Determining the Condition of a Collectible Book, Pt. 2
December 14th, 2006 by Alan Chudnow
Here is Part Two of my two part series on Grading and Condition for the beginning collector. Part One can be found here.
Building Your Collection
All booksellers agree that the single most important factor in determining the value of a book is condition. Judicious collectors generally confine their acquisitions to the upper end of the condition spectrum, assuring that each book they choose to add to their collection is judged to be “Very Good” or better on the grading scale.
The condition of a particular addition to your collection is entirely a personal choice. Of course the general rule of thumb is always get the best condition copy that you can afford, assuming it’s reasonably priced. Some collectors, however, prefer to keep all the volumes in their library up to a certain standard. Others are willing to accept a copy in lesser condition with the expectation of finding a better copy later, or if they believe it may be a long time before they have an opportunity to find a copy in a better condition. There is no “right” answer just as there is no “best” author or theme for your collection.
It should be said however, that if the resale value of your books is important you should initially strive to collect books of “Very Good” or “Fine” condition. Finding valuable books in lesser conditions is certainly possible but the better the condition of a book, the more likelihood there is that it will increase in value. The rule of thumb is the best condition is the best.
As I mentioned in Part 1, there are three commonly referred to sets of definitions for grading categories. I highly recommend learning these terms along with the rest of the language used by the professional book folk. It will help you in judging the suitability of a possible addition to your collection, allow you to communicate clearly with book dealers and other collectors, as well as help garner respect from book professionals.
A Word on Dust Jackets
In the early Twentieth Century two industries converged to change the nature of book collecting entirely. The advent of color lithography in the early 1900s coincided with the growing realization in the publishing industry that the plain dust jackets, originally developed simply as book protectors, were an excellent tool for advertising the book and its author.
By the early 1920s dust jacket design evolved into a sophisticated sales tool for publishers. The cover of the jacket became a canvas for beautiful illustrations designed to attract potential buyers while the inner flaps and back of the jacket allowed display of reviews, notes about the author and advertisements for other titles from the publisher.
By the middle of the century the dust jacket had become an integral part of the book itself. For any collector of modern hardcover books the most important element in determining value is the condition of the dust jacket. Practically speaking, a modern Science Fiction or Fantasy hardcover without its dust jacket is of little or no value.
Some Final Advice
Condition is arguably the single most important factor for determining the value of a book. Every beginning collector should take the time to understand the practical working definitions of Condition before investing more than a little money acquiring items for their collection. I highly recommend visiting a reputable bookseller in your area so that you can learn first hand what books in various conditions look like. Talk with the seller, ask questions. Most people delight in talking about what they love and book vendors are no exception.
Attend a book fair or Science Fiction convention, if at all possible, where you can talk with collectors and sellers alike. A little knowledge can be extremely valuable in helping to make smart, informed purchases. By understanding how the condition of a book is determined you’ll go a long way in being able to determine its value. Before long you’ll be well on your way to building a treasured and valuable collection.
