How much is a first edition book?

Dealers usually pay about 10-30% of the retail price of the book. So, if a dealer plans on pricing your book at $40, he may offer you anywhere between $4 and $12. A few (especially large, chain used bookstores) may pay less.

Is there a market for first edition books?

Speaking generally, first editions will hold the most value if they are first editions, first printings. Depending on who has published the book and what formats it has been published in, you’ll be looking for hardcover books mostly.

Where can I buy first edition online?

Independent bookselling marketplaces

  • ABAA. The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America was founded in 1949 with a mission to promote interest in rare books, along with professionalism & ethical standards in the book trade.
  • Antiqbook.
  • Bibliophile Bookbase.
  • PBFA.
  • ILAB.
  • IOBA.
  • Livre Rare Book.
  • Maremagnum.

Are first edition books a good investment?

Determining the value of books, to say the least, is not an exact science. A book’s condition is vital—the closer to the original condition, the better. But a book’s edition is also paramount. Typically, the first edition is the most coveted because fewer copies have been printed than subsequent editions.

How do I find out how much a book is worth?

One very simple method of finding an approximate value of a book is to search for similar copies on AbeBooks.com and see what prices are being asked. The sellers on AbeBooks.com offer for sale new, used, rare and out-of-print books, and we have millions of used and rare books available for purchase.

How can you tell the value of a first edition book?

In determining the value of a book there are three basic elements: 1) rarity, 2) condition, and, 3) demand. Books with the most value normally have all three of these elements, and the loss of any will likely result in a loss of value. Age of the book is not always a key factor in value.

What is the rarest first edition book?

The original Declaration of Independence, signed by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, is easily one of the rarest, most sought after documents of all time. There were only 200 copies of it printed on July 4th, 1776, and only about 26 copies survive to this day.

Why are first edition books so valuable?

First Books (Not First Editions) (And many didn’t enjoy a second.) What makes a valuable first edition is the perfect confluence of rarity and demand – which is why, while there are exceptions, an author’s first book, typically printed for a small audience, is the one most likely to achieve impressive prices.

Why are first editions so valuable?

First Books (Not First Editions) What makes a valuable first edition is the perfect confluence of rarity and demand – which is why, while there are exceptions, an author’s first book, typically printed for a small audience, is the one most likely to achieve impressive prices.

Do First edition books appreciate?

A book’s condition is vital—the closer to the original condition, the better. But a book’s edition is also paramount. Typically, the first edition is the most coveted because fewer copies have been printed than subsequent editions. But first editions aren’t always the most prized.