A seller says the book for sale is the only one like it on the internet and therefore it should bring a premium price. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The easiest way to know how much your copy of a book is worth on the open market is to check on how much similar copies are currently being offered for. Can you help put me in touch with the best people to sell these. The complete plays and sonnets of william shakespeare 38 volume library by william shakespeare stephen orgel and a. While trying to figure out if some old books i had were worth any money, i found some notvery old books that are worth a surprising amount of cash. How to find out how much your old books are worth sapling. The miniature books are brownish green in color, of imitation leather, and characteristic of the redcroft edition published between 19201924. Buy antique shakespeare books and get the best deals.
Complete works of william shakespeare is the standard name given to any volume containing all the plays and poems of william shakespeare. Accurately printed from the text of the corrected copy left by the late george steevens. A rare book can sell for a substantial amount of money but few novice collators know how to tell the difference between a nice old book. He is often called englands national poet and the bard of avon. William shakespeare first editions adrian harrington rare books. Any ideas what this might be or what it may be worth. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 39 plays,154 sonnets, two long narrative poems. Warren, whose price guide books have been the authority on collectibles values since 1985.
Rare and collectable books by william shakespeare include early folio editions and finely bound, limited editions of the both the plays and poems. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Free download or read online a midsummer nights dream pdf epub book. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 298 pages and is available in paperback format. Great savings free delivery collection on many items. Folio, on 43 original leaves, attractively bound in modern half moroccogilt. I have a large number of old books which we have inherited and would really like to sell. William shakespeare 26 april 1564 23 april 1616was an english poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the english language and the worlds greatest dramatist.
There is a demand for all these types, but some are more valuable than others. Rare book appraiser michael slicker discusses shakespeare, and the. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. Jan 19, 2006 books this article is more than 14 years old.
With a series of engravings, from original designs of henry fuseli, and a selection of explanatory and historical notes, from the most eminent commentators. We currently have 57 books in this category in stock. Contained in original rare wrapper with pictorial onlay to front panel. Altemus book prices or a fool and his her money it is hard to know what a book is worth. The complete works of william shakespeare collectible.
A missing dust jacket, or a dust jacket that is in poor condition, can cut a collectible books value more than. In addition to rare books, outofprint books, antique maps and vintage prints and antique photographs, lighthouse books, abaa also offers. Third folio edition of shakespeares plays, generally regarded as the rarest of the 17thcentury folio editions. You are viewing all stock in the shakespeare category. His poetry was published first, while very few of his plays were published. Charming set of shakespeare s works in 40 miniature books, each measuring approximately 5 x 3,5 cm and cleverly displayed on a custommade miniature shelf which stands 22,5 x 20 x 6,5 cm hxwxd.
Overall, the book is in very good condition with top edge gilt, binding tight, paper inside bright. A rare book can sell for a substantial amount of money but few novice collators know how to tell the difference between a nice old book and a valuable one. Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in the english language, and probably the bestknown figure in all of world literature. Any suggestions of websites that sell antique books that i could use as a price guide for. Abebooks is very useful for finding an approximate value of a book but dont use that value for insurance purposes. Rare and valuable books old and not so old books worth. Its subtitled doubtful plays and biography and dated 1882. Oct 18, 20 michael slicker, a recognized authority on antiquarian books, has owned lighthouse books, abaa in st. Macbeth, hands down, should be number one as it is the best of shakespeare s works at least in my opinion. Rare and collectible books by william shakespeare by lily king considered the greatest writer in the english language, william shakespeare s works are among the worlds most widely read, most intensely studied, and most passionately collected.
The first folio is a remarkable book because it is the first authoritative collection of shakespeare s plays ever published. After 450 years, we still dont know the true value of. May, 2019 many people like collecting older books from flea markets and antique shops but it can be hard to tell which books in your collection really have value. A beatenup old book that is falling apart will have little value. Browse rare books and first editions by shakespeare available at bauman. The complete works of william shakespeare wordsworth. Since 1997, bookfinder has made it easy to find any book at the best price. In many cases, this is just a quick and easy way to determine a book s basic value. For this list and the lists that follow lists that follow refers to lists in the childrens picturebook price guide of the twenty most valuable picturebooks from each decade, covering the 1930s up the 1990s. His plays remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.
List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. The more rare, vintage and antique books you touch and see and feel, the better acquainted you will become with the real deal. Tthe searchable database consists of detailed reports in an evergrowing database of items in this category. Ginn and company entered according to act of congress, in the year of 1880, in the office of the librarian of congress, at washington.
New listing shakespeares the comedy of errors 1939 lec john austen illustrations, numbered. Value also goes up if your book is signed by its wellknown author, or you can prove it was once owned by a noteworthy person. The first edition of the novel was published in 1595, and was written by william shakespeare. I would like to determine the cuurent value of this rare book and possibly sell it. The pelican shakespeare is available in hardcover for the first time in one complete collection only at. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately. The dust jacket is both the most decorative part of a book, and the most delicate. Certain genres are valued by collectors, such as cookbooks and childrens literature. Lamb charles 17751834, shakespeare, william, gilbert, john, illustrator.
