Book valuer?

On the weekend I got myself The Allies' Fairy Book, illustrated by Arthur Rackham, from 1916.

For a dollar I think. :D

Looking online, I'm trying to work out what this book is actually worth, and I'm seeing figures from about $180 to $2600! (That's for a signed copy though!).

Who can you take books to to get them valued? I've never really chased up what any of my books are worth, but this one just seems different, iykwim. That, and I have so many old books, I'm thinking I should get them covered by insurance. :rolleyes:

Regardless of what it is worth, the lady I got it from was going to cut it up and glue it into one of those painted picture frame thingys that just collect dust! OMG :o

A good way is to find a second hand/antiquarian book seller (check the yellow pages) and take it in and ask them...it's often based on the condition, which can include the health of the binding, whether the hard cover is "bruised" (ie bumped) around the edges, the colour and condition of the paper & the colour plates (ie clean or age speckles, browned, tears etc), as well as more specialised info such as the number of copies printed in that edition, etc. It's going to be worth a lot more than $1, at any rate!

Nevermind, I googled, and found a book valuer! <smacks head> should have done that before! I just have to drive into Prahran!

Thanks MD, I googled antique book valuer, and this guy seemed to come up a lot.

Yep, I know its based on the condition, and I figure that if I'm going to drive all that way, I may aswell take in some of my others, not that I reckon they'll be worth much, but it'll be fun!

Wow. That's fantastic. Is it a first edition? Totally jealous :) The illustrations would be amazing.

Book antiquity places should be able to help. I've never really looked. It's a dream of mine to be able to gather a collection of old books. I picked up an 189? copy of Longfellow's collected works years ago at a market. It's a bit worm eaten, but still, it's great. I keep it in an old tupperware container to preserve it :redface:

Yep, first edition.

I only know that because someone wrote in the front "To Gertrude at Christmas 1916 with all love"

Then under that "Given to G.G. Clunies. Ross. 1936"

Then under that "Given to Savannah with love :heartbeat: from Mum Easter 95"