My
Old Book - A Brief Guide to Evaluating and Describing Old and Rare Books
People often have questions about their old and (possibly) rare
books. Is my book rare and valuable, or
just old? If it is valuable, what makes
it valuable? How can I determine the
condition of my book? These are
common-apparently simple-questions that often have complex answers. While the State Library does not offer
appraisal services we can help you find the resources to guide you!
This
brief guide is designed to help you evaluate and describe old and rare books.
A great place to start is Rare Books for Beginners. This web resource provides information about
what makes a book rare, how to care for and properly store such books, and,
advice on the purchase and sale of rare books.