay for an identical book to determine your selling price.

Other Collecting