FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a "First Edition" and why is it valuable?
- How do I identify a First Edition?
- What should I collect?
- What's better: Signed or Inscribed?
- I have some old books. They look a little worn but pretty good for their age. How valuable are they?
- Where do I get the protective Mylar for the books I already own?
- How do you grade the condition of your books?
- Are your books/dust jackets Mylar-covered?
- How do I know the signatures are authentic?
- How are orders processed and shipped?
- What's your "CyberStockroom?"
- Do you order books?
- Where do you get your books?
- Do you buy books?
Collecting
What is a "First Edition" and why is it valuable?
The term "First Edition" is used by collectors to refer very precisely to the first printing of a particular book. It is the first (publicly available) form of a specific book distributed and as such, most accurately represents the author's intentions.
Traditionally, the value of First Editions derive from the largely intangible pleasure from owning the very first instantiation of say, some culturally significant work. Books are published—released into the world—and a share of them inevitably impact that world either immediately or years, even decades later. Consider a first edition of Darwin's seminal "Origin of Species" from 1859. Holding such a scientifically and culturally influential book can place you directly in touch, quite literally, with the ideas that have come to shape history. [It could also place you in touch with a substantial amount of cash]. Moreover, in the days before phototypesetting and digital type, there was a very real and practical preference for first printings: quality. Subsequent printings would eventually wear down the printer's plates with a corresponding degradation in the printed typeface.
In our time, the value of first editions is more a function of Keynesian economics. By definition, first printings are a produced in finite numbers whereas the quantity of later (re)printings, if any, have no theoretical limit. Application of the law of supply-and-demand creates the market value of a book. Back to Top
Traditionally, the value of First Editions derive from the largely intangible pleasure from owning the very first instantiation of say, some culturally significant work. Books are published—released into the world—and a share of them inevitably impact that world either immediately or years, even decades later. Consider a first edition of Darwin's seminal "Origin of Species" from 1859. Holding such a scientifically and culturally influential book can place you directly in touch, quite literally, with the ideas that have come to shape history. [It could also place you in touch with a substantial amount of cash]. Moreover, in the days before phototypesetting and digital type, there was a very real and practical preference for first printings: quality. Subsequent printings would eventually wear down the printer's plates with a corresponding degradation in the printed typeface.
In our time, the value of first editions is more a function of Keynesian economics. By definition, first printings are a produced in finite numbers whereas the quantity of later (re)printings, if any, have no theoretical limit. Application of the law of supply-and-demand creates the market value of a book. Back to Top
How do I identify a First Edition?
Arm yourself with a few choice reference books (see: Collector Resources: bibliography; chief among them being Bill McBride's handy Pocket Guide), an eye for detail, a good memory, and fair amount of forgiveness for the (many) inevitable mistakes to be made until you (never fully) master the often contradictory systems employed by publishers in their designation of first printings. Simply having "First Edition" appear on the copyright page does not necessarily a first edition make.
Until you've gotten some book-scouting miles under your belt—and studied the particularities of individual publishers' practices, and learned the lessons of your missteps—the surest way to identify a first edition is to buy one from a professional book dealer who specializes in them. Back to Top
Until you've gotten some book-scouting miles under your belt—and studied the particularities of individual publishers' practices, and learned the lessons of your missteps—the surest way to identify a first edition is to buy one from a professional book dealer who specializes in them. Back to Top
What should I collect?
The conventional advice to prospective collectors is quite simply to collect what most interests you. Is there a particular subject for which you hold a passion? Railroads, or cats, or metaphysics, or donuts? Maybe a certain genre of writing appeals to you. Mysteries, Sci-fi, Historical fiction? How about a geographical region? Why not Floridiana? Perhaps fine bindings, miniature books, or post-war pulp paperbacks spark your imagination.
In short, for every collector there is a unique collection being built. Often, a collection is created thematically whether its "Pulitzer Prize Winners" or "Presidential Memoirs." Then there are the "completists": collectors obsessed with acquiring every published work—(and every edition of those pubs.)—by a specific author. [Likely a lifetime's quest in the case of someone as prolific as Joyce Carol Oates, for instance].
If your aim is to assemble a (financially) "valuable" collection, be forewarned that the collectibles market is naturally volatile, especially within the hypermodern sector. Authors whose work commands a premium today may be tomorrow's has-been with resultant depreciation.
"Blue-chip Books" (eg. Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Faulkner, Steinbeck, etc.) aside, there are however, a few fast-and-hard qualities common to books likely to appreciate in value. Small first-print runs, (typical of debuts); garnering reputable literary awards; being brought to the big screen as a hit (or cult fav) film. Any or all of these factors may increase a book's value but ultimately, it is always a matter of supply and demand. Back to Top
In short, for every collector there is a unique collection being built. Often, a collection is created thematically whether its "Pulitzer Prize Winners" or "Presidential Memoirs." Then there are the "completists": collectors obsessed with acquiring every published work—(and every edition of those pubs.)—by a specific author. [Likely a lifetime's quest in the case of someone as prolific as Joyce Carol Oates, for instance].
