How to Buy Rare Books

From LoveToKnow Buy

Looking to put some classic editions on your bookshelves? Do you love the smell, the touch and the feel of classic books? If you are seriously considering purchasing rare books, there are many things you should be aware of. Consider the advice below before pulling out your wallet for that dusty first-edition print of Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.”

How to Buy Rare Books

Tips on buying rare books
  1. First thing you should know is where to go! DEFINITELY consult your local library. Call and ask when they’re having a sale. Most libraries have sales a few times a year of old books in their collection they’re replacing or getting rid of. When libraries have these sales, most of what they put on the table for sale is VERY cheap. Many times they’ll simply give away stock, too. You should also try flea markets, and garage and estate sales for rare books.
  2. If you find books at library or estate sales that are in fairly good condition with pre or ealry1900s printing dates, you will be able to get up to 10 times more than what you pay for it.
  3. To price the rare books you acquire, consult rare book dealers online or in person. Check out the most recent rare book-pricing guides you can find to look up the worth of the title you have in your possession.
  4. Know that a first edition does not equal a first printing. For instance, the Modern Library offers first editions of many classics, but the Modern Library is a publisher that reprints books, meaning if you have a first edition of a book from the Modern Library, it doesn’t mean it’s the first actual edition of the title.
  5. Like great works of art, many times books are worth a lot because of the death and legacy of its author. A first edition of John Kennedy Toole’s classic “A Confederacy of Dunces” is going to be a very expensive rare book. Why? Because of the circumstances surrounding the author’s life and death. Toole wrote the book, put it away, and committed suicide in 1969. Many years later his mother took the book to Walker Percy, who found a publisher for it in 1980. The book went on to win a Pulitzer Prize and is now regarded as an American classic.
  6. If you come across a rare book with an author autograph, prepare to pay a lot for it. You will most likely encounter this situation when looking to buy from another rare book collector.
  7. Unsure of whether or not you’re being taken for a ride on a rare book price? Unsure as to whether or not the book you’re holding is rare and worth something? Consult a legitimate, reputable dealer for information on the title.
  8. If you are very serious about collecting rare books, check with the universities and colleges in your area to see if any offer courses in rare books.

Where to buy rare books

These Web sites are recommended for further research on rare books, as well as making purchases:

Abebooks A terrific spot to shop for rare and collectible books, this site also allows visitors to sell books of their own!

Alibris You can search for new, used, rare, and collectible books at this book lover’s website. They have over 40 million new, used, and out-of-print books!

Bibliofind Amazon’s Bibliofind’s search tool will help you comb through Amazon’s massive selection of out-of-print and rare books for sale.


 


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