Are old books valuable?

Sun., May 15, 2005

Larry Cox King Features Syndicate

Q: I have several old books and need to know the value of them. — Loraine, Daytona Beach, Fla.

A: I get this question at least a dozen times each week, and it is one of the hardest to answer. Most older books are worth less than a dollar each. Some are worth slightly more, a few are extremely valuable. The trick is determining the slugs from the literary cash cows.

A good place to begin is to invest in yet more books, especially three references that I’ve found helpful. They are The Official Price Guide to Collector Books by Marie Tedford and Pat Goudey (House of Collectibles, $18); Huxford’s Old Book Value Guide (Collector Books, $19.95); and my first choice, the comprehensive Collected Books: The Guide to Values by Allen and Patricia Ahearn (Putnam, $75). These will get you started. After you’ve educated yourself, find a good used-book dealer in your area.

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Q: Some cigar boxes are worth money, and others are just nice to have. I’m wondering which category the one I have falls into. The box appears to be leather-bound and is identified as Ransom C*F*L. — Jeri, Northglenn, Colo.

A: There are several cigar-box experts. I highly recommend at least three, namely Stephen C. Jones, P.O. Box 267, Homer, NY 13077; Silas W. Bass, 7788 Cuchillo St., Oceanside, CA 92057; and Jerry L. Striker, P.O. Box 372, Lititz, PA 17543.

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