I am highly drawn to the notion of vintage travel books. Vintage, that word that makes everything go up in price and immediately sends signals to your brain that this one item, this thing you are finding in the depths of a thrift store, or in the back of your attic, is extremely valuable. Vintage. Love the word, would name my first kid Vintage if it were socially acceptable. To me, it means that you’re unlikely to find another one like it because it’s so old, or that if you did find another one like it, you’d have to hunt your butt off.
So, is there some group or merchant out there that hosts vintage travel books?
I was on eBay this weekend and bidding up a storm. But then I pulled the reins in and thought, maybe I should find out more about this first.
Right now I’ve got a bid on a First Edition copy of A Trip Around the World, by George Moerlein that was printed in 1886. It’s at $50 right now, but how much is it worth? That sounds old old old to me. My friend Hugh from Midtown Books/Downtown Books would probably know a lot more about this, so I’m going to pose the question to you all.
Do you know of any groups, or at least books where I can find out how much old, rare books are worth? Even if there is no such book on the travel sector? Thanks.
For vintage books, you might want to check http://www.alibris.com, a website for used books. Searching for your book brought three entries with prices over $200. Hope you are the high bidder! Good luck.
Hi Jen,
You may want to contact the people at the Miami book fair, which runs Nov. 12-19/06. They have an “Antiquarian Annex” of rare books for sale as part of the exhibition. If you browse the “Exhibitors” page, you will find a list of independent booksellers with website links.
Lyndsay
Description of the Annex:
https://www.miamibookfair.com/pages/annex.htm
List of Exhibitors:
https://www.miamibookfair.com/pages/fairgoer_exhibit.htm
Jen-
Hey there! Try Abebooks.com. It is a multi-dealer database of books for sale, most of the real deal dealers list there, you can search across many variables.
So, you do realize Memphis is in the South, right? Nice weather, major gaming market 1 hour away, Northwest Airlines hub, at least 1 very cool used bookstore…
Miss Ya
I’ve also used AbeBooks to estimate the value of older books. One thing to keep in mind is that old doesn’t necessarily equal valuable–I had a second edition of Sir Walter Scott’s “The Lady of the Lake” from about 1830, which would only be worth about $150 in good condition. Mine’s heavily written in (passed down in my family) and really only has sentimental value.
I’m all for the sentimental value of old books, though.