If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Pricing Ex-Library Books
Hello,
Is there a generally agreed upon rule-of-thumb for discounting the value of books for resale when they are, physical condition aside, library discards? I'm talking specifically about ex-library books that are clearly so on inspection, having visible stamps, taped jackets, glued pockets, etc., and which will be sold more for everyday use than serious collecting. I've perused this newsgroup's FAQ and googled for its past threads on ex-library books' values but haven't seen any clear guideline for pricing them beyond the general statement that they are worth much less than their privately owned brethren. Well, there was one post that mentioned a library copy of a 1st edition of Stephenson's _Snow Crash_ selling for only a quarter of the value of an "untainted" one, but that is more a serious collector's book and I'd want many more anecdotal evidence before concluding that having been in a library reduces most books' resale value by 75%. TIA. -- Ht |Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. --John Donne, "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions"| |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
HT Wrote
Is there a generally agreed upon rule-of-thumb for discounting the value of books for resale when they are, physical condition aside, library discards? I'm talking specifically about ex-library books that are clearly so on inspection, having visible stamps, taped jackets, glued pockets, etc., and which will be sold more for everyday use than serious collecting. ............ Personally, I would say it depends whether it is fiction or non-fiction. With fiction, scarcity comes into play so a very scarce ex-lib First Edition might still be worth about 30% of the price of a nice copy otherwise I would say ex-library fiction titles are virtually worthless. As regards, non-fiction it really depends on the subject matter with good books which are useful research material ie on Antiques etc then you might get about 30 - 40% because are really just after the content rather than the condition or a First Edition. well thats my two pennyworth anyway Stan, Giltedge Books (now in Spain) |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Htn963 wrote:
Hello, Is there a generally agreed upon rule-of-thumb for discounting the value of books for resale when they are, physical condition aside, library discards? I'm talking specifically about ex-library books that are clearly so on inspection, having visible stamps, taped jackets, glued pockets, etc., and which will be sold more for everyday use than serious collecting. Discounting? Some of my early books on computers are from the corporate libraries where the work was done. Isn't a book from the "Remmington Rand UNIVAC Library" a more interesting book than an unmarked book? If I were to sell such a book, I'd want more, not less! btw, I do consider my collection "serious" (I read, I do not collect books as rocks). dick w |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Ok, thanks everyone. The guidelines are much clearer now.
-- Ht |Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. --John Donne, "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions"| |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Oooh, but how about that $7 copy of Goodwin's last Rick Brant?
"Kris Baker" wrote in message . .. "Htn963" wrote in message ... Hello, Is there a generally agreed upon rule-of-thumb for discounting the value of books for resale when they are, physical condition aside, library discards? I'm talking specifically about ex-library books that are clearly so on inspection, having visible stamps, taped jackets, glued pockets, etc., and which will be sold more for everyday use than serious collecting. Besides what others have said: it also depends on the availability of the book and how far people will go to get a copy. I'm familiar with childrens' books, and know that some classic (1950s-1970s) books never had large printings and are hard to find in any state. My own experience was with a "reader" copy of The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher. My copy had torn pages, old yellowed tape repairs, fraying to the boards, no dust jacket, etc .... and sold on eBay for $301.99 (60%-$80 of the booksellers' prices on ABE at that time for a much cleaner copy). Because I do sell vintage children's books and texts, I've found that ex-libris doesn't degrade the value as much as some say. But it would have to be a very rare book of another genre before I'd bother with it. Kris |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I price them just like any other reading copy, then subtract anywhere from
$1 to one-half the reading-copy price. In general they are only useful as reading copies, the only exceptions would be if they are especially rare and budget collectors will buy them rather than the more expensive ones. I once bought a vintage travel book on Japan at an estate auction (forgot the title, but it was early 1930s) that was ex lib and in terrible condition. BUT, it commonly sold for several hundred dollars. So, with nothing to lose really, I priced it around 20 or 30 and it sold. But barring those kind of exceptions, I would have to agree with almost everybody else's advice. They're generally without value to collectors except as reading copies, and I price them as such; probably around $1 or $2 for most of them. Just keep a sharp eye out for that tiny handfull that might still have some resale value to collectors. As a collector I dont buy them, but as a bookseller I will take them if the price is reasonable and I think I can make a profit. For most of us reading copies are the bread and butter that make