New To the Group

Hi,

I am new to reselling and would like to learn more.

I have a book, Marguerite de Angeli's Book of Nursery And Mother Goose Rhymes. Copyright 1954. It looks like there was also a printing in 1953. On the inside of the hardcover, the book is stamped "Damaged Not For Resale." Does this make the book more valuable?

Chrysalis

 

Hello, Chrysalis, and welcome! It would be helpful if you posted a photograph of your book and the stamp but to answer your question... In general, a book stamped "damaged" wouldn't be more valuable because condition is of great importance in book collecting. Especially with children's books which typically see more wear than adult books. Where it might not impact value so much is when the book was scarce and any copy was hard to find.

Debora

 

I've visited a used book site, Abebooks.com, and it has 38 copies of your book on offer. That means it isn't terribly scarce. Asking prices range from $7.99 to $254.75 depending on book condition and the seller's pricing strategy. If yours is stamped "damaged," I would think resale value was negligible. But, again, photographs would be helpful.

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?bsi=0&kn=1954&sortby=17&tn=Marguerite de Angeli's Book of Nursery And Mother Goose Rhymes&prevpage=2

Debora

 

Debora,

Thanks for your response. I have attached a few pictures. The lighting is terrible but it kind of shows what I am working with.

 

Ah. No dust jacket. Dirty boards. Damage stamp and glue residue. Your book has no resale value IMO.

You're just starting out so important to remember that, in book collecting, old doesn't necessarily mean valuable. Condition almost always matters and missing dust jacket has great negative impact on value.

Debora

 

Debora,

Yes. I am still learning. Thank you for your honest evaluation. Do you have any thoughts on The Little One by Dare Wright?

 

Dare Wright had a bit of revival a few years ago. I went to abebooks.com to see what was on offer and The Little One appears to a bit scarce. Twelve copies are on offer for between $49.75 and $395.00. Keep in mind those are asking prices, not sold. Because of the Not for Resale and torn dust jacket, you'd be somewhere at the very low end of that.

Debora

 

I checked eBay Completed Listings for you and they've had 4 copies for sale recently, 2 of those as part of a lot. This "good" copy with dirty boards and torn dust jacket sold for $15.49.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-1959-H...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

If I had to make an educated guess, you might be able to realize something similar on eBay if someone wanted a clean, reading copy with dust jacket.

Debora

 

None of my business but... Where are you finding all these these stamped "damaged" and "not for sale" children's books?

Debora

 

I purchased them from an estate sale. It doesn't look like they are worth much though.

 

Thank you for your help Debora.

 

You're welcome.

Debora