Second-hand and rare books: how to find a rare book or old edition
What makes an old edition different from just an old book
The value of a second-hand book is set not by age alone but by the print run, the edition, the condition and the features of the particular copy. An edition from the author's lifetime, a first printing, or a book with an autograph or bookplate is valued much higher than later reprints. Mass-produced books from past decades are often cheap, unless they belong to a rare series or are a collector's illustrated edition. So the first step is to be clear: are you looking for a specific copy, or only the content?
How to search with BlaBlaPrice
In your request you describe the book: author, title, edition, the condition you accept. The request is checked and you are told what is missing. Book dealers, collectors and owners of libraries answer in the chat: whether they have it, photos of the title page and binding, price, delivery. Reviews are shown next to the offers, and the best match is shown first. Only the seller you choose sees your contacts. The scheme is described on How it works.
What to put in your request
- Title and author — in full, with the subtitle; the author alone is not enough;
- Edition — publisher, year, print run, lifetime or first edition;
- Condition — binding, whether the pages are intact, stains, losses, restoration;
- Special features — autograph, bookplate, dust jacket, illustrations, provenance;
- Subject, if you are searching among many;
- Language;
- Quantity — one book or a library (for example, 200 volumes);
- Budget and city for delivery.
Example: “Looking for a first edition of a classic poetry collection, a complete copy with no missing pages, binding intact, ideally with photos of all the spreads. Courier delivery to Faisalabad. Budget up to Rs 33,000.”
How to judge a copy
Ask for photos of the title page, endpapers, spine and a few pages. Collation (checking that the book is complete) is critical for old books: ask whether all leaves, plates, maps and illustrations are present. A musty smell, damp stains and insect damage can spoil both the book and its neighbours on your shelf, especially in humid, rainy months. For valuable editions, ask for a certificate or an expert opinion and for information on provenance.
How to compare and what not to forget
Compare not only the price but also completeness, condition and any extras. For a library, find out whether there is a list, whether it is sold as one lot, and whether it is better to take everything. Ask for rigid packing for shipping. If you are interested in modern editions, look separately at antiques and collectibles, and for coins and stamps see collecting. Before buying an expensive copy, do not hesitate to ask for more photos or a video: serious sellers understand. Also ask whether the seller accepts returns if the description turns out to be inaccurate, and how exactly books are packed for shipping, because a crushed binding or a torn endpaper lowers the value.