life possible, while the collectable and rare books make that life worth living. --Mark. "Htn963" wrote in message ... Hello, Is there a generally agreed upon rule-of-thumb for discounting the value of books for resale when they are, physical condition aside, library discards? I'm talking specifically about ex-library books that are clearly so on inspection, having visible stamps, taped jackets, glued pockets, etc., and which will be sold more for everyday use than serious collecting. I've perused this newsgroup's FAQ and googled for its past threads on ex-library books' values but haven't seen any clear guideline for pricing them beyond the general statement that they are worth much less than their privately owned brethren. Well, there was one post that mentioned a library copy of a 1st edition of Stephenson's _Snow Crash_ selling for only a quarter of the value of an "untainted" one, but that is more a serious collector's book and I'd want many more anecdotal evidence before concluding that having been in a library reduces most books' resale value by 75%. TIA. -- Ht |Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. --John Donne, "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions"| |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Giltedge04 wrote:
HT Wrote Is there a generally agreed upon rule-of-thumb for discounting the value of books for resale when they are, physical condition aside, library discards? I'm talking specifically about ex-library books that are clearly so on inspection, having visible stamps, taped jackets, glued pockets, etc., and which will be sold more for everyday use than serious collecting. ........... Personally, I would say it depends whether it is fiction or non-fiction. With fiction, scarcity comes into play so a very scarce ex-lib First Edition might still be worth about 30% of the price of a nice copy otherwise I would say ex-library fiction titles are virtually worthless. As regards, non-fiction it really depends on the subject matter with good books which are useful research material ie on Antiques etc then you might get about 30 - 40% because are really just after the content rather than the condition or a First Edition. well thats my two pennyworth anyway Stan, Giltedge Books (now in Spain) Is that true despite the condition of the book? For instance, today I picked up at a tag sale a nearly pristine copy of "The Hunt for Red October". It was a library book, but there is no library card holder (nor was there ever one) and the library stamping is really minimal. If the library treats the book with respect, and the readers also do, the condition of the book is not much different from that of an otherwise fine book with a gift inscription on the ffep. Should such a book suffer a major devaluation? Francis A. Miniter |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
On Sat, 12 Jul 2003 19:15:42 -0400, "Francis A. Miniter"
declared: Giltedge04 wrote: HT Wrote Is there a generally agreed upon rule-of-thumb for discounting the value of books for resale when they are, physical condition aside, library discards? I'm talking specifically about ex-library books that are clearly so on inspection, having visible stamps, taped jackets, glued pockets, etc., and which will be sold more for everyday use than serious collecting. ........... Personally, I would say it depends whether it is fiction or non-fiction. With fiction, scarcity comes into play so a very scarce ex-lib First Edition might still be worth about 30% of the price of a nice copy otherwise I would say ex-library fiction titles are virtually worthless. As regards, non-fiction it really depends on the subject matter with good books which are useful research material ie on Antiques etc then you might get about 30 - 40% because are really just after the content rather than the condition or a First Edition. well thats my two pennyworth anyway Stan, Giltedge Books (now in Spain) Is that true despite the condition of the book? For instance, today I picked up at a tag sale a nearly pristine copy of "The Hunt for Red October". It was a library book, but there is no library card holder (nor was there ever one) and the library stamping is really minimal. If the library treats the book with respect, and the readers also do, the condition of the book is not much different from that of an otherwise fine book with a gift inscription on the ffep. Should such a book suffer a major devaluation? i assume it wasn't a first ed of the book? even an ex-lib of that would be worth some money. a later printing isn't all that uncommon. robert "there must be one night in your life that you will remember forever. The must be one night for everyone. And if you know that the night is coming on and that this night will be that particular night, then take it and don't question it and don't talk about it to anyone ever after that. For if you let it pass it might not come again. Many have let it pass, many have seen it go by and have never seen another like it, when all the circumstances of weather, light, moon and time, of night hill and warm grass and train and town and distance were balanced upon the trembling of a finger." |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
FA: Set of 10 Thornton W. Burgess Cubby Bear Books (1927) | Jerry | General | 0 | May 15th 04 04:42 PM |
Comic Books and SF Magazines on eBay | CHANGE DOMAIN TO DJA D0T MAILME D0T ORG TO EMAIL | General | 0 | January 16th 04 11:38 PM |
FA: Comic Books and SF Magazines (Several Lots) | CHANGE DOMAIN TO DJA D0T MAILME D0T ORG TO EMAIL | General | 0 | January 14th 04 03:59 AM |
Book signing information | Ted Kupczyk | Autographs | 6 | November 2nd 03 03:04 PM |
UPCOMING BOOK SIGNINGS | Todd F. | Autographs | 5 | August 4th 03 06:54 AM |