DO YOU HAVE A BOOK QUESTION?

[manor_house_books]

Hi all, pippy_oak here, posting under my brand new user name. Hopefully, Richard will pin this thread, as it seems a nice tidy place to pose specific questions about a book (Is it a 1st edition, what's it worth, where to find it etc. etc.) Don't just come here with a question. If you think you have the answer, then let's hear it.

Or we could just mooch around and learn a few things.

Cheers

Paul

[sigmapsidelta]

It really depends on the amount of use it has actually had.

Is the spine creased at all? Any wear/creasing/rubbing to the covers? Any internal spotting or soiling? Any inscriptions?

Basically everything that seperates your copy from a fine, unread copy, every mark, scratch and bump, will lower its value to a collector.

The first issue paperback of 'Philosopher's Stone', with Thomas Taylor cover, published by Bloomsbury in 1997, was listed by Book & Magazine Collector at £50 to £75 in their July 2000 issue number 196.

In order to show how paperback issues tend to get left out of the collectable market there is also the listing the same magazine did 3 years later, in the July 2003 issue number 232 where they value it at that same £50 to £75 even though virtually every other Harry Potter collectable had risen in price over those three years.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[mysolemnoath]

would a pocket oxford dictionary, tatty condition, marked impression of 1928, first edition 1924, be worth anything or should i bin it?

[sigmapsidelta]

Take up crosswords and give it a new lease of life.

Beyond that, it's worth whatever anyone will give you for it. But I wouldn't call it a collectable.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
Σ Ψ Δ
σ ψ δ

[howyouall20]

Where can I get a value for bibles. I have one found on a shelf in a cellar which is dated 1632 and has the names of the Carrington family in it who handed it down until around 1890. I have other 17th and 18th century bibles.

[manor_house_books]

Bible dealers are very cagey. I would suggest you search completed ebay auctions worldwide for similar items.

17th century bibles are nearly always valuable. Have you identified them yet? If you post a description, we may be able to help here.

If the Carringtons had it until 1890, just check if Joan Collins's signature is in there.:-)

[147victoria]

Did we ever hear any more about the Geneva bible that was discussed a while back?

[ok-mrs-bee]

Eclecticoldsod decided to put it back on the shelf.

[ok-mrs-bee]

Nice to see His Lordship letting his hair down a bit, there. 🙂

[mitch.10]

Can anyone help me please? I have a copy of black beauty by anna sewell. There is a message inside Dick from granny dated easter 1905! could this be first edition if not anyone have idea of possible price? In front it has 307th thousand
London
Jarrold&sons 10&11 warwick lane E.C
1904
can anyone help!!?? I would be very grateful thanks

[sigmapsidelta]

Is it illustrated?

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?bx=off&sts=t&ds=50&bi=0&pn=jarrolds&an=sewell&y=11&tn=black+beauty&sortby=1&x=113

Those are all Jarrolds publications. As you can see, the 1912 with illustrations by Cecil Aldin appears to be the most sought-after edition.

At a guess I'd have to say you have a late reprint of the 1890 1st edition.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[fionasmate]

Any advice with this is most welcome.

Pictures of Old Rome by Frances Elliot published by Chapman and Hall -no date - new edition ; prize inscription shows date 1891 but I beleive this may be earlier .The only reference I can find for this publisher's edition is at the British Library which suggests a date of 1872 for a similar or same new edition.

The author's note states :"these pictures were written and published in Rome ,where they were received with favour.They are now reprinted ,with some modifications,additions,and (it may be hoped)improvements, for English readers "

Ironically the only picture is a frontis ,pasted in early photo of the Colisseum .The book itself is blue cloth with stamped gilt decoration (Caesar's head )on front and spine .

My instinct is that this is a first UK edition .Is it reasonable to state this in the description with the British library date of 1872 ? Later different publisher issues appear to have many photographs .

thanks in advance
Fred

[mitch.10]

Hi SIGMAPSIDELTA

Thankyou for your reply yes it has some lovely black and white pictures throughout the book and has a green fabric cover with a picture of black beauty in a circle.
I am grateful for any feedback on it as i suspect it has been passed down in the family so wanted to find its origin thus age. Also would like rough guide price to see if it is worth having a makeover as it is slightly tired looking.. Thanks again michelle

[sigmapsidelta]

It could be that the illustrations are by Cecil Aldin. Obviously the first edition containing the illustrations will carry the highest price, but reprints of titles by big name illustrators are also sought-after.

'Make over' is not a term usually connected to the book trade. And, for rare items, a collector would prefer the original state. Then any rebinding that is to be done will be to his/her specification. And that makes it kinda hard to put a price on it.

I'd try to identify the illustrator first of all.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[manor_house_books]

Pictures of Old Rome with no pictures

Can't help a lot, except to say that there is a copy similar to yours listed on Addall at £53 (No use to Sun readers).

[fionasmate]

Thanks Manor House .Does seem a little strange with no pictures but the author did write them so they are there somewhere ! I missed that Addall one for some reason (different publisher though) .I 'll list it anyway and see what happens ; will require people with imagination to bid I guess -not sure if that applies to Sun readers either .

[mitch.10]

Hello Sigmapsidelta

Sorry if I offended you on the makeover comment understand it is not book talk and take it back wholeheartedly!!!! Anyway had another look at the book and in back is a page that says the illustrations are by winifred austen thought i would let you know thankyou for your help once more. I am not so interested in price as to where the book came from really. cheers michelle!!

[mrsbob963]

Hi, A lot of the old paperbacks we have, have a cut through either the top or the bottom of the book from cover to cover. It is usually about 2 mm square. Does anyone know what this is. Is it something printers do to indicate that something is wrong with the copy?
Also, one of my paperbacks has a stamp stating "pulp" inside the front cover. What does this mean please?
Many thanks for any advice anyone can give.

[sigmapsidelta]

The cuts are sawcuts to show that the book was remaindered, meaning it didn't sell all copies when first published and excess copies were sold to remainder shops like Banana Books.

The 'pulp' stamp could be anything. Possibly it was one of a number of copies destined to be pulped for one reason or another and rescued by someone.

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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[mrsbob963]

Thanks very much.

[manor_house_books]

Not really a question. ...Well, sort of.

Im feeling very chuffed with myself today. I've just picked up a King James Bible (1st Cambridge printing 1629) in great condition. It was listed at auction as a 19th Century bible, as it was rebound in leather in 1824.

It's a while since I sold one of these, so I guess my question is, whats the price and the strategy?