Antique books speak from the past. They were once held in the hands of people who read by candlelight, savored every word of Keats and Shelley and inscribed their books lovingly with long graceful script. Antique books speak of the history of ordinary people as well as known figures of the past. The original ownership of the book is as important as the book itself.
Niche Book Collections
Some collectors purchase every book or document they can find in a certain niche or by a certain writer. A fragment of a note signed by Charles Dickens could easily turn into a lifelong pursuit of his original manuscripts, letters, documents and first editions. It is also an expensive endeavor.
New collectors may want to start with a more generalized niche. Antique or vintage gardening books are great examples of a general niche. While some sell for a hundreds of dollars, it's still possible to find good antique or vintage gardening books at yard sales, church bazaars, books sales and auctions. This also holds true for cook books, children's books and even old Bibles.
Finding a niche depends on the collector's interests and it's usually a collection built by accident rather than a deliberate search. It only takes one book to please its owner and more fall into his lap.
Beautiful Antique Books
Antique leather-bound books with gilt decorations on the spine are also popular collections. While they are beautiful to look at, it's also important that these books have some value based on their content and author. Not every antique leather-bound book has value and it can be a poor investment without a little research.
Those that do have value may be written by historical figures, signed by the author, were first editions, printed by a famous printer or any number of other reasons.
Collecting First Editions and Signed First Editions
First Editions of vintage books by well-known authors may have great value. The title page usually indicates the date it was "First Published," or it might say "First Edition." Research will tell the purchaser if the publisher of the book was the original publisher. Book Club editions have little value, unless it's signed by the author which is a rare occurrence.
Sales and Values of Vintage and Antique Books
In 2008 a first edition of Grimms Fairy Tales sold for just over $11,000. An unsigned first edition of Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis sold for just under $8,000 and Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four sold for just under $7000.
A 1623 first edition of Shakespeare's works sold for $6 million.
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft purchased a collection of Leonardo Da Vinci Manuscripts for $30 million. That was in the 1980s and the value of that collection has greatly increased.
Early Bible Values
A book titled Biblia Latina Printed, written by Johannes Herbort de Seligenstadt in 1484 sold for nearly $11,000. This is a very special bible in that is was the first book based on the original of the Hebrew and Greek biblical writings.
In the 1980s, one volume of the Gutenberg Bible sold for over $5 million.
While these books are rare finds, people do come across similar books every day and in the unlikeliest of places. And whether the book is purchased as an investment or kept and enjoyed, it is a joy to hold in one's hand.
Please read How the Remove the Musty Odor from Antique Books to learn one aspect of caring for antique books. .
References
- Abe Books
- Rare Book Review
Lorraine Syratt - Lorraine Syratt is a freelance writer, gardener and part-time antique dealer. Please see her full profile for more information.
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