Antique book values prove that age is just a number
In the world of collectible antique books, “old” means OLD.
To the surprise of many antique book collectors who are just getting started, 19th century books and post Victorian (circa 1901) books are generally not regarded as being very old.
During the 19th century, many copies of books were produced, compared to the laborious process of book publishing in earlier centuries. Many serious and experienced antiquarian book collectors are focused on tracking down works from the 16th century and earlier.
As most antique collectors and aficionados are aware, items are typically considered to be “antiques” if they are aged 100 years or older. In the antique book world, the book’s age is very rarely the first priority when choosing a piece for one’s library.
Age vs. value in antique books
We often chat with customers, family and friends who assume that their older 20th century books at home have a lot of value. Of course such books do have some age and value, but they’re not considered true antiquarian books and thus do not command the high values that unusual (and much older) books can.
The bottom line: Just because a book is old in terms of age does not mean it has great value.
Baffling as it can seem at times, many modern first editions command very high prices at auction while some older books – even as old as the 18th century often sell for comparatively little money.
A book’s age is part of its value, but it is only one factor among many that truly determine how much an antique book is worth.
Other aspects that must be taken into consideration are the book’s rarity (how many copies of it still exist out there?), its importance (is it a highly collected and sought after classic or subject matter?), and very importantly, the condition of the book.
Are vintage books valuable?
“Vintage” is another term often associated with books, and these are typically considered books more than 50 years old but less than 100. “Vintage books” tends to apply to collectibles, comics and mid-century volumes prized for their nostalgic value.
There is most definitely a market for collectible vintage books, depending on what they are.
In Conclusion
Just remember – when you’re trying to put a value on an old book, a great starting place is definitely the book’s age – but keep in mind that age is only the tip of the iceberg.