Any suggestions of websites that sell antique books that i could use as a price guide for old books. You probably dont need to include every word of the title and authors name. See below our stock of william shakespeare first editions, fine. Please remember that an old or antique book is not necessary valuable just because its old. Auction values of books are usually about half moderate retail, so scroll down to see all of the prices, and keep an eye out for details. As long as you can prove the lure is an original, says white, finding a buyer shouldnt be too hard. Standard english classics tragedy of macbeth with introduction, and notes explanatory and critical by the rev. Many people like collecting older books from flea markets and antique shops but it can be hard to tell which books in your collection really have value. Considered the greatest writer in the english language, william shakespeare s works are among the worlds most widely read, most intensely studied, and most passionately collected. Fill out this form with enough information to get a list of comparable copies.
Michael slicker, a recognized authority on antiquarian books, has owned lighthouse books, abaa in st. Common books like the works of william shakespeare, prayer books, bibles and encyclopedias were printed in huge quantities during the victorian era and usually have little value. Whether you want the cheapest reading copy or a specific collectible edition, with bookfinder, youll find just the right book. John mullan on the value of a copy of the first folio of. Many people are looking for old books in their grandparents attic, at estate sales and at garage sales. His works have been performed and read around the world and continue to be revered almost 400 years after his death in 1616. Dec 27, 2003 we have a knights pictorial edition of the works of william shakespeare edited by charles knight. These are just a few of the english text and we also have old german books. But this, of course, does not stop some from trying. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Apr 23, 2014 the extent of shakespeares legacy 450 years on from his birth is incalculable.
Up for sale is this nice antique decorative leather bound book lot of poetry, literature, and biography. If you have an old book that you would like us to research, or if you have any other questions regarding old books, email us through our. The first edition of shakespeare s plays folio, 1623 has been rising in price from the commencement of the nineteenth century. Old books can be found in most attics and basements. Most hard cover books published since the early 20th century were sold with a dust jacket. Shakespeares first folio top 10 rare books howstuffworks. Pericles, prince of tyre, the first two acts of which were likely. If you are looking for a specific book which we do not have in stock, then please get in touch and well let you know just as soon as it comes in. The little leather library collection consists of 101 books, 314 x 4, published by the little leather library corporation of new york. The globe by the way book by pg wodehouse globe publishing co, 1908.
Beyond scarcity, there are several other factors that influence the value of an old book. No author has exerted more influence on western literature than william shakespeare. You need to take your time immersing your senses in old books, leaf through them and get a feel for the pages, touch the cracks on the spine and use your nose. Beautifully bound individual books and collected works of william shakespeare.
A rare copy of a first edition of william shakespeare s collected plays has. I also have a very old book by william shakespeare, i would like to find out if it is. Published in 1623, the first folio contains shakespeares 36 plays, including several that had never been published before and might have been lost without it, such as macbeth, the tempest and as you like it. Pdf a midsummer nights dream book by william shakespeare. The complete text of three of shakespeares greatest tragedies, king lear, othello, and antony and cleopatra, from the rare and important second folio, on 43.
How to find out how much your old books are worth by jane meggitt old and worn leather book collection image. In addition to rare books, outofprint books, antique maps and. I have read 5 of the works listed as i am only in high school and havent had the vocabulary or analysis skills to read more earlier. He also has released a threevolume set of books evaluating and identifying various types of fishing tackle.
Light damp staining to the bottom page margin through out. Some editions include several works which were not completely of shakespeare s authorship collaborative writings, such as the two noble kinsmen, which was a collaboration with john fletcher. Abebooks is very useful for finding an approximate value of a book but don. Top old books price guide deals at mysimon compare search. Vintage and antique books best price on antique books online. I have a set of books that are shakespeare from 1807 i also have pics that i can email u im trying to find the value of these books here is some of what the inside page shows i cant find another book like it anywhere or online please help me figure out what the value are of these books shakespeares dramatic works 9vol edition 2nd printing complete with dr samuel johnson preface and. Rare and collectible books by william shakespeare abebooks. The main characters of this classics, plays story are robin goodfellow, a puck, demetrius. A missing dust jacket, or a dust jacket that is in poor condition, can cut a collectible books value more than 50%, and make it harder to find a buyer. Jul, 2006 t oday, a copy of the socalled first folio of shakespeare s plays, printed in 1623, is being auctioned at sothebys in london.
This earliest collected edition of shakespeare s works has been. To many the crown of britains cultural output, shakespeare. If you want to cut the clutter, selling some old books will free up horizontal surfaces and could put serious cash in your pocket. Top 5 most expensive shakespeare sales on abebooks. Knowing who made the lure you are investigating makes researching the value easier when doing online searches and poring over completed item results on. Guide to the little leather library collection, 19201924. Fitzgeralds the great gatsby with the original dust jacket is one of those rare books to track down. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. If youre like most serious readers, your old books overflow your bookcases and spill into perhaps overwhelm various sections of your living space. Condition is very important and will greatly influence value. There are a host of smaller companies that made lures as well, and even homemade folk art lures. Antique book the works of william shakespeare 1889. Rare set of the first translations of shakespeares plays.