Condition, Not Its Age, May Decide Book's Value

August 2, 1986|By Anita Gold, Chicago Tribune

Although most folks believe a book bearing an old date is valuable, the truth is that age doesn't determine the value of a book, unless it was printed before 1501. The value of a book mainly depends on its contents, edition, condition (which is most important) and its desirability.

Most folks who have an accumulation of old books gathering dust in the attic have no way of knowing which are desirable. One must realize the distinction between a rare book and a used example.

Rare book dealers are mostly interested in books that are desired by historians or collectors.

Many used books have value, but to a much lesser degree than books considered to be rare.

To get an idea of the value of books, one can invest in book price guides or publications that list various books and their worth.

Some book-related price guides are listed and described in Number Eleven, Special Issue of Collectrix -- Books on Antiques and Collectibles, available for $5 postpaid from Collectrix, 146 Front St., Hempstead, N.Y. 11550, or phone Collectrix publisher Alida Roochvarg at (516) 538-3388 for information. American Trade Catalogs, by Don Fredgant, available for $8.95 postpaid from Collector Books, P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, Ky. 42001, lists and describes collectible trade catalogs.

If you have old books you'd like to dispose of, you will find 400 book dealers' addresses and the types of books they buy in Who Will Buy Your Used Books? available for $3 postpaid from Book Lover, 20 W. Market St., York, Pa. 17401.

You also can send for a copy of Cash for Your Undiscovered Treasures, by Dr. H.A. Hyman, which lists nearly 1,500 collectors. It is available for $22.95 postpaid from Treasure Hunt Publications, P.O. Box 1710, Temple City, Calif. 91780. Phone (818) 285-5905.

Collector Phyllis Tholin buys and sells books on 19th century American women who were involved in reform movements, religion or the arts. She wants to buy any copies of Hilda's Home: A Story of a Woman's Emancipation, by Rosa Graal, published in 1899, and An Anarchist Woman, by Hutchins Hapgood, published in 1909.

If you have such books or any other examples write Phyllis Tholin Books, 824 Ridge Terrace, Evanston, Ill. 60201, or phone (312) 475-1174. (Her shop operates by mail or appointment only.)

Collectors of boys' and girls' series books, such as the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, may want to join the Series Book Collector's Society by writing its president, Jack Brahce, 5270 Moceri Lane, Grand Blanc, Mich. 48439, enclosing $7 for a year's membership, which includes a newsletter.

You'll also find information relating to such books and non-series juvenile titles in Yellowback Library, a bimonthly publication available for $10 per year or $2 for a sample copy from Yellowback Press, 811 Boulder Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50315; or phone its editor, Gil O'Gara, at (515) 280-6756.

A buyer of Nancy Drew and Judy Bolton books to whom you can write is Ellen L. Brouwers, Rural Route 2, Box 5B, Manteno, Ill. 60950.

One serious Nancy Drew series collector is David Farah, 5295 Moceri Lane, Grand Blanc, Mich. 48439, whose Farah's Guide -- The Bibliography of Nancy Drew Mystery Stories is available for $27 postpaid. It lists and describes in chronological order more than 2,100 individual printings of Nancy Drew books produced between 1930 and 1965 and tells how to date and distinguish between rare first printings and common later ones. Farah also buys and sells such books.

A collector who wants to obtain a complete set of Bobbsey Twins series books published in the 1930s is Mildred Weismann, 511 N. Broadway St., Park Ridge, Ill. 60068.

Dark Shadows gothic novels by Marilyn Ross are sought by Gwen Sonnier, 1323 Witte Road, No. 217, Houston, Texas 77055.

If you want to check out the value of or sell old books on gambling, write GBC, 630 S. 11th St., Las Vegas, Nev. 89101. Enclose a photocopy of the book's cover, indicate whether its hardbound or paperback and include its edition, year published and condition along with an addressed, stamped envelope for a reply or free catalog. Or phone the GBC at (800) 634-6243.

A firm that deals in out-of-print and collectible books relating to hunting, fishing and decoys and that offers a catalogue of such books for $1 is The Gamebag, P.O. Box 1020, Mundelein, Ill. 60060; or phone Carol Skerrett at (312) 362-6562.

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