What makes a book rare?

How to spot valuable books on your shelf ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ [Logo]( [Collection of first edition books]( What makes a book rare? Let's start with the basics: broadly speaking, when we talk about rare books, we refer to books where demand exceeds the number of available copies. Although the number of existing copies is the primary determinant of rarity, other factors can also come into play. Determining a book's rarity can require research and, in many cases, professional assistance. [Learn more]( [THE CALL OF THE WILD first edition copy]( First editions: the backbone of the book collecting First editions tend to be considered “rare” as a generality because the first printing of a book represents only a small number of the total number of copies that are printed. Publishers aim to print a quantity they expect to sell. For a debut author, the first printing might be quite limited since publishers don't anticipate overwhelming demand. For example, the hardcover printing of David Foster Wallace's first book, Broom of the System, was limited to a run of 1,300 copies. These copies can now sell for several thousand dollars. [Search for first editions]( EXPERT TIP While first editions have the reputation of being expensive, it really depends entirely on what you’re looking for. Have a favorite author or book? Use the [Advanced Search]( on BIBLIO and check the box for ‘first editions.’ You might be surprised with our a wide selection of books that fit any budget. [TO THE BOOKS]( [I Wish That I Had Duck Feet ]( [The Hundred and One Dalmatians]( Children’s books Children’s books are famously scarce simply because children aren’t the best library archivists! Torn pages, broken bindings, and damaged dust jackets make copies in collectible condition rare. Many classics commonly sell for thousands of dollars. [Browse rare children's books]( [Charlie and the Chocolate Factory signed copy]( Signed copies Signed books are usually rare simply because most authors can’t sign that many books, but rare is a relative term here. Some authors go on huge multi-continent promotional tours, while others are more retiring and reticent to visit with their fans. Signed copies of authors such as Thomas Pynchon and J. D. Salinger are uncommon and tend to command higher prices than many authors who travel the promotional tracks and meet their readers to sign books. [Explore signed books]( [Incunabula]( How do I know if that old book in my shelf worth money? Age doesn’t necessarily equate to scarcity or value. Unless a book is of interest to collectors, being old isn't usually enough to make it valuable. Exceptions to this general rule are the truly old books. Determining the rarity of an old book requires research and, most of the time, firsthand experience with the book market. [Ready to start the research?]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [X.com]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Biblio.com · PO Box 1211 · Asheville, NC 28802 · USA