SALISBURY — Summer is, of course, the
ideal time to lie in a hammock with a sweaty glass of iced tea and a
really fine book. How appropriate, then, that summer is also a time of
abundance for book sales and book signings.
Although one
should first and foremost follow one’s heart when rifling through a
table of pre-owned books, book dealer Dan Dwyer (Johnnycake Books in
Salisbury and online) shared some tips for getting the most out of a
signing, a sale and a thorough cleaning of the attic bookcases.
First, he advised enthusiastically, don’t be shy about contacting a
book dealer and getting professional advice. Unless your collection is
made up mainly of condensed books or paperbacks from CVS, there is a
chance a dealer will want to buy them from you.
What makes a collection special? His advice is as useful for the reader
who is seeking books at a sale as it is for someone who is culling
books (presumably to make room for new acquisitions).
Of most interest, he said, are books that reflect the career or passion of their owner.
“If you call and tell me your grandfather was a historian at Harvard
and you have his entire 19th-century library, I’ll be over there in a
heartbeat,” Dwyer said. “If your great-aunt made beautiful lace, and
even has some pieces in a museum, and you have her collection of books
about lace, I want to see it.”
Book editors, of course, often have notable collections, not simply
because they are likely to have good taste but also because they often
have access to galleys (unbound and often unedited books) and to first
printings.
Many collectors, Dwyer warned, are keen on finding what they think are first editions.
“Just because it says it’s a first edition on the copyright page that
doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a true first edition,” he advised. “And
just because it doesn’t say it’s a first edition, that doesn’t mean it
isn’t. Different publishers use different coding systems and
demarcations.”
How can the average person tell the difference? Ask an expert, of
course. But also look for other indicators of a book’s value, such as
the condition of the binding and the pages (“Condition is everything,”
Dwyer said), or the cover art. A very good paperback of “Catcher in the
Rye” from the 1960s, for example, will pique Dwyer’s interest, even
though it’s not a first printing.
Autographed copies can also be tricky. A book that is signed “To Sally
from Ernest Hemingway” is less valuable than a book simply signed
“Ernest Hemingway.” Unless Sally was a notable person in the author’s
life.
Booklovers who attend summer signings, such as the annual Hotchkiss
Library of Sharon event (Aug. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.), should not
automatically ask the author to simply sign their name on the inside
cover, however. For one thing, Dwyer said, it offends them and makes
them feel “objectified.” They also know that a book with just the
author’s name in it is likely to end up on eBay not long after the
signing session.
“Most authors prefer to inscribe a book,” Dwyer said. “Particularly if
it’s a literary author, whose work requires thought. They’ve earned
their readership, and when they inscribe a book it defines a
relationship with the reader.”
Although non-literary publications such as textbooks are generally not
of value, “Retirees of IBM from the late 1940s and 1950s should take a
look at their old training manuals.”
Certain books, such as computer manuals, enjoy a vogue. Right now,
cookbooks are very hot, Dwyer said, even those color-saturated ones
from the 1970s.
“The new generation of graphic designers and artists grew up after the
’70s,” Dwyer said. “So books that we take for granted look very fresh
to them.”
Also very hot now are “juvenile fantasy and spiritual books,” such as
the works of C.S. Lewis. This trend was inspired, of course, by the
Harry Potter books.
For more tips on buying, culling, selling and preserving old books (and
collecting autographs on new ones) visit Johnnycake Books on Academy
Street in Salisbury. Dwyer is hosting a tent sale that began July 2 and
ends Sunday, July 6 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prices start at $1, even for
books valued at $20 or more. “I need to make space on my shelves,”
Dwyer said. “But these are all books I’ve selected and ‘vetted.’”
Don’t be shy to ask questions and don’t be shy to browse. The best
part of shopping for old books, Dwyer believes, is the thrill of
discovery.
© Copyright 2008 by TCExtra.com
