Scarcity

The scarcity of the book is a major, and sometimes the only sign of the rarity of a book. In order to determine a book’s scarcity, here are factors to consider:

• How many copies were printed? How many copies survive? Typically, any book that is printed in quantities less than 500 is potentially rare.
• What adverse events may have led to a book’s scarcity? These may also add to historical significance.
• Was the book a limited edition? Is it autographed by the author?