Modern Mystery Collecting         

As a reader, you probably already collect books.  However, you may not realize that what you are buying today can oft times become worth quite a bit of money.  Since you are buying books anyway, there are several ways to increase their future value.

• Buy first edition, first printing hardbacks. Make sure that the copyright page states that the book is a first edition. Also, make sure that the string of numbers at the bottom of the copyright page contain all of the numbers from 1 to 10.  These numbers insure that the book is not only a first edition but a first printing as well.
• A Book with an unblemished dust jacket is worth more.  Before reading the book, enclose the jacket in an acid free Mylar cover.
• When reading, do not crack the spine so that the pages lay flat.   A book that appears to be unread is worth more.
• If only the author's name appears on the title page, a book is considered signed.  A book is inscribed if the author has written a dedication to  an individual in addition to signing the book.  Signed books are worth more than inscribed books.
• Generally speaking, first books published when the author is as yet unknown can increase dramatically in value when the author becomes famous.  A prime example is Sue Grafton's 'A is for Alibi'.  I have seen a f/f , first edition, signed copy of this book listed for as much as $2500.00.  A f/f, signed, first edition of Janet Evanovich's book 'One For the Money' is already selling for over a hundred dollars.

Today's on-line auctions are great places to buy and sell books.  Before bidding on a book, make sure you know how much it is worth.  It is very easy to get caught up in the bidding and pay more than you should.  One good way to find out the going price of a book is to look at past auctions.  Another way is search one of the on-line reseller collections, such as  www.abebooks.com.   Remember, the prices you see are what the seller thinks the book is worth.  However, you will get a general idea of the book's price range.

Have fun, and maybe you will stumble across a first edition 'A is for Alibi'  at a yard sale or in Aunt Martha's attic.

Ebay is a great place to find collectible books