If your aim is to assemble a (financially) "valuable" collection, be forewarned that the collectibles market is naturally volatile, especially within the hypermodern sector. Authors whose work commands a premium today may be tomorrow's has-been with resultant depreciation.
"Blue-chip Books" (eg. Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Faulkner, Steinbeck, etc.) aside, there are however, a few fast-and-hard qualities common to books likely to appreciate in value. Small first-print runs, (typical of debuts); garnering reputable literary awards; being brought to the big screen as a hit (or cult fav) film. Any or all of these factors may increase a book's value but ultimately, it is always a matter of supply and demand. Back to Top
What's better: Signed or Inscribed?
There is a distinction to be made between items that are simply "Signed" (or "Flatsigned" as the prevalent term often applied), and those that have been "Inscribed" to particular person. Among collectors, opinions and preference vary but currently the prevailing attitude is to favor the former.
This trend toward devaluing inscriptions is a recent phenomenon and one that seems to homogenize the collectible markets somewhat. The primary argument against an inscription is that it personalizes a piece, making it less transferable/desirable, less pristine. The counterargument—and one that held sway until just a few years ago—maintains that the more handwriting, the better; Serving both as a point of provenance/authenticity and as a individualizer, a unique inscription shouldn't be seen as "soiled." But they do seem so for now.
The great exceptions are inscriptions made to other well known people. These "association copies" hold their own historical and often, bibliographical value. Imagine for example, "A Sun Also Rises" warmly inscribed to F. Scott Fitzgerald.
As with nearly all aspects of collecting, personal tastes dictate desirability and therefore value.
For a more thorough treatment of the debate and its history, refer to this excellent article by fellow dealer, Ken Lopez. Back to Top
This trend toward devaluing inscriptions is a recent phenomenon and one that seems to homogenize the collectible markets somewhat. The primary argument against an inscription is that it personalizes a piece, making it less transferable/desirable, less pristine. The counterargument—and one that held sway until just a few years ago—maintains that the more handwriting, the better; Serving both as a point of provenance/authenticity and as a individualizer, a unique inscription shouldn't be seen as "soiled." But they do seem so for now.
The great exceptions are inscriptions made to other well known people. These "association copies" hold their own historical and often, bibliographical value. Imagine for example, "A Sun Also Rises" warmly inscribed to F. Scott Fitzgerald.
As with nearly all aspects of collecting, personal tastes dictate desirability and therefore value.
For a more thorough treatment of the debate and its history, refer to this excellent article by fellow dealer, Ken Lopez. Back to Top
I have some old books. They look a little worn but pretty good for their age. How valuable are they?
First, age alone is never a reliable indicator of "worth." Second, among collectors, as the saying goes: "Condition isn't the main thing; it's the only thing." Or rather, Condition and Desirability are the two things that determine a book's value. You may have an absolutely pristine, fresh-as-published book dating from 1859 but if no one particularly cares to own it, it is essentially worthless. Contrarily, a ratty, dampstained, broken yet complete copy of a scarce & much sought after title could be quite valuable indeed.
Since we do not offer professional appraisal services at this time we would suggest one of the many online marketplaces where you can get a fair idea of the range of prices asked for books similar to your own. Biblio.com | ABE.com Back to Top
Since we do not offer professional appraisal services at this time we would suggest one of the many online marketplaces where you can get a fair idea of the range of prices asked for books similar to your own. Biblio.com | ABE.com Back to Top
Where do I get the protective Mylar for the books I already own?
Our friends at Brodart.com stock a complete line of book covers, book repair supplies, and other goodies for the serious bibliophile. Back to Top
Goods & Services
How do you grade the condition of your books?
While the precise grading of books remains a subjective matter, the antiquarian book trade has established certain conventions in assessing condition. Some latitude is to be assumed within these guidelines but we make every effort to be accurate and complete in our item descriptions.
Since we stock "New" books alongside our "Used" offerings, we reserve the use of the descriptor "New" for items that are literally just that: i.e. new, never-read, purchased directly from the publisher. It is therefore our highest grade, comparable to Very Fine (VF), a term occasionally employed by other booksellers.
Condition Grades
NEW [N]: Fresh and crisp. Unread, tight, and flawless. Where minor shelfwear becomes evident, typically at the dustjacket edges, items may be (re)catalogued "As New" with corresponding explanation.
FINE [F]: Without visible defects yet no longer virginal. An excellent, well-preserved copy whose minor blemishes, if any, are duly noted in the description.
