Can you depend on antique book values as a basis for buying? Books about antiques are terrific sources of information. Whether the book is an overview of a particular artist, an overview of a genre or a book describing the production of a given manufacturer, you are going to find tons of useful information. These books will give you background, production dates and information that will help you in your search for favorites for your collection.

Antique Values in Books
The problem with the values listed in antique books is with the authors. Many, if not most, of the people who write these books collect the items that they are valuing. Therefore, it is in their best interests to keep the values high.

This is not to say that the authors are being dishonest. Anyone who collects antiques consistently knows that values fluctuate over time. If you are using a book that was published ten years ago, the values listed could be reasonably consistent, could have appreciated or could have completely crashed.

The antique book values listed are “general.” A given piece’s value may fluctuate according to the area where you live. For example, if the piece is rare in New York, but common in Los Angeles, you can expect to pay more for the item in New York than in Los Angeles. This rule applies unless you consistently participate in online auctions.

Online auctions are the great equalizers. You can buy antiques online, depending on who is bidding, and get a terrific deal that you might not have otherwise have gotten. On the downside, you have to depend on the description of the item because you can’t see it or touch it. You can also get caught up in auction mania and overbid.

Using Antique Book Values
The bottom line is that if you use antique books as your only source for figuring out the value of an antique, you may end up spending too much money. The values in antique books should be only one of the tools in your tool box. Check online auction prices. Haunt antique stores and visit antique flea markets or shows to gather more information. The more that you know, the more likely you are to find a real deal.