The Rare Book and Manuscript Library does not appraise rare books or manuscripts. However, we realize that this is a topic of great interest to many people and we offer this page as a resource.
We suggest that you contact rare, used, or out of print book dealers in your area. For further information on questions about rare books and book values, please visit the Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Rare Books and Manuscripts Section web page, Your Old Books.
The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America publishes an annual membership directory, searchable on its website. It includes subject and geographical indices to help you contact the booksellers who might be of assistance. An author or title search function is also featured.
American Book Prices Current is an annual record of books, manuscripts, autographs, maps and broadsides sold at auction. Regions covered include North America and the UK, and sales from select countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Monaco, Holland, Australia. It is the standard tool used by dealers, appraisers, auction houses, scholars and tax authorities. Restricted to on-campus use.
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library also has various reference works useful for investigating market prices for rare books. Among these, American Book Prices Current, a record of books, manuscripts, autographs, maps and broadsides sold at auction in North America and the UK, and sales from select countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Monaco, Holland, Australia, is the standard tool used by dealers, appraisers, auction houses, scholars and tax authorities. Online access is restricted to on-site use from public terminals in The Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
The Austrian dealer, Antiquariat INLIBRIS Gilhofer Nfg. GmbH offers a limited number of free appraisals at the beginning of every calendar month.
Finally, some bookdealers’ searchable inventories are available online at: