Whether you have grand old hardcover books or first edition classics, it is important to know their value so that you can both correctly insure them or sell them. Old books can be very valuable, if in a good condition. If you wonder, ‘what to do with your old books’ or ‘where can I sell my books?‘, Bookscouter has the answer.
- What Old Books Are Worth Money?
- How Do I Find The Value Of Old Books?
- Where Can I Sell My Old Books?
What Old Books Are Worth Money?
Not all books are worth a lot, book buyback pricing has a lot of nuances, and the best way to check if your old books are worth money is to see how many similar copies are currently on the market. When looking at old book values, there are a few factors to consider. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Like for Like Comparison
Firstly, when comparing your book with other used book prices online, it is important to ensure that it is a like-for-like comparison to get the best idea of a possible price. At first glance, the copies may be similar; however, look closely at the edition number, the book’s condition, dust covers and reprints. A difference in any of these can impact its worth.
2. Book Condition
Whether a book is in a good condition or not is one of the most telling factors in determining its value. If the book you intend to sell is significantly damaged, its value will be significantly reduced, even in the rarest of books. See how to judge the book condition and how to clean used books.
3. Dust Covers
In general, the majority of hardback books that have been published in the last 100 years originally included a dust cover. This cover is not only to protect the book but also to decorate it with a beautiful illustration or design. The dust cover will also need to be in good condition to get the highest price for a book; without it, the value of your book may plummet as much as 50%.
4. Reprints
Your book may be a reprint, and you might not know it. Many publishers often reprint popular books in more affordable editions to make them accessible for the mass market. These publishers often use the original printing plates, so they can be difficult to spot. However, one great way to tell is to compare the name of the publisher on the spine of the book to the title page. If these are different, then your book will be a reprint.
5. Later Editions
Even if your book has the first words ‘first edition’ on the front cover, it does not guarantee that it is first published in the first batch of books. This is because publishing companies each use their own system to mark first editions. It is not uncommon for mistakes to happen, and the words’ first edition’ are not removed from the printing history as other editions are published. Additionally, book club editions also use original printing plates from the publisher, meaning that the words’ first edition’ will also be printed again.
Therefore, the only way to truly identify the first edition is through the number line. There are guides that can help you work out if your first edition is real. See the comprehensive guide on how to tell if a book is a first edition from BookScouter.
6. Is Your Book In Demand?
One of the factors that impact old book prices is the demand for such books. If you find too many copies of the one that you are intending to sell online, then that may signal that the market is saturated, meaning that it will be more difficult to make a sale. You may also find that cost of your book will decrease if there is no demand for it.
If you cannot see any books online that match the book that you have, it may be worth taking it for an old book appraisal, where an expert will establish its value.
How Do I Find The Value Of Old Books?
To help find the value of your old books, there are many price comparison websites that can help. Bookscouter is a great option, as all the information that you need can be accessed easily. Using the search box on the website, add in the title and author of the book.
It is also recommended that you check the inside cover of the book, in order to identify who published the edition that you have. Add the publisher name into your search but ensure that you leave out labels such as limited or company as these can change often.
You may also be asked for your book’s publication date, as this will help determine the edition and how rare it is. If you have a rough idea of when it was published, you can add a date range such as 1910-1920, or you can enter the exact year of publication if you know this. Check out the article on where to sell antique and rare books from BookScouter.
Additionally, you will need to enter any details on what the book looks like – whether it is a hardback or softback, if it has a dust jacket and the condition it is in or if it is a signed edition. If the book is newer and published after 1970, it will also have an ISBN number that can be entered that will help confirm the details.
You will then be presented with a number of used book values for similar books and will be able to compare their details and listings with your own. Look for the one that is most similar to your edition and read the description of their condition to check that these match also. This will give you a good estimated price for your book to help give you an idea of how much that you could sell it for. If you are looking to insure a book, however, you will need a more accurate estimation. To get this, it is important that you visit an expert for a formal appraisal. Most rare book shops will be able to do this for you.
Where Can I Sell My Old Books?
If you are looking to find who buys old books, Bookscouter can also help with this.
Instead of simply searching ‘sell old books near me’, choose a company with a great reputation. On Bookscouter, you can search for the book that you are looking to sell. You will then be presented with offers for your product. So why not try it out today? See how much you can make.
