MY BOOKS ARE.... from 1700 to 1799

 

Prior to about 1800, books were printed in smaller numbers.  The printing methods were slower, and the materials used (such as rag paper) were more expensive.

 

Therefore, books printed between 1700 and 1799 are more uncommon.  To some degree, nearly all of them will be rare.  Of course, "rare" is a relative term.  However, if you are hunting for reasonably valuable books in an 18th century collection, then this would be a "target rich" environment.

18th century books do require a bit more expertise to evaluate.  They are often printed in a variety of languages. Nearly all of them would be books that would be worth having us evaluate.  That does not mean they will all be valuable.  There are plenty of $50 books from the 18th century, for example.

 

When submitting books from this period, it is always best to send photos rather than creating lists.  Send one photo of the title-page, and one photo of the binding.  If the book is multiple volumes, indicate the number of volumes present.

What types of 18th c. books tend to be less valuable?

With 18th c. books, there are typically a few issues that will hurt or eliminate value.  As always, there are exceptions, but here are some of the common types of books and issues that cause an 18th c. to be of less value, or no value:

 

1:  Incomplete sets or incomplete books.  It is not uncommon to find single volumes from larger works.  The title-page will typically indicate if the book you are holding is one volume out of a larger set.  For example, if you have a book that has "Tome Second" printed on the title-page, then you have the 2nd volume out of  a larger work.  Odd volumes like this are typically not worth very much to the collector, though they may have some meager value.  The other common problem for these books is that they may be lacking a text-page or an illustration.  The leaves may have been removed, or the binder may never have bound them in.  A missing leaf can turn a $1,000 book into a $100 book;  or, it can turn a $100 book into a worthless book.

 

2:  Modern, utilitarian bindings.  Often, we will see books that have been rebound in either an amateur binding or a library cloth binding.  This will always impact value.  If you have a book that would normally be worth $300, bound in library cloth it might fetch $50, for example. The more original and well-preserved the book is, the more value it will have to the collector.

 

3:  Various issues with condition.  Let's say the book is complete, but it has water-stains, the spine is chipped, the boards are detached, a rat has chewed the binding, the paper is heavily toned... these things are somewhat common but are important to value.  This is why photos should always be submitted.  Condition plays a major part in a book's value.

 

4:  Common subjects.  The more  common the subject, the less valuable the book.  For example, Biblical commentaries and theological works were among the most widely printed types of books.  Another example would be law books - many were printed.  These types of books tend to be lower on the value-scale ($100 to $200);  however, there are plenty of exceptions, so it is important to have us evaluate them regardless.

 

 

 

If your book was printed prior to 1800, then it is always advised to submit it for evaluation.  Simply email webuyoldbooks@hotmail.com with a photo of the title-page and the binding, and indicate in your email the number of volumes present (if more than one.)