How to Find and Identify Collectable Books

The Most Expensive Book Ever

The most expensive book ever sold was John James Audubon’s ‘Birds of America’ – a 400-page book measuring almost four feet by two feet, featuring hundreds of life-sized hand-colored illustrations of the explorer’s newly discovered birds.  The book sold for $10 million at an auction house in 2010, instantly smashing records to become the most expensive published book in America.

Who Wants Your Book?

So what are your chances on scoring such a goldmine?  If you have a book in your possession that you think might be a collectible edition, you will want to do some research on the history of the book.  The biggest factor in knowing if the book you have is going to be worth a lot is to see how many other people want it.  You will find that many collectors and bookstore owners  want some books, and this can drive the market value up.

To begin, type the name and author into eBay or Amazon.com, and see if you can find a copy for sale elsewhere.  This will give you an immediate idea on the price you’ll be able to ask for the book.

Older Isn’t Always Better

However, a book that you might think is valuable simple because it is incredibly old really isn’t worth that much.  Many things factor into the book being a collectible antique, and the age is only a small part of that.  You also have to consider the condition of the book, whether it is a first edition, if the author signed the book, how famous the author is, and if there is anything that makes it truly special or unique. 

Damaged Editions

If the book has missing pages, this is obviously going to lower the value.  Torn covers will drop the value of the book as well, including markings or notes in the margin.  Library stamps can also affect the value, unless the stamp is especially old or historically significant.  Even if it is in high demand, you will find that it won’t be worth as much as you had hoped if it is in less than perfect condition.

Learn About the Author

The best way to learn if you have a rare book that is a collectible is to learn as much as you can about the history of the author.  You might even find that you enjoy learning about them so much that you start collecting all of their books. 

Searching for rare books is a great hobby, and you can make some excellent finds, even if you don’t find a book that is worth a fortune.