How to Determine Value of Old Children's Books
The old children's books you find stored in your dusty attic may earn you some money. The values of old children's books vary depending on factors such as title, edition, age, physical conditions, demand, supply and illustrations. Collectors of old children's books may be willing to shell out more than $1,000 for certain editions of some titles, such as "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" or "The Wizard of Oz."
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Instructions
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Check a catalog to determine the publishing and bibliographic details of your old children's books. The Smithsonian Institution Libraries recommends that you use either The National Union Catalog or WorldCat. You may access these resources through your local public or university library.
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Find the details of your old children's books in published bibliographies of the authors or of children's books. You may find these bibliographies in the reference section of your library.
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Study a published price guide of children's book values. You may buy the price guide from the reference section of a bookstore or borrow it from the library. These guides only indicate the values of listed books at the time of publication. The newest guides would therefore provide more accurate estimates on the value of your old children's books.
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Examine published auction-sales records, such as the American Book Prices Current or the Bookman's Price Index. These publications show the prices at which books sell at auctions and usually come out regularly. Libraries and second-hand bookstores may stock these records.
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Visit a second-hand bookstore. Talk to the owner and ask for an estimate on the value of your old children's books. Some online second-hand book markets also allow you to submit book details to get an estimate on the value of your books.
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Hire a professional to examine your old children's books and determine their value. If you need to use the estimated value for tax or insurance purposes, you usually have to obtain professional valuations from an antiquarian or a second-hand book dealer. You may find these professionals through appraiser organizations or phone books. You usually have to either show the books in person or provide clear details, such as close-up photos.
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Tips & Warnings
The price of a certain title and edition may vary depending on various factors, such as binding, whether you have the dust jackets, signature of the author, tears and marks. As such, the value of your old children's books may differ from those listed in published guides.
References
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