Physical and Aesthetic Properties/Condition

While a book in excellent physical condition would be more desirable than a damaged copy, there is more to consider when examining a book’s physical and aesthetic properties than just condition.

Other features to look for:

• Does the book contain maps or illustrations? Along with that, those with complex binding or edges would have a heightened collection value. (Thediscoverblog, 2013).
• Is there any damage? What can imperfections tell us? Sometimes, the damage a book sustains reveals a lot about the life it has lived. Cookbooks are an excellent example. People have a unique relationship with food, and the stains, markings, and personal additions to cookbooks provide a sort of time capsule for such a relationship (Bakes. n.d.).
• Are there any publishing mistakes? Mistakes are a beautiful thing! The details in the text of a book that would seem to be errors to an unfamiliar reader can tell a lot about the rarity of a book. First issues containing amusing typographical errors include Wolfe s Look Homeward Angel, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. If you locate these typos, they can be an indication of a first edition book. (Averell, 1967, p. 3).
• Is it in perfect condition? Or has it seen a lot of use? The condition of a book plays a huge role in the overall value of any rare literary material. The external and physical appearance, as well as the completeness of the book’s contents, are things to look for when evaluating the condition (Rare and Beautiful, 2004).
• How can I evaluate a book’s condition? For a book to be considered in “fine” condition, it must be complete in all respects, be free of tears or damage, and must be in its original binding. If the book has been rebound, or has been significantly damaged, it would need to be extraordinarily rare to be valuable (Rare and Beautiful, 2004).
• Does the book feature new innovations? Are the binding and illustrations unusual? If a book has exquisite bindings and illustrations, it can add to its status. Things to look for would be special bindings, if the book features the first use of a new printing process, or if the book is an example of an innovative design. Notes, autographs and inscriptions are also wonderful things to find (Rare and Beautiful, 2004).
• What is the interior condition like? Don’t judge a book by its cover! If you find a book that you believe could be rare, you should take a look inside. A book that has pages that are missing would be considered an “imperfect” book. If you see that the book has undergone some repair work, that would be an example of “Facsimile”. Facsimile is in reference to a reprint of a book that is designed to look like the original. The term can also be used to describe pages or bookplates that are produced to replace the originals that are missing or damaged (Rare and Beautiful, 2004).