How To Evaluate The Condition Of Used Old Books For Sale

How To Evaluate The Condition Of Used Old Books For Sale

 

So you found an old book at a thrift shop or estate sale but it’s pretty beat up. So how do you know if it’s too beat up to be worth anything? Like most things in appraisal, it can be up to subjective interpretation but we’ll try to give you some outlines so you know if you found a score or not.

 

Binding

The binding is typically the first thing you should consider. A separated, torn, or crunchy binding (indicating that it is brittle and will likely break soon from use) is a good way to tell how the book has been treated through the years. Bindings can be repaired if they are separated, but the process can be a bit involved. Repaired bindings also don’t command as high of a price as preserved bindings do. That being said, a book that has been rebound can still command a higher price than something that is nearly destroyed so the option needs to be weighed on a case by case basis.

 

Pages

You should check the pages for a variety of things: any highlighting, underlining, notes, scribbles, torn pages, missing pages, bent pages and etc can affect the price of the book. The worst is when you are missing pages completely because that usually means the binding is in bad shape as well. Pages can also break down and become brittle themselves, they won’t hold together anymore. This is usually from being stored in too dry of a place for a long time. Brittle pages usually means the book is done for.

 

Sniff Test

You should sniff your old books both on the outside of the cover and on the inside of some random pages. The outside of the book is usually where you find mold and mildew and it has a very noticeable smell. You may also run across other unsavory smells like cat urine, but it can be hard to tell if its present unless you give it a sniff. Smoke damage is most likely to linger on the inside of the book and you most likely won’t have mold or mildew past the surface. Smoke damage can come from cigarettes but is most common from fireplaces. Fireplaces were much more common in the old days and people often kept books near the fireplace or read them around the fireplace. So your book might have a bit of a bonfire smell to the inside of it. What you’re hoping your book smells like is just old book. Once you smell enough of them then you’ll start to recognize the smell better.

 

Foxing

Foxing is when the pages end up having a “rash” of browner discoloration across the paper. I would say that most books end up with some amount of foxing and that it generally isn’t an issue. Many novices may mistake it as stains or water damage though so it should be brought to attention. Foxing isn’t well understood but in essence the pages are breaking down and discolor but they keep their rigidity and don’t become brittle or anything of the sort.

 

Sun damage

You can spot sun damage easily on most bindings. It begins as the color fading on the binding where it is exposed on the shelf but the rest of the cover is hidden from light and doesn’t get any sunlight. This can make the binding more brittle due to excess heat being on it for a long time but it isn’t a guarantee. Its rare for pages to get sun damage themselves, but it can happen and the pages become brittle and turn to dust when touched.

 

Water damage

Any water damage is typically a bad sign. It points to an increase in mold and mildew. It can also permanently discolor the pages and warp them. It usually takes a large amount of water and a decent amount of time and improper drying to affect a book long term. So if its prevalent, that’s usually a sign of a neglected book (one that was not properly dried). If mold sets in the water spot then the book is basically ruined.

 

Mold and Mildew

Mold itself usually means the book is done. If its just on the cover then the cover can be cut off and the book can be rebound, but this is usually only worth it on very valuable books. Mold on the pages means the book is at the end of its life. Mildew can also ruin a book if it progresses far enough. Sometimes its enough to just stabilize the book by dehumidifying it. You’ll notice a white powdery substance on the book that can be rubbed off with a coarse pad. You’ll then need to air out the book for a while to see if the smell is stuck in the book. Your book may or may not be worth the time it takes to stabilize it though.