Valuation of Donations of Library Materials
The RIT Library staff does not provide appraisals of gifts or potential
gifts to the collection, as Internal Revenue Code, Section 2512(c), “Valuation
of Gifts” (1986) precludes the recipient from evaluating a gift. The donor bears
full responsibility for establishing the value of his/her gift.
The following is a selected list of established Rochester-area book appraisers
and standard printed sources of book price and sales information. This list
is intended to assist donors and potential donors in determining the fair market
value of their collections. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement of
the services of any business by RIT Library or RIT. The library’s subject
specialists may be able to help donors locate appraisers for specialized subject
collections.
Rochester-Area Book Appraisers
James Brunner
20 Groveland Road
Geneseo, New York 14454
Telephone: 585-243-3563
Book Shop
Route 15 next to the old train station
Livonia, New York 14487
No Telephone
Bookstore hours: Saturday and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Brunner is experienced in appraising printed materials in all
subject areas and media including books, periodicals, photographs, prints, maps,
and ephemera. His standard appraisal provides a general description and history
of the collection and an estimate of the fair market value for the collection
as a whole. He will not provide an itemized inventory or list values for specific
items in the collection. He charges $50 per hour plus travel expenses (if significant)
to prepare appraisals of collections of any size. Rates for appraisals of single
items are negotiable.
John Traibone
Abacus Bookshop
334 East Avenue
Rochester, New York 14604
Telephone: 585-325-7950
Bookstore hours: daily by chance or appointment
Mr. Traibone is qualified to evaluate collections in most subject areas and
specializes in fine arts, literature, scientific, and medical materials. He
provides appraisals of collections of any size at the rate of $50 per hour.
Rates for appraisal of single items are negotiable. His standard written appraisals
include a general description of the content and extent of the collection, but
he will prepare an itemized inventory if required by the client.
John Westerberg
Yankee Peddler Bookshop
4299 Lake Rd.
Williamson, New York 14589
or
byankeep@rochester.rr.com
(315)483-2667
(315)589-2049
Yankee Peddler Bookshop, Volume II
Village Gate Square
274 North Goodman Street
Rochester, New York 14607
Telephone: 585-271-5080
Bookstore hours: Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, 12:00
noon to 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Westerberg is qualified to evaluate English-language books, periodicals,
and ephemera in all fields and pre-twentieth century prints and photographs.
His appraisal fee is $100 per hour for time spent examining collections on-site
not to exceed 8% of total value of collection.
His standard written appraisal includes a general description of the extent
and content of the collection and an itemized list of all titles valued at $25
or more. Mr. Westerberg will also informally review materials and advise owners
whether or not the items are worth appraising. Be sure to allow sufficient lead time. Appraisals take time. Please do not wait until the last minute.
Printed Sources of Price and Sales Information
AB Bookman’s Weekly.
Newark, N.J.: Sol M. Malkin, 1967-date.
Not available at RIT Libraries.
A complete run of the publication, including its earlier title, Antiquarian
Bookman (vol. 1-39, 1948-1967), is available at the Rochester Public Library,
115 South Avenue, Rochester, New York 14604.
AB Bookman’s Weekly is an important trade magazine for the antiquarian,
rare, and out-of-print book business. Every issue includes itemized lists of
titles available from scores of American book dealers and auction houses. Issues
on special subjects are published throughout the year and these include useful
articles on collecting trends and markets as well as advertisements for specialized
dealers.
American Book Prices Current.
Washington, Conn.: American Book Prices Current, 1894/95-date.
RIT Libraries holdings: vol. 67- , 1961-date. REF Z1000.A51.
A complete run of the publication (vol. 1-66, 1894/95-1960) is available at
Rochester Public Library, 115 South Avenue, Rochester, New York 14604
American Book Prices Current is an annual listing of books,
serials, autographs, manuscripts, broadsides, and maps which sold for more than
$50 at auction compiled from the sales records of approximately fifty major
book auction houses in the United States, Western Europe, and Australia. Each
entry includes full bibliographic information, a detailed physical description
of the item including size, binding (when relevant) and condition, and sales
information (auction house, date of sale, and actual sale price). Publications
covering all disciplines and in all languages are included, though coverage
is strongest for English-language material.
Bookman’s Price Index: A Guide to the Values of Rare and Other Out-of-Print
Books.
Detroit: Gale Research, 1964-date.
RIT Libraries holdings: vol. 1- , 1964-date. REF Z1000.B74.
Bookman’s Price Index is a semi-annual record of books listed in current
retail sales catalogs issued by approximately two hundred general and specialist
antiquarian booksellers in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. Each
volume includes bibliographic, condition, and sales (dealer, price) information
for approximately thirty to thirty-five thousand books, covering all disciplines,
most ranging in price from $100 to $200. English-language material is predominant
though publications in all languages are included.
Books in Print.
New Providence, N.J.: R.R. Bowker, 1948-date.
Only available online at RIT Libraries.
Also available at most bookstores.
Books in Print is an annual listing of American books currently in print
and available from their publishers. It provides bibliographic and retail price
information for titles in all disciplines.
Websites of Price and Sales Information
Abebooks
Amazon
Ebay
These sources normally include statements of condition for the title offered.
Maintained by Sheila Smokey
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