Featured Book from 1669 - published in London

I am trying my luck for the first time on this forum, with a question if anyone knows anything about this book i found when clearing at my late fathers house, see photo. It is printed in London in 1669, and even if not at all in mint condition, it is not to bad. My question is: is there any value in a book like this, and should it be restored prior to selling? Hope to get some help here!

 

This appears to be the volume you have. Keep in mind, this is an asking price, not a sale price, and yours appears to be in inferior condition.

https://biblio.co.uk/book/complete-chymical-dispensatory-five-books-treating/d/871317252

The condition of the cover will impact value and whether the spine is broken as well. Others may disagree but I'm of the belief that buyers of collectible and antiquarian books prefer to buy "as is" because they prefer to use their own restorers who restore only to the buyers' preferred condition.

Debora

 

Interesting subject. There will probably be value to someone, but a lot will depend on how complete the text is, and the condition. I doubt it's worth the cost of restoration. The page you are showing says 5 books. Are there 5 defined sections in this volume?

 

Thanks for your reply here! Frankly i have not really looked at it in detail, i have many similar (but not that old) - but i am sure it is only one book and it seem all complete. Maybe the texts are all collected into one, i do not know.. But i am frequently in London, and may bring it with me, if anyone want to look at it. As a lover of old and interesting object i am serious about finding a good home to objects like these, and i guess you are right, to restore may be to much.. but thank you so much for your reply again!

 

Most probably an English translation of Johann Schröders widely known Artzney-Schatz (1641).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Schröder_(physician)

 

Early scientific and technical books are very popular with collectors, my experience of selling them is that Americans are the best and least fussy buyers. Poor condition seems less important with US collectors, for some years I was able to make easy profits by buying (in England) auction lots of books that British book dealers simply turned their noses up at because of missing or loose boards and general scruffiness. This was ten years and more ago, i suspect that even the most vellum bound British dealer will have noticed that not only immaculate copies are saleable. I got the impression that British antiquarian book dealers would not deign to pick up a gold coin from a muddy road because it would be a bit dirty and they'd have to bend down. The sort of people who'd wear white cotton gloves to handle rare books, not to protect the books but to ensure their hands remained unsullied.

Anyway, back to your book. For a decent auction valuation of your book contact Dominic Winter, a specialist book auctioneer near Stroud. Good pictures will help. To tap the US market ebay was always good for me. Auction format, low start, and expect the majority of bidding in the last minute. I'd often see things quadruple in price as the serious bids came in.
Bookseller asking prices are always very high, maybe because all the sensibly priced stuff has already sold. Do not expect £950 or anything remotely like it. I'd probably pay £50 to £100 for it depending on actual condition.
If you have other old books from the same source, the more interesting they are the more they fetch, with books of sermons or religious tracts at the lowest valuation. These religious books are usually in the best condition, not having been read much in 300 years.

 

Here you can check if your book is complete: https://archive.org/details/b30342065

The subject of the book will be interesting not only for collectors, but also for Pharmacists, physicians, chemists etc, who want to have one old book about their profession. These buyers generally don't mind a missing page too much and I have seen bad books go high on Ebay because they have the "Harry Potter magic book feeling". It is a huge plus that this book is in English vs Latin, German or French, because almost anybody can read English today, the language has not changed much since 1669, and except for the long S the typeface is the same used today. (Vs Black letters many people have problems reading today.)

Collectors on the other hand often have the one bookbinder they trust, many are skilled bookbinders themselves. I would say its almost always better not to invest in a restoration, except for really rare and expensive books you want to sell in a prestigious auction house, and there the auction house will assist you. (This is not one of those books) I would say this book should bring considerably more than £ 50-100 if it is complete. Its very important that you check if the book is complete and list every missing page or page with text loss.

 

I was posting an answer on one of post, but will do so to all, instead of under each, as i am so grateful to all of you here.

Actually, i have noticed some of what is said here on the US market, on popular reality shows, like the pawn shop program from Las Vegas, that i look at now and then. If it is true, it is amazing what they pay for books that are seemingly rare over there, books that are not in perfect condition, and that would not sell at all here in Norway (and i doubt also in the UK) for a fraction of the prize.

However, i always have mixed feelings when selling. On one side, I love books and would like to keep them, on the other side, space is getting more limited and life have thought me that you cannot keep it all. On the other side it seem to me that interest for books are going rapidly down in our electronic age, which is a shame, so the chances to find a good home for the books you love are getting more and more difficult. Especially on items like these.

But i will do a bit of research now, find the book in the box where it is now, and see what i can do, and i will keep you all posted on what happens. And thanks again - i will certainly come back with more questions and comments!

 

Welcome to Antiquers, @Torkel Oftedal . Your question has gotten some lengthy and informative responses. A positive thing! Please come back to update the thread if you find more information.

 

In reading all of this post, nearly forgot to WELCOME you to Antiquers, and wish you best of luck in finding successful new homes for the books you’re willing to part with!!!! I think most of us here are collectors of one thing or another (or too many things!!!!!), and know how difficult it can be to part with some of it!!