Do you have an old or antiquarian book and would like to know its value? You might think it's a rare and valuable book but don't know where to find its value? One very simple method of finding an approximate value of a book is to search for similar copies on AbeBooks.com and see what prices are being asked.
The sellers on AbeBooks.com offer for sale new, used, rare and out-of-print books, and we have millions of used and rare books available for purchase. Well known to book collectors and booklovers, our site is an excellent resource for discovering a rough value of an old book. AbeBooks has been part of the rare book world since going live in 1996.
When searching on AbeBooks, it's important to find copies that match the book in your possession as accurately as possible. Search carefully and avoid spelling mistakes.
Use the search box above - begin by completing the title and author fields.
Look inside the book and identify the book's publisher - complete the publisher field but leave out terms like limited, company or press.
If possible identify the book's date of publication. Complete the date fields - if you have identified the exact year of publication then put the same date into both fields. If you are unsure, you may to wish to search for books between two defined dates - eg 1870 and 1880.
Indicate whether the book is hardcover or softcover.
If the book is a hardcover and has a dust jacket then tick the relevant box.
If the book is signed by the author, tick the relevant box.
If the book was published in 1970 or later, then you could search by the ISBN number alone.
The keyword field is useful if you know the illustrator's name or some other defining aspect like the book's binding (perhaps it's leather or cloth).
The search results will be presented by the lowest price first. Scroll through the listings and read how the booksellers have described the books. Look for a listing that is similar to your book.
Please remember that an old or antique book is not necessary valuable just because it's old. Common books like the works of William Shakespeare, prayer books, bibles and encyclopedias were printed in huge quantities during the Victorian era and usually have little value.
AbeBooks is very useful for finding an approximate value of a book but don't use that value for insurance purposes. If you really need a documented estimate of a book's value (for probate or insurance purposes) then visit your local rare bookshop and pay for a formal appraisal.
Condition is very important and will greatly influence value. A beaten-up old book that is falling apart will have little value.
First editions are sought-after by book collectors and a first edition is usually more valuable than a later printing. A first edition signed by the author will have even greater value.
Scarcity influences value.
For hardcover books published from the 20th century onwards, the presence of a dust jacket and its condition also greatly affect value.
If you are having difficulty understanding some of the terms used by rare booksellers, refer to our glossary, which also includes a guide to used book conditions and book sizes.
0:00 / 0:00
On
Off
Video Companion
How much is my old book worth?
However, to most booksellers and collectors, a “true” first edition is both the first typeset version of the book AND the first printing. If the publisher sells out of the first run and goes back for another printing, that second printing is not considered true first editions, even if the copyright page says it is. An easy way to tell a bookseller is trying to get one over on you is if they try to sell you a later-than-first printing and call it a “first edition.”
To publishers, a first edition is the first version of a book before changes are made (forewords added, afterwords added, typos corrected, whatever requires a new typeset). So, if the publisher prints 5,000 copies of a book, they all sell, and the publisher goes back to print more of the same version of the book? That is a second printing, first edition. The copyright page may even still say “First Edition” on it somewhere.
Like many things in publishing, what denotes a first edition can be complex and dependent on the whims of individual publishing houses. Each company does their first edition identification (if they do any at all) differently, so unless you’ve got a handy-dandy house-by-house guide , the whole concept can make you go a bit cross-eyed. But there are a few very basic rules that can be helpful–and keep in mind these are for the person who has never examined a copyright page and is new to analyzing what editions they have. I’m going to use some books from around my house to illustrate.
So, step one is the most obvious: does it say “First Edition” on the copyright page? Exhibit A, the copyright page of my first edition of The Secret History.
What if there is no “first edition” on the copyright page? Check the title page for a publication date and compare it to the date on the copyright page. Here’s an example from my edition of Cry, the Beloved Country, which is not a first edition but doesn’t indicate that one way or the other on the copyright page:
So if a book has had more than one printing, how can you tell which one you have and therefore whether or not your edition is a “true” first? This one really depends on the publisher. If it’s from a small press, which often run one printing of their books, you’re sometimes safe assuming what you have is a first edition unless otherwise noted.
With many of the larger publishing houses, you’re on the lookout for a string of numbers on the copyright page, as shown in this copy of Heading Out to Wonderful:
The string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. To identify what printing you have, look for the lowest number in the string. In this example, the lowest number is 1, so I have a first edition, first printing. Remember that even if the lowest number is 2, 3, or whatever, if the publisher is still using the original typeset, then the copyright page may still say “First Edition.”
If the copyright page does not say what edition you have but still has that string of numbers, check the date on the page. Look up the original publication date of the book to see if it matches. If the string of numbers has a one in it and the copyright page date matches the publication date, you’ve probably got a first printing of the first edition, though you should check this guide to see what the specific publisher usually does. Here’s an example from my copy of The Help, where the absence of a date other than the copyright date indicates it might be a first edition, but the string of printing numbers tells us that it is not a “true” first edition:
Ready to learn more? Get even more guidance on finding first editions (or valuable!) here.
Are you interested in learning more about how to remove protective plastic film from glass, Scratch Resistant PET Film, how to remove paint protection film from car? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!