What Book & Manuscript Collectors Should Look For

By Anne Gilbert

A book or manuscript collection can be started with a modest investment. However, you may be surprised to learn that age doesn't necessarily make a book valuable.

Consider the November 2006, Skinner book auction. The Meditations of St. Augustine written in 1545 with the first 12 pages in manuscript facsimile sold for $470. Yet, a 20th century book, a first edition of Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, circa 1900, went for a whopping $4,993.75.

What makes one book or manuscript more valuable than another? According to rare book dealers, the book or manuscript should be both scarce and interesting. They point out, as the Skinner auction proved, that dozens of 15th century religious books can still be picked up for under $100.

At auctions, there are always surprises. Knowledge-able collectors tend to be picky. The Meditations of St. Augustine had stains and other damage. But A Collection of Voyages (London, 1729) by William Dampier (1652-1715) estimated at $1,000 to $1,500 sold for a whopping $7,637.50.

What made it so appealing? The four volumes had plates of animals and folding maps, and it was in fairly good condition. What it had going for it were historical voyages, illustrations, rarity and historical interest.

CLUES: Antiquarian books and manuscripts need to have a particular, important theme documenting some development, such as scientific or historic, or be written or illustrated by a well known historical figure, author or artist, and it should be a first or only known edition. The better the condition, the higher the price.

Any book published since 1900 should, first of all, be in the original dust jacket and in fine condition. If it is the first edition of an author's first book, so much the better.
A beginning collector might consider first editions of books that were made into movies. Dust jacketed first editions of Gone With The Wind have sold for $7,500 and up at auction. A first edition, dust-jacketed Bridges of Madison County can cost more than $100. When autographed, prices are higher.

Books with art by famous illustrators, such as Maxfield Parrish, are still waiting to be discovered. Many in the children's books category in good condition are still affordable and available. A good example of a collectible children's book would be Where The Wild Things Are, illustrated by its author Maurice Sendak.

If you are left a collection of books, call in a book appraiser before selling. Do research on your own using one of the many new price guides, or go to the library and research with American Book Prices Current that lists auction prices.

And lastly, don't trash any old book in bad condition. It might be worth restoring.

Suggested reference: Official Price Guide To Collecting Books by Marie Tedford and Pat Goudey, House of Collectibles.
 

This "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" sold for nearly $5,000.