Avoiding Blunders in Book Scouting

By Akklemm @AnakaliaKlemm

Old Scrolls Blog

People frequently bring books to offer for sale to us at Old Scrolls Book Shop, or e-mail us about books they would like to sell.  Some people have inherited these books, others are downsizing or cleaning out their attic, and some have scoured book sales, flea markets, book stores and antique shops searching for books they can resell at a profit.   We have a few regulars who are quite good at book scouting, but this is a talent that takes time and effort to develop, and some of the instinct for it, I believe, is inborn.  The best book scouts tend to be those who have been serious readers all of their lives, who then have been diligent in acquiring and applying knowledge regarding identifying books of value.

One of the most common mistakes for beginners, perhaps, is picking up common old reprints of famous books.   Important titles seem to…

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