VERY GOOD [VG]: The most common collector's grade allowing for imperfections such as bookplates, moderate shelfwear, price-clipped dustjackets, remainder marks, and the like. A copy that has obviously been read yet remains solid, sound, clean, and complete. All defects are listed.
GOOD [G]: A typical "used" book that shows its use. There may be a singularly debilitating flaw or an accumulation of defects that relegate this copy to the lowest of collector's grades. Still whole and complete with all shortcomings listed.
FAIR [F]; POOR [P]; EX-LIBRARY [X-LIB]: A substantially degraded book whose value is as a reading copy only.
Within this spectrum we also apply modifiers to further shade distinctions between grades. NEAR (FINE) [NF], for instance, or VERY GOOD+ [VG+]. A representative listing where the book's condition is followed by that of its dustjacket would be NF/vg- meaning: A near fine copy in a (slightly less than) very good dustjacket. Back to Top
Since we stock "New" books alongside our "Used" offerings, we reserve the use of the descriptor "New" for items that are literally just that: i.e. new, never-read, purchased directly from the publisher. It is therefore our highest grade, comparable to Very Fine (VF), a term occasionally employed by other booksellers.
Condition Grades
NEW [N]: Fresh and crisp. Unread, tight, and flawless. Where minor shelfwear becomes evident, typically at the dustjacket edges, items may be (re)catalogued "As New" with corresponding explanation.
FINE [F]: Without visible defects yet no longer virginal. An excellent, well-preserved copy whose minor blemishes, if any, are duly noted in the description.
VERY GOOD [VG]: The most common collector's grade allowing for imperfections such as bookplates, moderate shelfwear, price-clipped dustjackets, remainder marks, and the like. A copy that has obviously been read yet remains solid, sound, clean, and complete. All defects are listed.
GOOD [G]: A typical "used" book that shows its use. There may be a singularly debilitating flaw or an accumulation of defects that relegate this copy to the lowest of collector's grades. Still whole and complete with all shortcomings listed.
FAIR [F]; POOR [P]; EX-LIBRARY [X-LIB]: A substantially degraded book whose value is as a reading copy only.
Within this spectrum we also apply modifiers to further shade distinctions between grades. NEAR (FINE) [NF], for instance, or VERY GOOD+ [VG+]. A representative listing where the book's condition is followed by that of its dustjacket would be NF/vg- meaning: A near fine copy in a (slightly less than) very good dustjacket. Back to Top
Are your books/dust jackets Mylar-covered?
As a matter of course we do cover all of our dustjacketed books upon receipt. Brodart supplies excellent archival-quality, super-clear mylar jacket covers that we carefully cut-to-fit every book. Back to Top
How do I know the signatures are authentic?
Nearly every signature in our collection—particularly our hyper-moderns—has been obtained in-person from the author him/herself at in-store as well as off-site events. A very small percentage of signed stock is obtained from reputable dealers/bookstores and infrequently, directly from publishers. An even smaller percentage is acquired from trustworthy collectors.
In all instances, we conscientiously authenticate any suspect signatures and where there remains any doubt whatsoever, we refrain from offering the item for sale. Should provenance be required, don't hesitate to contact us for further details. Back to Top
In all instances, we conscientiously authenticate any suspect signatures and where there remains any doubt whatsoever, we refrain from offering the item for sale. Should provenance be required, don't hesitate to contact us for further details. Back to Top
How are orders processed and shipped?
Terms of Sale
Orders are typically processed within 24 hours—no later than 48 hours—and shipped shortly thereafter. Barring extenuating circumstances (e.g. international freight costs), orders are boxed to ensure safe delivery.
Methods of accepted payment include Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover as well as PayPal.
Domestic [U.S.] Orders:
Oversize/Bulky orders may require additional postage but we'll contact you with details if necessary. We do take every measure to deliver your order securely, quickly, and as economically as possible.
"On Approval Guarantee": All sales are fully refundable, including shipping costs, within 7 days of receipt if your order arrives damaged or described incorrectly. Please contact us as soon as possible and allow us an opportunity to rectify any problems or arrange a prompt refund. Returns for other reasons are at our discretion.
Signature Assurance: Every signed item is guaranteed bona fide and purchase price is fully refundable for the lifetime of the buyer should an autograph be proven inauthentic.
Secure Cart/Checkout:
SandDollarBookstore.com is SSL encrypted on Apache servers and guaranteed secure by GeoTrust.
Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure online commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your credit card information so that it cannot be read as the information travels over the internet. (Note the change from http:// to https:// in the URL as you enter our Secure Payment mode.) Back to Top
Orders are typically processed within 24 hours—no later than 48 hours—and shipped shortly thereafter. Barring extenuating circumstances (e.g. international freight costs), orders are boxed to ensure safe delivery.
Methods of accepted payment include Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover as well as PayPal.
