appraisal question

On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:16:31 -0500, "bill allemann"
wrote:

>Is there an online appraisal service that would have known credibility, if I
>were I to invoke their report in the process of selling a book on ebay, etc?

None that is more credible than this:

http://www.beekslayers.org/appraisals.htm
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question 

"Francis A. Miniter" wrote in message

> bill allemann wrote:
>> Is there an online appraisal service that would have known credibility,
>> if I were I to invoke their report in the process of selling a book on
>> ebay, etc?
>>
>> Thanks, Bill
>
> I doubt it. While you can describe a book to someone who cannot see it,
> that person would be unlikely to want to place a value on it without
> personally observing the condition of the book. Condition is one of the
> most important criteria for determining the value of a collectible book.
> An appraiser would want to know if the book cover is faded, if the book
> leans, if the covers are bowed, if the pages are as white as they were
> originally, how extensive any foxing is, are the corners bumped and if so,
> how badly, are the hinges fully secure, how bright the gilt (if any) is,
> etc. etc. etc.

You either misunderstood the question or answered a different one. The
correct answer is that there are lots of online appraisal services, some of
which have credibility; however, invoking their name isn;'t going to
convince anyone of anything, because anyone who's buying a book that's
valuable enough to be worth appraising isn't going to be swayed by the
appraisal. They'll know the relative value and they'll know the conditions
that affect that plus or minus. A couple of pictures and an honest
description will tell the buyer all he needs to know, whether, as you say,
the jacket's torn or the spine's cocked. It's not like a gem stone, where
the analysis of brilliance, color, weight and flaws require equipment and
specialized knowledge beyong the ken of the average buyer.



>
>
> Francis A. Miniter
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question 

To clarify, the condition of the book can be conveyed easily enough with
lots of photography, etc.

I was more interested in whether an appraiser could establish a reasonably
accurate market value for me,
with a "given" condition of the book. They would hopefully know the true
rarity, etc of the book.

Bill



"foad" wrote in message
>
> "Francis A. Miniter" wrote in message
>
>> bill allemann wrote:
>>> Is there an online appraisal service that would have known credibility,
>>> if I were I to invoke their report in the process of selling a book on
>>> ebay, etc?
>>>
>>> Thanks, Bill
>>
>> I doubt it. While you can describe a book to someone who cannot see it,
>> that person would be unlikely to want to place a value on it without
>> personally observing the condition of the book. Condition is one of the
>> most important criteria for determining the value of a collectible book.
>> An appraiser would want to know if the book cover is faded, if the book
>> leans, if the covers are bowed, if the pages are as white as they were
>> originally, how extensive any foxing is, are the corners bumped and if
>> so, how badly, are the hinges fully secure, how bright the gilt (if any)
>> is, etc. etc. etc.
>
> You either misunderstood the question or answered a different one. The
> correct answer is that there are lots of online appraisal services, some
> of which have credibility; however, invoking their name isn;'t going to
> convince anyone of anything, because anyone who's buying a book that's
> valuable enough to be worth appraising isn't going to be swayed by the
> appraisal. They'll know the relative value and they'll know the conditions
> that affect that plus or minus. A couple of pictures and an honest
> description will tell the buyer all he needs to know, whether, as you say,
> the jacket's torn or the spine's cocked. It's not like a gem stone, where
> the analysis of brilliance, color, weight and flaws require equipment and
> specialized knowledge beyong the ken of the average buyer.
>
>
>
>>
>>
>> Francis A. Miniter
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question 

R. Totale wrote:
> On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:16:31 -0500, "bill allemann"
> wrote:
>
>> Is there an online appraisal service that would have known credibility, if I
>> were I to invoke their report in the process of selling a book on ebay, etc?
>
> None that is more credible than this:
>
> http://www.beekslayers.org/appraisals.htm
>
>

Interesting.


Francis A. Miniter
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question 

so, all online appraisers are bogus??


"R. Totale" wrote in message

> On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:16:31 -0500, "bill allemann"
> wrote:
>
>>Is there an online appraisal service that would have known credibility, if
>>I
>>were I to invoke their report in the process of selling a book on ebay,
>>etc?
>
> None that is more credible than this:
>
> http://www.beekslayers.org/appraisals.htm
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question 

On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:08:15 -0500, "bill allemann"
wrote:

>so, all online appraisers are bogus??

Pretty much. Want to know what your book is "worth"? =No one= can tell
you. Want to know what someone will pay you for your book? Put it on
eBay with a starting price of 99 cents, and in a week you'll know.
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question 

On Jul 25, 11:05 am, R. Totale wrote:
> On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:08:15 -0500, "bill allemann"
>
> wrote:
> >so, all online appraisers are bogus??
>
> Pretty much. Want to know what your book is "worth"? =No one= can tell
> you. Want to know what someone will pay you for your book? Put it on
> eBay with a starting price of 99 cents, and in a week you'll know.

I don't know of any online appraisal services.
Rare book dealers can give you an estimate of a book's value based on
past sales.
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question 

I know of only one person that does signed book appraisals, but not
appraisals of books that aren't autographed.

"bill allemann" wrote in message

> Is there an online appraisal service that would have known credibility, if
I
> were I to invoke their report in the process of selling a book on ebay,
etc?
>
> Thanks, Bill
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: appraisal question