The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #85489 Message #1584127
Posted By: Deckman
16-Oct-05 - 10:48 AM
Thread Name: Old songbooks - value?
Subject: RE: Old songbooks - value?
To: "J.M." ... thanks for posting this thread. I'm finding it quite interesting. I'll make some observations that will probably NOT clear things much, but I think the points are valid:
I'm sensitive to the question you raise. I am sitting on a large collection of folk song books. Over the last few years, I have successfully auctioned off several of them. One was quite rare and did bring in a high price, $167 as I recall. As this was an auction with ALL proceeds going to MAX, and the financial support of MC, the prices the auction rasied do not reflect their true value. (Though I do think the rare book was well worth the $167).
I was very taken by "Songs of the Range." I first was given this books when I was 13. And has already been mentioned, I simply wore it out. I would gladly pay $ 20 or $ 30 to have another copy. But does my sentimentality reflect it's true value? I dunno! It's a difficult question.
I really take exception when people recommend "Abe Books" or the other on-line book sources as a meaningful reference for pricing these books. These sites simply reflect the high volume used book market that I feel do not really reflect the true value.
As to the offer of $ 100 for everything, it looks like a genuine offer. You have to decide if the $100 is adequate for you, or your friends' needs. Do you just want to clear the shelves. Do you want to place these books at an affordable price in the hands of folk music students? Do you want to pass these books on to rare book dealers who will market them for the highest price possible? Do you want to go through the hassels of opening your own private library to the folk music public? These are not easy questions.
I myself am sitting on a VERY vaulable collections of books, records, private tapes, photos. How to properly pass these items along has troubled me for years.
When I first started auctioning off some books to benefit MC, I had several meaningful conversations with Joe Offer. He gave me some very vaulable advice and things to think about.