Domestic [U.S.] Orders:
- USPS Media Mail ( 2-8 days ) : $ 3 for the first item; $ 1 for each item thereafter with Delivery Confirmation included
- USPS Priority Mail ( 1-3 days ) : $ 12 for the first item; $ 4 for each additional item.
- FedEx Ground ( 3-5 days ) : $ 10 for the first item; $ 2 for each additional item
*please note: FedEx will not insure shipments over $100, regardless of "declared value."
- USPS Priority International ENVELOPE( 6-8 days ) : single-title orders only for $ 12.
- USPS Priority International BOX ( 6-8 days )
- : Canada/Mexico: $ 25 for first item; $ 5 for each additional item.
- : all other destinations: $ 45 for first item; $ 5 for each additional item.
Oversize/Bulky orders may require additional postage but we'll contact you with details if necessary. We do take every measure to deliver your order securely, quickly, and as economically as possible.
"On Approval Guarantee": All sales are fully refundable, including shipping costs, within 7 days of receipt if your order arrives damaged or described incorrectly. Please contact us as soon as possible and allow us an opportunity to rectify any problems or arrange a prompt refund. Returns for other reasons are at our discretion.
Signature Assurance: Every signed item is guaranteed bona fide and purchase price is fully refundable for the lifetime of the buyer should an autograph be proven inauthentic.
Secure Cart/Checkout:
SandDollarBookstore.com is SSL encrypted on Apache servers and guaranteed secure by GeoTrust.
Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure online commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your credit card information so that it cannot be read as the information travels over the internet. (Note the change from http:// to https:// in the URL as you enter our Secure Payment mode.) Back to Top
What's your "CyberStockroom?"
It is your opportunity to support The (endangered) Independent Bookstore (sp. evanidus bibliopolis) by choosing us as your source for any new books you may need that are not stocked in our brick-and-mortar. Our vendors maintain a fully searchable inventory of currently in-print titles ready to ship from the closest of three national warehouses directly to your doorstep. CDs, DVDs, and audio & E-books are also available.
Orders are expedited and fulfilled directly by our suppliers, and are usually shipped the same day. Backorders are gladly accepted and their customer service is on standby should you have any questions about your order.
This "Retailer Place" addendum to our site offers a shopping alternative to ahem, that other (hulking) online "bookstore" and your purchases reflect a conviction to sustain Independent Bookstores as an irreplaceable resource.
Risking redundancy, CyberStockroom orders are accepted via a separate checkout and are promptly shipped straight to you. If you want to place an order for in-store pickup, please see below. Back to Top
Orders are expedited and fulfilled directly by our suppliers, and are usually shipped the same day. Backorders are gladly accepted and their customer service is on standby should you have any questions about your order.
This "Retailer Place" addendum to our site offers a shopping alternative to ahem, that other (hulking) online "bookstore" and your purchases reflect a conviction to sustain Independent Bookstores as an irreplaceable resource.
Risking redundancy, CyberStockroom orders are accepted via a separate checkout and are promptly shipped straight to you. If you want to place an order for in-store pickup, please see below. Back to Top
Do you order books?
Customers interested in placing an order to be picked-up at our Venice shop should contact us and we can generally have your book(s) available in 2 business days. Out-of-print [OOP] titles may also be requested although availability may vary.
We also maintain a "wants list" for our customers. Simply create an account to be automatically notified when an item you are searching for becomes available at our shop. Back to Top
We also maintain a "wants list" for our customers. Simply create an account to be automatically notified when an item you are searching for becomes available at our shop. Back to Top
Where do you get your books?
We get our books wherever books can be got(ten): New books from the publishers and, increasingly from the authors themselves; Fine, used books from library sales, estate sales, other shops, auctions, our customers, and fellow collectors.
Thankfully, the physical book is still endemic and likely to remain so for some time. Judicious scouting and informed buying shape our collection of quality offerings. Back to Top
Thankfully, the physical book is still endemic and likely to remain so for some time. Judicious scouting and informed buying shape our collection of quality offerings. Back to Top
Do you buy books?
We buy selectively and in response to the variable needs of our shop and its customers. Our focus remains collector's-grade first edition, literary fiction and Floridiana. Should you care to part with some of your treasures, send along a description (and photos if at all possible), and we will respond if we're interested.
What we definitely do not buy:
What we definitely do not buy:
- Encyclopedias, Atlases, and other outdated materials.
- Reader's Digest/Time-Life/National Geographic/Book-Club (BOMC) books.
- Mass-market paperbacks or magazines.
- Romance novels
- Hypercommon Genre Fiction Hardcovers published after 1985: eg. Patterson, Grisham, Cussler, and their ilk. (If you regularly see their books crammed into the clearance rack of a BigBox chain or bloating the shelves of a thriftstore, we do not want them).
