Reference Tools
The Ryerson & Burnham Libraries do not subscribe to book pricing materials, but resources such as the following are available at many public libraries:
Ahearn, Allan and Patricia. Collected Books: The Guide to Identification and Values. Comus, MD: Quill & Brush Press, 2011.
American Book Prices Current Online. Washington, CT: Parkman-Bancroft, Inc, 2007-.
Bookman’s Price Index. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1964-.
Please note: this list does not constitute an endorsement of any business or individual by the Art Institute or by any member of its staff. It is offered for convenience and informational purposes only.
If you’re interested in finding ballpark prices for your book, sites such as AbeBooks.com, AddALL, or viaLibri will search across hundreds of websites to find similar items for sale.
Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America
The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America provides some information about evaluating rare books, along with a link to a web form that will help you find a local appraiser.
Rare Books and Manuscript Section of ACRL
The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) provides answers to frequently asked questions about old books. It also includes a bibliography and links to helpful Internet resources.
Please note: this list does not constitute an endorsement of any business or individual by the Art Institute or by any member of its staff. It is offered for convenience and informational purposes only.
Mary Beth Beal
Specialist in antiquarian books, manuscripts, and maps
3919 North Claremont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
Tel: (773) 539-0105
Email: mbbeal@ameritech.net
Glenn Elliot Ferdman
Specialist in Judaiaca and Hebraica
8855 LaVergne, Apt. 1B
Skokie, IL 60077
Tel: (773) 590-5742
Email: Glenn1961@gmail.com
Gurr Johns
200 East Randolph Street
Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: (312) 888-0904
Email: eamundsen@gurrjohns.com
Thomas J. Joyce Company
Specialist in antiquarian books
400 North Racine, #103A
Chicago, IL 60622-5838
Tel: (312) 434-0739
Email: tjoyceco@riseup.net
Kathleen Lamb
Specialist in books and photographs
1539 West Birchwood Avenue
Chicago, IL 60626
Tel: (773) 761-7626
Fax: (773) 761-7681
Email: kathleenlamb@sbcglobal.net
George Ritzlin Antique Maps and Prints
1937 Central Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Tel: (847) 328-1966
Fax: (847) 328-2644
Email: maps@ritzlin.com
Harry L. Stern
Specialist in antiquarian books, atlases, and maps
777 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2805
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: (312) 337-1401
Fax: (312) 214-2510
Preserving Book Collections
Certain elements and conditions in our environment can contribute to and even accelerate the deterioration of book and archival collections. Steps should be taken to preserve and maintain the useful life of these materials. Below are general preservation guidelines that can be easily applied to home libraries.
Temperature and Humidity
Ideal levels are 68-72° F, with 40-50% RH. Monitor temperature and humidity levels. Excessive fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity can be particularly damaging to book.
Light Levels
All light is damaging to books and the materials from which they are made, especially light containing UV rays (such as sunlight and fluorescent light). Minimize light exposure as much as possible using drapes or shades. UV filters may also be used to decrease the potential of light damage.
Location
Good air circulation around books should be maintained in storage areas. Avoid placing bookshelves against outer walls or near windows. Do not store books in attics or basements. These areas have the greatest fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels and can be very damaging to books.
Storage
Book collections should be stored on bookshelves made from metal or sealed wood. Unsealed wood releases damaging acidic vapors into the environment and can accelerate the deterioration of books. Books should not be shelved too tightly or they may be damaged when removed or reshelved. The use of bookends to hold books upright will eliminate strain on the bindings that leaning would cause. Tall books may be shelved with the spine down, never with the fore-edge down. Oversized items may be stored lying flat on the shelf; if two or more books are stacked in this way, they should be arranged in size from largest on the bottom to smallest on top.
Archival Storage Materials and Enclosures
Appropriate storage materials should be provided for fragile materials. A variety of prefabricated archival storage materials are available to house books and other items. When selecting storage materials for your book and archival collections be certain that the materials from which they are made are chemically stable. Paper and board should be acid-free, alkaline buffered, and lignin-free. Clear plastic enclosures should be uncoated and free of additives. Polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene are three types of plastic that are suitable for long-term storage. Custom-made enclosures can also be constructed for book collection materials. These enclosures act as protective shells to books and other items by keeping out dust and light, acting as buffers against atmospheric pollutants and fluctuations in the ambient environment, and providing support and stability to weak and fragile materials.
Handling
Avoid handling books with unwashed hands. Do not pull books from shelves by the headcaps, as this will ultimately cause damage to the spine. Instead, push back the books on either side of the book to be retrieved, grasp the book with one hand and use the other hand to support it from underneath. Once a book is removed from the shelf, the remaining books should be readjusted into an upright position, the bookend moved to support the books. Do not attempt to carry more books than can be comfortably handled. Most books cannot be opened flat without some level of damage to the binding occurring. The use of cradles or supports will eliminate this problem.
Housekeeping
Regular cleaning of areas where books are stored will ensure the protection of collections from particulate pollutants including dust and mold. It will also discourage insects and pests from devastating book collections. HEPA vacuum cleaners and cleaning cloths to which particulates adhere are very effective. HEPA air filters are also recommended.
American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
727 15th Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 452-9545
info@conservation-us.org
Guild of Book Workers
521 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10175
Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540
(202) 707-5000
Northeast Document Conservation Center
100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 470-1010
Archival Products
P.O. Box 1413
Des Moines, IA 50306
(800) 526-5640
info@archival.com
Conservation Resources International, LLC
5532 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22151
(800) 634-6932
sales@conservationresources.com
Gaylord Archival
P.O. Box 4901
Syracuse, NY 13221
(800) 962-9580
Hollinger Metal Edge
9401 Northeast Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
(800) 634-0491
Talas
330 Morgan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(212) 219-0770
University Products
517 Main Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
(800) 628-1912
info@universityproducts.com