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Finding Used and Rare Books and Their Prices

Example Questions That Can Be Answered Using This FAQ

  • How can I find out what this book published in 1930 is worth?
  • I’m trying to find a copy of an out-of-print book. How can I find out where it is and how much it costs?

There are a number of sources that are useful for finding copies of used and rare books and getting estimates of their values.

  • Here are online sites that let you search for books and/or book prices.
  • About.com's expert on Classic Literature provides good advice and resources in the article below.
  • In addition, Yahoo! Directory has a couple useful sections for locating used and rare book prices.
  • Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America's (http://www.abaa.org/books/abaa/abaapages/index.html) website provides information about ABAA members and their specialties. It is intended for the use of all those who may desire professional service in the purchase, sale, or appraisal of antiquarian books and manuscripts." Contains a database of member booksellers searchable by location and specialty. Also provides access to online catalogs of ABAA members.
  • Littera Scripta has great links on book buying and selling. Here are a couple other links that may be useful.
  • A personal website by Steve Trussel started in 1996 has some excellent links on Books and Book Collecting. The nature of the site makes it difficult to provide direct links but scroll to the bottom of the page or look in the side navigation menu for the following webpages in particular.
    • Page 1 - Searchable Booksites. Most of these are above, but this site provides a one-stop shopping point for searching.
    • Page 2 - Books & Book Collecting. Has links to Bookseller Lists and Associations, Blogs, and Mail-Lists
    • Foreign Language Book Sources
    • Out-of-Print Book Search Services
    Contacting individual book sellers is probably a good idea, even if you find a listing for your book from one of our other suggestions here. Different book sellers may quote you different prices.
  • A great print source for finding used and rare book prices is Bookman’s Price Index. Published twice a year, BPI is a guide to "prices and availability of antiquarian books in the United States, Canada, and the British Isles." BPI defines "antiquarian books" as being both important and scarce. Each issue of BPI contains price and location listings for 30-35,000 such books.
  • A serial publication that might be helpful is American Book Prices Current (ABPC), an annual publication covering countries in North America and the United Kingdom. ABPC converted to CD-ROM form after its September 2003 - August 2004 volume.
  • Smithsonian Institution Libraries: Information on Old Books also has a website with suggestions for determining the value of old books.
  • You may also want to try and find book sellers or books from the phone book.
    • Yellowpages.com can help you find old and used book sellers near you and elsewhere.
    • Google Maps will also let you find old and used book selling businesses. Click the "Find businesses" tab.

You may also want to look at our FAQ on Books.

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