/r/rarebooks

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Have a question about whether your book is rare? Find a cool story about a recently discovered masterpiece? Share and discuss!

NOTE: Due to the influx of "what's my book worth?" posts, please post all valuation requests in the stickied post. All individual valuation posts will be removed.

NOTE 2: This subreddit is for discussion of rare books only, not for advertising book listings. Any links to offsite listings, such as Amazon, eBay, etsy, or other, will result in the post being removed.

Sites to help determine rarity:

Alibris

PBA Book Appraisal

AbeBooks

ABAA

Very Fine Books

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/r/rarebooks

28,829 Subscribers

6

What was your first rare book?

I’m starting to think about collecting. Not seriously—at least not yet—but the idea of owning pieces of history, of engaging with the physical artifacts of thought, is hard to resist.

For those already in this world: what was your first rare book? Did it feel like a deliberate choice, or more like an accident of circumstance? And for those further along—what made you stay?

15 Comments
2024/12/04
03:12 UTC

0 Comments
2024/12/03
18:39 UTC

15

LEC book

Good evening all, I just purchased this LEC edition of Gulliver’s Travels and it came with a glassine wrap. If I display without the wrap will it stay in good condition if not exposed to direct sunlight?

I read that the glassine wrap may have been used to protect it during shipping but wanted to confirm. I’d like to preserve the condition as much as possible but also want to display it as it is a gorgeous book.

Appreciate everyone’s insight!

2 Comments
2024/12/03
00:52 UTC

2

Building a book box?

Hello everyone, I'm super excited as I just began collecting rare books. I had purchased a book on Napoleon that was quite difficult to find a few months back but that was the first "rare book" that I ever had. Now, I've pirchase a second rare book and I actually feel like a collector.

I'm really curious what the best approach is to storing these books to preserve them as best as possible, one is a soft cover and one is a hardcover. It just doesn't feel right to tuck them in with all the other books in my bookshelf.

I had put the soft cover in a bag and then quickly realized it's a bad idea based on some quick research. It seems like getting a box to put them in is the best approach.

I also happen to enjoy Woodworking and so I was curious if there's any negatives of building a custom wooden box out of cedar to store them in. I figured Cedar would be good as it repels insects and I could make it look pretty.

Is there something I'm not considering, is this a bad idea? Also should I put some kind of silica packets in there to ensure no moisture gets trapped? I know to keep them stored up right which I will do as I am going to build a custom section of my bookshelf dedicated to rare books where I can put the box that will store my collection.

I saw that there are a museum boxes for storing books like this but they're just kind of pricey which is a fair investment of course to protect my collection but I also felt like it would be a pretty fun project to try to build my own out of wood.

I would love some thought and opinions on this idea as I am a true beginner and want to be extra cautious.

1 Comment
2024/12/02
12:01 UTC

2

Anyone have this or know where i can buy?

0 Comments
2024/12/02
04:29 UTC

37

Awesome early 1700s medical book— no clue what it might be worth

I recently picked up this book at an antique place. I love it and have no intention to sell it at this time, but I’m curious to know more about it and hear your thoughts on its possible value. It appears to be an original copy of a series of medical dissertations published in France around 1725. It’s in great condition considering its age. The pre-amble by the author, Antione Diedier (a French physician during that period), describes the book as a translated edition of the original dissertation published 20 years earlier in Latin with 9 or so additional chapters added reflecting on his own experiences and theories— specifically describing his use of mercury to treat veneral disease and smallpox, and his experience being enlisted by the King to provide medical assistance during plague outbreak in Marseilles.

I can only find PDF copies of it online, and what I believe may be documentation of a few original copies currently kept in medical libraries in Europe. I can’t find any record of prior sales.

If anyone has any insight or ideas on it, I’d love to hear them!

14 Comments
2024/12/01
20:44 UTC

5

Just curious to know when this book was printed! Mark twain The Gilded age Harper and Brothers Edition, Published by PF Collier and Son Company. the latest copyright says ‘Copyright, 1915, by Clara Gabrilowitsch and Susan Lee Warner’ with previous copyrights listen in 1873, 1899, and 1901

3 Comments
2024/11/28
23:04 UTC

37

Mickey Mouse No. 1

Went through some things with family during the holiday. Found this in a box with a lot of other old books (children’s books mainly) from 1870s-1960s.

I can’t seem to find anything online about this book other than like 1 recent sale for $600 in 2020.

Some minor damage on the front cover but doesn’t seem to seep into the pages. Thanks in advance!

6 Comments
2024/11/28
20:44 UTC

0

Help Evaluating a Rare Book: "Guia Prático de Saúde" by Frederic Rossiter

I’ve come across a book that I believe might be quite rare: "Guia Prático de Saúde" (Practical Health Guide) by Frederic Rossiter. I haven’t been able to find any references to it online, in bookstores, or specialized platforms, so I’d really appreciate your help understanding more about it and, hopefully, estimating its value.

https://preview.redd.it/2gytx7xy7j3e1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f6c27a2028131a35b40e65c0a83ad45f0c0621c

https://preview.redd.it/4vkvti928j3e1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7fa72ac9cf1bcb5798f451ce8450a1679c65b8cf

https://preview.redd.it/p90ft8k28j3e1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5aac3e3df878c5e6fd8b4b8afa9de1a1e218d0f3

Questions:

  1. Has anyone heard of this book or the author before?
  2. What could be its estimated value for collectors?
  3. Any tips on where I could get a more detailed evaluation?
2 Comments
2024/11/27
23:53 UTC

9

How to research if a book is stolen?

Please pardon my ignorance... Helping a friend clean out some of her late parents' belongings. She has a couple books that appear to be first editions but she suspects her dad may have stolen them (no specific info, he was just a shady dude). Is there a registry or something that can help research provenance?

8 Comments
2024/11/27
18:13 UTC

2

Walker's pronouncing dictionary of the English language by b h smart sixth edition 1860

2 Comments
2024/11/26
23:57 UTC

248

My copy of Dune - first printing first edition that my dad bought new in August 1965

15 Comments
2024/11/25
17:42 UTC

8

Storing / Safekeeping suggestions

Hi, anyone have any suggestions around storage for rare or valuable books.

2 Comments
2024/11/25
14:34 UTC

16

Upcoming: Philadelphia Rare Book and Print Fair (Dec 6-8) + Free Tickets

Good morning! As many of you may already know, the Fine Fairs team is hosting another fair in Philadelphia this year on the weekend of December 6-8th. If you did not already know, all of the details can be found here.

I will be exhibiting at the fair along with many, many other sellers. As part of the booth, I am able to distribute a handful of free tickets ($15 value) for the Saturday and Sunday sessions. I happen to have a few left and figured I would offer them up here in case any of you would like to attend. No requirement to say hi but it's always welcome. Click here to grab one of the free tickets. Note that you'll just get an order confirmation email but I'll have your name and get it on the list at the door.

Hope everyone has a great week!

18 Comments
2024/11/25
14:10 UTC

33

Olaf Stapledon 1sts.

Recently unearthed these from a box in the garage with all the hundreds of other science fiction books I literally have no room for

5 Comments
2024/11/24
15:09 UTC

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