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What is the “Stranger Things” Grandfather Clock?
The ominous, echoing toll of an antique grandfather clock is the theme of the newest installment of Netflix’s megahit sci-fi series "Stranger Things". The grandfather clock was first seen in the...
Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”, 1926 First Edition (Sold for $12,000)
This first edition Hemingway sold at auction for $12,000 in October, 2021 Ernest Hemingway's debut novel, published by Charles Scribner's Sons, had a print run of just 5,090 copies, making this...
Research Prices & History with WorthPoint’s Price Guide
Knowledge is power when it comes to collecting or selling online. Most antique aficionados and resellers start their research on an item using a simple Google search which turns up a few paid...
1875 Werner Nile Sketches Folio (Sold for $1,200)
This copy of Werner Nile Sketches sold auction for $1,200 in January, 2021 Beautiful folio published in 1875, Carl Werner's Nile Sketches. Includes a lithographed map, 24 chromolithographed plates,...
Works of Shakespeare with Double Fore-Edge Paintings (Sold for $1,800)
This copy of William Shakespeare's works sold auction for $1,800 in January, 2021 "Shakespear Comprising his Dramatic and Poetical Works, Complete: Accurately Printed from the Text of the Corrected...
Bell’s Edition: The Poets of Great Britain Collection (Sold for $1,000)
This collection sold at auction for $1,000 in January, 2021 "The Poets of Great Britain, Complete from Chaucer to Churchill". Edinburgh: At the Apollo Press, by the Martin Brothers for (London) John...
Guide to Book Condition: How Condition Affects a Book’s Value
It's (almost) all about condition. As with all items in the world of antiques, the condition of an old or antique book greatly determines how valuable it is. When antiquarian book collectors choose...
Rare 1950’s Oversize Marilyn Monroe Photographs, Signed by Photographer (Sold for $4,000)
This collection of Marilyn Monroe photos sold at auction for $4,000 in August, 2020 We were proud to represent this collection, offered in conjunction with Marilyn Monroe's 94th birthday. A...
1957 John F. Kennedy Signed & Inscribed “Profiles in Courage” (Sold for $3,300)
This JFK signed book sold at auction for $3,300 in July, 2017 This signed book, a 1957 edition of John F. Kennedy's American classic, "Profiles in Courage" was sold at auction in July, 2017 for...
Best Way to Effortlessly Auction Rare Books in Phoenix? Try Our Virtual Auction House
As a family-run small business, we love being able to help our community deal with items that they’re ready to sell for one reason or another. Our family has had experience in the local Phoenix antique business for over 40 years.
1630 Embroidered Dos-A-Dos Binding, Book of Psalms (Sold for $1,979)
This antique embroidered book sold at auction for $1,979 in May, 2015 In bookbinding, a dos-à-dos binding (from the French term meaning "back-to-back") is a binding structure in which two separate...
How to Consolidate a Book Collection: Quarantine Spring Cleaning Tips
Some of the most common items discovered in home-bound treasure hunts tend to be books. Some may be valuable books, most probably are not.
Lost on Titanic: The Legendary Jeweled Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Somewhere, on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, lies one of the most desirable rare books in the world.
Antique Gambling Books & Card Cheating
Gambling has been part of America's history from the nation’s infancy, going all the way back to colonial times. Even before the first European settlers arrived in North America, native tribes had...
Bound to Please: Book Collecting and Fine Bindings
People collect books for so many different reasons; some focus on a particular subject, others collect an entire literary genre; others covet only the earliest of works or...
WWII RMS Queen Mary Charts & Ship’s Documents (Sold for $1,200)
These rare ocean liner documents sold at auction for $1,200 in February, 2020 "The Grey Ghost" at War: Ship's Records at Auction Now at auction, a treasure trove of data on the ship's...
The #1 Reason Why Many Antique Book Collectors Sell Their Libraries, and How to Sell Yours
"My wife wants her living room back." It might sound funny, but you’d laugh at the overwhelming number of clients we’ve talked to who have decided to auction their antique book collections because,...
1923 Signed by Harry Houdini, Elliott’s Last Legacy Card Tricks (Sold for $880)
This signed Harry Houdini book sold at auction for $880 in November, 2019 We sold this first edition (1923) copy of "Elliott's Last Legacy Card Tricks: Secrets of the King of All Kard Kings", signed...
1930’s Golden Age Hollywood Movie Star Autograph Book (Sold for $2,499)
This autograph book sold at auction for $2,499 in October, 2019 If the pages of this vintage autograph book could talk, they might describe what they witnessed over 80 years ago in Hollywood....
This Month’s Featured Auctions: June, 2019
Featured Antique Book Auctions Each month, we highlight our featured rare and antique book and ephemera auctions, highlighting certain items of interest to collectors. Check out our current auction...
1899 Writings of Mark Twain Author’s Edition Set, Signed Samuel Clemens (Sold for $4,161)
This signed set of Mark Twain books sold at auction for $4,161 in April, 2019 Double-Signed 25 Volume Set, "The Writings of Mark Twain" (1899) We sold this 1899 Deluxe Limited Edition 25-volume set...
How to Identify a First Edition Book – It’s Not So Easy!
Why are first edition books valuable? Often, determining the value of antique books or modern collectible books requires knowing whether the book is a first edition. A first edition is considered to...
Is My Old Bible Worth Money? A Guide to Antique Bibles (Updated 2020)
Tips on finding the value of antique Bibles "How much is my old Bible worth?" We get this question a lot about antique Bibles, and though the answer isn’t in black and white, the bottom line is that...
Estate Liquidation & Downsizing: The 2020 Guide for Evaluating Books or Home Libraries
How to Handle Book Collections or Home Libraries Say you’ve walked into an estate liquidation situation, ready to evaluate and catalog the properties when you come upon a collection of old books -...
Rare Handwritten Gambling Routine Manuscripts of Ed Marlo (Sold for $8,000)
These rare magic manuscripts sold at auction for $8,000 in March, 2019 h2>It’s pretty amazing when your hobby and your business get to mingle. Last year, I had just such an experience mixing...